Travelling through the Deep South in between Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana is one of the coolest things I’ve done this year. I was invited on a group trip, hiring the car in Nashville and driving for 1,120 miles all the way to New Orleans.

This Deep South Road itinerary was intense, jam packed with experiences and emotions. Our route missed the obvious markers. No Elvis museums, no Graceland, no Beale Street.

Instead, we drove through Franklin and Leiper’s Fork in Tennessee, a whiskey distillery in a dry county, a space museum in Alabama’s “Rocket City,” civil rights landmarks in Selma and Montgomery, the real birthplace of Mardi Gras in Mobile, Cajun Bayou in Louisiana, and a candle workshop in a historic district we’d never heard of before.

This is the alternative Deep South itinerary — and it’s better for it.

Essential Trip Planning: Nashville to New Orleans

Best Time to Visit

We went in May, and it was close to perfect — warm but not brutal, festivals in full swing, no hurricane season yet. It felt like May sits in a sweet spot: Temperatures were chilly in the morning in Nashville, I definitely needed a jumper at night in the countryside, but the rest of the day I wore shorts. The temperature always hovers between 25/30°C, and the South is green and lush.

Definitely, avoid July and August unless you enjoy feeling like you’re inside a warm, wet towel. Luckily, we were off the Hurricane season (September on the Louisiana Coast. I’m thinking about a second trip, late October through November works well, and the Natchez Trace Parkway in Autumn looks genuinely extraordinary.

Car Hire Tips for UK Drivers

Pick up your hire car from downtown Nashville — not the airport. We Ubered from the hotel after breakfast on day three, collected the car, and drove out the same morning. Smooth, no queues.

We are so glad to have had the help of Journeyscape to plan this trip. They provided their knowledge as specialists in making unforgettable US and Canadian holidays. If you’re planning your summer road trip, quote South200 and save £200 p.p if you book before the 31st of August!

A few things UK drivers need to know:

• One-way drop-off fee: Budget for it. Dropping in New Orleans after picking up in Nashville adds a cost — ours was manageable but not nothing. Book early and compare Discover Cars for a better price. (We’ve also used DC to rent a car in Morocco, with their insurance cover and were sorted even when we had a flat tyre).
• Add a second driver: It costs around $60 for the trip. Do it. With heavy driving days through Alabama, sharing the wheel matters.
• Insurance: Your UK credit card may offer some CDW coverage — check before you pay for the rental company’s version at the counter. Consider a standalone travel insurance policy with US driving cover. We constantly use SafetyWing, which also has a policy for the US.
• Driving style: I found Americans driving politely in the South. Use your indicators, don’t tailgate, and don’t lean on the horn — it’s genuinely considered rude outside major cities. Got a bit of frustration with red flashing lights at crossroads, which means proceed with caution.

Is this Deep South road trip safe?

Yes, we didn’t have problems. The whole trip felt smooth, and we even left bags in the trunk for a few hours, sometimes in different cities. Also, our friends, in another car, going on the classic Deep South road trip route through Memphis and Tupelo, reported the same.

We didn’t have problems with that either, but we can’t deny that we’ve seen many dead ones on the asphalt every day, especially rakkons.

Budget Snapshot (10–14 Days)

These are the costs per person based on our own experience:

• Flights (London–Nashville, New Orleans–London): £500–900 depending on season.
• Car hire + one-way fee: $400–600 for 10 days.
• Fuel: $100–150 for the full route. Prices per gallon in the US are cheaper than per litre in the UK.
• Mid-range hotels: $120–200/night per room.
• Food: $50–80/day, eating well — BBQ, Southern diners, and one or two nicer dinners.
• Key tours + museums: Most are $8–20 each; Jack Daniel’s tour is $35, including tasting.
• Drinks: Budget 30–40% on top of every bar price for taxes and tips in Nashville. It still catches you off guard.

10‑Day Deep South Road Trip from Nashville to New Orleans: Our Route

Destination	10-Day Version	14-Day Version
Nashville, TN	2 nights	2 nights
Franklin/Leiper’s Fork, TN	1 night	2 nights
Huntsville, AL	1 night	1 night
Birmingham, AL	1 night	2 nights
Montgomery (via Selma), AL	1 night	2 nights
Mobile, AL	1 night	1 night
Bay St Louis, MS	Pass-through	Half day stop
Lafayette, LA	1 night	2 nights
Cajun Coast, LA	1 night	1 night
New Orleans, LA	2 nights	3 nights

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Days 1–2: Nashville – Arrive in the music city

We landed in the afternoon, Ubered straight to The Noelle Hotel in downtown Nashville and were on Broadway within the hour. The hotel is perfectly placed — calm enough to sleep, five minutes’ walk from everything loud.

On day one, you don’t need a car. Walk, Uber, let the jet lag burn off in a honky tonk.

Music & Museums in Nashville

We spent day two starting with the National Museum of African American Music. Truly, this is one of the most interactive museums I’ve ever been to. I was engaged at every moment. We had fun in the gospel room, check the video on our Instagram, and had genuine, very bad rhyme battles at the rap recording studio.

It was fun, interesting and somehow unexpected altogether.

Jefferson Street Sound Museum

Later in the same day, we Ubered to the Jefferson Street Sound Museum. I saw the trip’s deeper story take shape: Lorenzo’s work, the weight of the old music district, and the way I-40 cut through a community that once held Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and Fats Domino.

What stayed with me most was not just the history. Also, the feeling of standing on Jefferson Street after the documentary. How much was still there beneath the damage.

The best piece of art is the Club Baron mural, which is about the old nightclub’s survival, and felt that this was the Nashville that most guides never really show you.

Where to Eat & Drink in Nashville

While I was still fighting jet lag, and my clock was all over the place, I loved the food in Nashville. Lunch at Arnold’s Country Kitchen is non-negotiable. It is one of the most community-driven eateries in downtown, open since 1982. You queue, you point, you eat.

The size of the bone meat is incredible. I can’t stand the fact that I did finish one by myself and survived it. It was so good, paired with mashed potatoes. Also, to note that the owner is a true character.

His friendly manners are the proper welcome to Southern people, friendly and open. He found the time to get around every and each table, sometimes even sitting and sharing stories. A true legend!

Having fun on Broadway Road

Of course, we had fun, two nights in a row. It nearly broke me before the trip even started.

Broadway at night is what Nashville is known for, and it earns it. Bands play from 10 am to 3 am across 30-plus bars, most of them free to enter. Drinks and cocktail prices stand at $16–20. We soon discovered the local hack: almost every bar has a bucket of ice with $5 cans of local beer.

The bar that I loved the most is Category 10 (Check exact location and add on your google map). Professional line-dancing teachers run the floor from 6 pm. More than 200 people — every age, every background, stag dos mixed in with retired couples — moving in full formation.

I borrowed a hat. My denim jacket did the rest. I was line dancing like a proper Southerner. Or I mean what I want to believe.

Practical tips for Nashville

Stay downtown, near Lower Broadway. Germantown is a quieter alternative if you want a neighbourhood feel. Two nights is right enough for the museums by day and a proper Broadway session by night.

Day 3: Loveless Café, Franklin & Leiper’s Fork

Day three is the exact day our road trip officially started. Before that was just fun, now we’ve seen countryside Tennessee properly. Spoiler alert, I love it!

Breakfast at Loveless Café and the Natchez Trace

Pick up the car downtown and directly point the GPS to the best breakfast outside Nashville. Loveless Cafe is a proper American Southern diner on the side of the road. The one I’ve seen only in the movies before that, with the motel next to it.

While their biscuits are the most famous, I would easily call them scones if they were in the UK. The warm, slightly salty biscuits with homemade blackberry jam were excellent, and Allie kept refilling my coffee in a way that felt properly welcoming. After a long breakfast, we hit the road again to the Natchez Trace Parkway south toward Franklin.

Exploring Historic Franklin

We arrived in Franklin on annual rodeo day, which was chaotic and also charming. The whole town centres on about four crossed streets, and the parade had blocked all of them.

So we decided to let the crowds cool off, and went to The Factory, about 10 minutes driving away, for a quick snack and the usual weekend farmer markets. Browsing around the repurposed 1929 stove manufacturing plant, I truly understood why it was suggested to us. It is fantastic, locals love it, and we felt welcomed at all times. The water tank is a welcome sign to Franklin, and I wish I had more time to catch a proper photo.

It was time for lunch, so we headed to one of the best suggestions ever. Actually, I could see the shop from my hotel room. The Franklin Butchery is a burger place dressed as a butcher shop. Their burger is another level, and I customised it with so many sources that I can remember.

Leiper’s Fork on the backroads of Tennessee

We dropped the bags and checked into the Harpeth Hotel in Franklin, but we headed straight outside of town. The afternoon was all about Leiper’s Fork. Everyone was insisting on not skipping it, and now I know why. Passing the wisdom, though.

Leiper’s Fork is one of the crossroads of country music, a tiny place with only about 650 residents, but I think it carries far more character than many much larger towns.

We got a stop at Fox & Locke, the most prominent bar/saloon in town. This place is an historical landmark operating since 1947. An old country band was playing on a stage featuring a huge American flag. You can’t get more than that. Grammy winners play there, open mic nights still matter, and even the crowd feels like part of the story rather than the audience.

We met a lovely couple from Nashville, visiting for the day. While we tried to squeeze in a Leiper’s Fork distillery visit, it was too late. So we just hung out in their garden, with a few food stalls still open.

Where to Stay in Franklin

We stayed at The Harpeth Hotel— a Curio Collection by Hilton property, one of the best hotels on our Deep South Road trip. It’s actually the first boutique hotel in Franklin’s downtown core in decades.

I had to recover from my first day driving in the US. So after dinner and drinks at Puckett’s Restaurant, I crawled into bed, watching a series. Anyway, I loved this place because of the central location, easy walking to everything. You don’t need a valet if you don’t want to, as there is a secure per-hour parking just behind the hotel.

Day 4: Jack Daniel’s & road to Alabama

Confident to drive on the Southern Roads, I was so excited to finally cross my first state border ever. Before that, the other exciting part was a Jack Daniel’s visit to the distillery, and of course, a light tasting.

Detour to Lynchburg and Jack Daniel’s

We left Franklin early, and I think that was the right decision, because the drive to Lynchburg is short enough to feel easy but long enough that you still want to stay on schedule. I was kind of impatient, as this iconic distillery had been on my bucket list forever. I’ve seen their billboard in the London Underground for the past 10 years.

The Jack Daniel’s Distillery has been running since 1866, and I saw immediately why it matters: it is historic, highly organised, and still tied to a dry county, which gives the whole visit a slightly absurd legal edge.

Jon T, our tour guide, explained everything with real enthusiasm, especially the spring water at Cave Spring Hollow, the charcoal mellowing process, and the natural fermentation behind glass.

I think the tasting was the surprise of the visit.

• Gentleman Jack became my favourite
• Tennessee Honey was the easiest to drink
• Single Barrel Select was far too strong for me

We did the sensible thing and left enough time before driving on to Huntsville.

Huntsville: Space Centre & Green Space

Huntsville caught me off guard. I think I expected a stopover town, but instead I found Rocket City, a place where the space story feels large enough to fill a whole day and still leave you wanting more. The US Space & Rocket Centre is packed with more than 1,500 artefacts, and I saw the Saturn V, the Apollo 16 Command Module, and the Skylab Orbital Workshop all in one visit.

Then we moved straight into the Huntsville Botanical Garden, which felt like a reset button. I saw 118 acres of calm, a grand hall over the pond, and long views back toward the rocket park.

In my opinion, that contrast matters because the next few days of this route carry heavier history, and a place like this gives you room to take it in. However, apart from the many activities, I noticed a calm city rich in character, very clean and perhaps my favourite one in Alabama.

Eating & Sleeping in Huntsville

Dinner at Salt Smokehouse felt like a proper step up from standard barbecue. I saw wood-smoked brisket, house-made sides, and a kitchen that cared more about flavour and precision than piling on sauce and hoping for the best.

One of the best surprises was the hands-on session in a Michelin-starred kitchen. The cooking class was arranged by the local tourism board, and I still can’t believe I cooked in a Michelin Star Awarded Kitchen.

We stayed at the Trilogy Hotel, which is right in the best part of Huntsville. I had both walked at night when we arrived, and early morning for my coffee routine.

Day 5: Huntsville to Birmingham

The drive from Huntsville to Birmingham is straightforward. Account for two hours even though Google Maps says 1 hour and 40 minutes. Birmingham feels different the moment you arrive. It is Alabama’s largest city, and that shows in the traffic and the skyline.

We started at Vulcan Park and Museum, and I thought the view did a lot of heavy lifting for the whole city. The statue is the largest cast-iron statue in the world, and climbing the 159 steps (there is a lift too) gives you a proper read on Birmingham’s industrial past and present.

Eating & Drinking in Birmingham

The visit to Vulcan Park lasted a couple of hours, including the museum, the actual park and flying the drone. Then at lunch, we chose Johnny’s in Homewood. It was one of those meals that stays with you because the story matters as much as the plate.

The afternoon got more playful in the best way. At Alabama Peanut Company, I left with Cajun peanuts, boiled peanuts, and salted peanuts, plus an education in two very Southern drinks: Buffalo Rock and Grapico.

After a quick nap, we were back into activity and experiences in Birmingham. Eric Bennet, of Continental Drift, planned a little welcome on the Rainbow Bridge beside The Kelly Hotel.

It was a show on its own at sunset, in one of the most iconic places downtown. After a couple of cocktails, we headed for dinner at Armour House, which was polished without being stiff.

Where to Stay in Birmingham

We stayed at The Kelly Birmingham (Tapestry Collection by Hilton) — well located, garage parking available, and professional staff. The rooms are very large, and mine had one of the best views of the city, even from the bathroom.

Downtown Birmingham is walkable around the hotel at night without concern. We never felt uncomfortable.

Day 6: Birmingham to Montgomery via Selma

We left Birmingham an hour earlier than scheduled to make enough room for Selma.  I think that was the right call. The drive itself is straightforward, but the town asks you to slow down once you arrive, and I’m glad we gave it the time.

We walked through stories and pieces of evidence about Bloody Sunday, Marie Foster and the march to Montgomery. We also walked to the memorial, which is across the road from the museum, and on the actual bridge. If you have time for a detour, Selma is very emotional, and I am glad we made it without compromising on the itinerary.

Montgomery’s Civil Rights Landmarks

We then reached Montgomery, which is another city that surprised me the most. Starving because we had been on the road already for four hours, with barely stopping, we headed to Dreamland BBQ for lunch. The hickory-smoked ribs, the signature sauce, were the perfect rewards.

The Rosa Parks Museum was the last stop before checking in and relaxing a bit. A trip to the Deep South is intense, and we understood we had to pace ourselves when necessary. There, I met Philip at the welcome desk. This completely changed the tone of the visit.

He did not recite a script; he talked about the Bus Boycott as a 381-day community strategy, why Rosa Parks was chosen so carefully, and how that history still connects to the present. I thought that conversation gave the whole museum real weight, so yes, talk to Philip.

Alabama Shakespeare Festival

After a well-deserved nap, it was time to hit a slice of England on American land. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival backstage tour was a real surprise, and I mean that in the best way. We walked onto the stage and met the crew that prepared each element of the show.

Downtown Montgomery: Food & Evenings

Dinner at Ravello Ristorante (36 Commerce St) — housemade pasta, good wine list, warm atmosphere. Comfortable and needed after a day of weight. We stayed at the Trilogy Hotel Montgomery. For breakfast, we didn’t have to move much as it was within the hotel at Kinsmith – Got a great bread and jam basket, which was vital for the morning drive.

Day 7: Montgomery to Mobile

The Drive to Mobile is about 2.5 hours direct, and I thought it was one of the easier drives on the route. We left Trilogy after breakfast at Kinsmith, got on the road by 9 am, and there was nothing out there that really slowed us down except the usual Montgomery shuffle.

Mardi Gras Museum

Mobile does Mardi Gras better than anyone likes to admit, because it started here first – in 1703, before the famous New Orleans one. The guide at the Mobile Carnival Museum made that very clear, and I thought the pride was entirely justified.

The museum itself is housed in a restored historic mansion and spreads across 14 galleries, which sounds neat on paper but feels more layered in person. I saw the mystic societies (some very picturesque to say the least), the parade floats, and the logic behind the “throws” — beads, moon pies. The Cowbellian de Rakin Society story was my favourite bit of oddball history, because it is exactly the kind of thing that could only happen in the South.

Food & Hotels in Mobile

The first lunch in Mobile was a feast, definitely we ordered more than we should, but everything looked yummy. The Wintzell’s Oyster House felt exactly like the kind of Mobile stop you want on a road trip: local, no nonsense, and worth ordering the oysters for.

Instead of dinner, it was more sophisticated and had the best view of Mobile. Dauphin’s that night, it felt less like another meal and more like a reward for everything we had already seen by day seven. We were taken to the 34th floor of the Trustmark Building, and the view over Mobile Bay hit first. I was amused by the skyline while the day faded out, almost forgetting I was at dinner.

Regarding my suggestion on where to stay in Mobile, of course, it is to be central. You don’t want to deal with Uber or driving more. We stayed at the Admiral Hotel, which is downtown Mobile. Not pretentious, but definitely classy. Had breakfast there, and glad their valet was spotless and easy.

Day 8: Mobile to Lafayette via Bay St Louis

To get through Louisiana from Alabama, you must pass through Coastal Mississippi. I can’t get over the fact that before this trip, I had been to the US just once and never crossed a border.

The best detour of our Road Trip was at Buc-ee’s, the most American Gas Station you can ever imagine. I’ve watched this station for ages, looking at RV road trips, but living in person was another feeling.

120 pumps, a mega mall with some of the most insane brisket ever, and huge lemonade for just 1,20$. Stops like this make road trips even better when they are unexpected. There are just a few Buc-ee’s around, and if you have to go out of the way as we did, well… do that! There is one just 13 Miles out of Bay St. Louis, by the way.

Arrival in Lafayette

It took a bit longer than expected to get to Lafayette, LA. Mainly because we stopped for coffee at the Louisiana border (of course, photos too), but also because we got caught up in traffic.

Lafayette felt calmer, cleaner, and slower than anywhere we had driven through in Alabama. We found parking easily, the cars moved at a gentler pace, and the whole place had a more lived-in feel rather than that busy, stop-and-go energy you get in bigger Southern cities.

Sunset, Food, Music in Lafayette

We spent our only evening in Lafayette in the best way possible: browsing, eating well, and then finding live music with the locals. SOLA Violins, Lagniappe Records, and Beausoleil Books set the tone before dinner, and the whole area felt more independent and lived-in than polished for tourists.

That sunset stop at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist was a bonus we did not plan for. We could not go inside that evening because of the graduations going on, but the bell tower against the sky made it one of the strongest images from the whole trip, which is saying something after this many miles.

Vestal Steakhouse was a strong dinner choice. It sits in what used to be Antlers, the oldest bar in the city. Amy, our waitress, was welcoming with a proper southern accent. Actually, Lafayette, I felt it was one of the most open and welcoming places.

After dinner, we went for a walk, and the suggested place by locals was Hideaway on Lee. Totally my suggestion too now! It’s easygoing, loud enough, and full of people who clearly go there because it is their Thursday-night habit. We paid $10, cash only, to listen to Grandpa Country Music, and it was fun. We danced too.

Breakfast and bike tour on day 2 in Lafayette

The morning started early, and we drove to Five Mile Eatery, which seems like a meeting point for locals and families. We had to clear our table and place the mags in the basket. It is the proper university cafeteria I was looking for.

Once we left the bike tour, we went to La Cuisine de Maman inside Vermilionville, which needs a proper guide. Anyway, it was one of the meals that made sense the second it hit the table.

The proper Louisiana Po Boy my friend Dave had was the best. The chicken and sausage gumbo, fried catfish, and other slow-cooked Cajun and Creole dishes were affordable, authentic, and the kind of thing that sticks in your head long after the trip.

Day 9: Cajun Coast & Franklin – LA

We left Lafayette at a slow pace, but kept going around New Orleans. The atmosphere changes a lot just a few miles away. We reached a protected area and visited the Chitimacha Museum. It is the only tribe in the state still living on its ancestral territory. I’ve felt privileged to be able to visit such a place and have a proper conversation with one of the descendants.

What stood out most was the care around the collection and the rules of the trip that are still respected today. The museum preserves heritage through artefacts, many on loan from institutions around the world.

Cajun Baijou activities & experiences

Franklin was the opposite of Charenton in scale but just as memorable. The Grevemberg House Museum was spooky but interesting.

One experience after another, we reached the centre of town. We met the owner of Fifolet Candle Makers, Chad. After a nice storytelling of how this idea was born, we were hands-on with our candles. We did a full class on how to make organic candles, with our own scent and essential oils.

Day 10: Plantations, Swamps & Arrival in New Orleans

The last day of our Deep South road trip was set for a good farewell. We wake up about 7 am, ready and load the trunk in a hurry. The drive to Cypremort Point is one of the most scenic, and part of it is on a dirt road.

We rented kayaks from Wonderlust Rentals and, with our guide Reed Rudasill, started to paddle against the wind through the swamps.

At 9 am, it was already so hot that one bottle of water finished before even starting the tour. However, Cypremort Point is easy and one of the most interesting outdoor activities to do, even if staying in New Orleans.

People were fishing, and on the other side of the parking lot, there was a white beach full of families. I hoped to see alligators, but we didn’t spot any. Budget two to three hours, bring sun protection.

Driving to New Orleans

The last drive of this trip was easy, about 2 hours, fully on Interstate 90. Traffic arrived only once in New Orleans, but I was stunned by the view and crossing the Mississippi River. We chose the Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette, which was French Quarter-adjacent, but not chaotic. Without hesitation, I dropped the bags and was already into the NOLA mood.

I left the car downtown, and the checkout was easy and smooth. However, I had to return the day after to make sure everything was concluded, as on the weekend, the Avis office closed early.

Days 11–12: New Orleans

While I spend a relatively short time in Nola, I concentrate on the visit in the French Quarter, and of course, having fun. When we arrived, we got a ticket and a self-guided tour of JAMNola. The cultural exhibition is an introduction to the culture of New Orleans and the madness that surrounds Mardi Gras.

In the morning, I went for breakfast to try the local iconic beignet at Café du Monde. While many might say it’s a cliché, to be fair, it’s a miss if you don’t try. Glad I did at the very last minute.

Yes, there was a queue; yes, the beignets arrived buried in powdered sugar; and yes, you will be covered in some of that sugar for the rest of the morning. But they were the best breakfast in New Orleans.

The French Quarter is crowded and genuinely beautiful, which sounds contradictory until you stand there and realise both things are true at once. I visited Jackson Square four times in less than 48 hours in New Orleans, and it was always crowded.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

We stayed just off the French Quarter at the Renaissance, and it worked because it was central, functional, and with plenty of breakfast places around. They offered complimentary late checkout till 4 pm, which I loved, because it was perfect to catch the flight back to London at 9 pm and squeeze in a little nap.

Alternate Timings: 7, 10 and 14-Day Versions of This Route

Skip Birmingham, Mobile, Bay St Louis, and the Cajun Coast. You lose the space narrative, the Mardi Gras history, and the bayou, which is a lot.

Not recommended unless genuinely time-poor. Unfortunately, I think (sadly), you should also skip Selma, because it is out of the way from Montgomery.

The extra nights in Montgomery and Lafayette are where you feel the biggest difference — both cities reward slowing down.

Blues, BBQ & civil rights: What this trip taught us about the Deep South

We came in with the usual European assumptions — country music, BBQ, Civil Rights history as a historical backdrop rather than a living conversation. We were wrong on all counts.

The music thread alone — Jefferson Street Sound Museum in Nashville, the Gumbo Funk at Three Maries in New Orleans, the outstanding open mic nights in a village of 650 people in Tennessee — reframed how we understand American popular music. It all runs through this corridor.

The civil rights days in Selma and Montgomery are not easy. They’re not meant to be.

A few honest notes for first timers in the US and the Deep South

• Tipping: 20% is standard everywhere and expected. Budget it into every meal and drink.
• Talking to locals: Do it. Every city on this route has people who want to talk — at museum desks, in distillery tours, behind bar counters. I loved every single accent and might have picked up one or two slangs that will stick with me forever.
• City murals: Every city has its own piece of art and murals. We tried to get around and find the best snapping photo at each of them.
• Would we do this route again? Yes. Differently — more nights in Montgomery and Lafayette, and a detour to Frenchmen Street in New Orleans instead of Bourbon Street.

The best road trip in the USA doesn’t have to mean the most famous one. Sometimes it means the one that connects things nobody told you were connected — whiskey and civil rights, Cajun food and Indigenous history, line dancing and jazz. Drive it slowly. You’ll come back changed.