The Big Easy

My husband had a conference to go to in New Orleans and since he had been down there several times before, I tagged on prior to his conference.  It was totally what I hadn't imagined.  Good in a lot of ways, disappointing in different ways. 

We flew in on the Saturday night prior to Halloween.  Now understandably usually adults have their Halloween parties prior to the actual Halloween so they are home for their children.  So when we flew in, I initially stayed at the Airport thinking we would miss the mayhem in the French Quarter.  NO, at 4:30 a.m. a bunch of partying animals came back to the hotel, still wanting to party.  NOT GOOD, and my husband slept through the whole thing, unbelievable.   

The next day we headed downtown to another hotel and fortunately for us I got reservations right across the street from Decatur Street which is where we got picked up for all of our tours.  PERFECT.  It was close to everything in the French Quarter.

Sunday Gary and I took off for the French Quarter past the Mississippi first. 

I knew the place I wanted us to take a picture for our Christmas Card, "Jackson Square.  Well the background was great, the specific people weren't so great. 

We walked through the first U.S. Catholic Cathedral which is in the back of this picture.  We had to go to church on Sunday.

We happen to run into a restaurant that I looked up on the web as being gluten free.  It was Muriels.  I thought it was the restaurant that Emeril owns, NOT, but the ratings on my app were so good we went in.  I had duck hash with Hollandasie poached eggs.  Brandy Milk (one of their specialities) was my drink of choice and I swear to you it was like having dessert for brunch).  I have never been too inclined to take food pictures, but that food was so good, I almost bored you with them.  Definitely if you are ever in the French Quarter go to Muriels, they are on the right hand corner from the cathedral in  Jackson Square.  During the brunch a three man band came in and played us Jazz. 

Gary got in contact with his friends Sam and Marion (that maybe spelled wrong).  He has been a long time friend of Gary's and Marion has just been known amongst the group as one of the sweetest wives.  She was great. 

We met at the Cafe Du Monde - "Beignets" all around.  The Beignets were so great I could have eaten the whole plate.  The hot chocolate was amazing. That was on my bucket list, it was great.

Our friends carted us around and showed us different things in and out of the French Quarter.  We went down St. Charles street where all the huge mansions are, I had to borrow these pictures, because we were going slightly to fast for me to take photos.  The iron work was fantastic.  Our friends said this entire area had been flooded during Katrina.  It was amazing how they looked of not being touched.  A lot of work.   

We ended up at a Lebanonese restaurant.  The food was so good.  I think Gary wanted to live there. 

Then we drove back to the hotel on Magazine street which is an older area which they are trying to revitalize.  It was like a huge shopping mall, with eclectic shops.  I loved it. 

The Day of the Dead

Yes I have said it many times before I love cemetaries.  I know that sounds sick.  So of course I had to take the cemetary tour in New Orleans.  Our tour guide conveyed so much history and it was really quite entertaining, but I have a memory as small as a mouse, so I won't repeat it. 

Here is Gary in Pirates Alley, don't ask.

Here is Faulkner Book Store.  I took this picture because I have a good friend named Faulkner, but this is where the Noble Prize winner William Falkner (on his first book the printer had a mistype of his name, "Faulkner" which he kept for all of his books) wrote his first book. 

Here is Nicholas Cage's crypt in the New Orleans cemetary around the corner of the VooDoo Queen, Marie Lavaeu.

 

We had to rush away from the tour to get onto our swamp tour.  Somebody told us to take the swamp tour that it would be great.  I can't say it was great, but it was pretty informative.  It would have been great if we had seen more alligators, but we only saw one.  I guess, can you believe it, they hibernate when it gets cold.  They have to keep their body temperature stable. 

During Hurricane Isacc this house wasn't just flooded up to the house, but 8' into the house. 

Here are some of the swamp people homes.  You can rent a piece of property from either the state or the federal government for $99 per month for 99 years.  What a great deal unless you don't want to see your neighbor coming out toothless and nude to his spa. 

Gary then took me to Pat O'Briens for dinner.  The food and drinks were exceptionally good. 

Of course we had to walk Bourbon Street where we met up with Nick Nolte, no I didn't invade his privacy to take a picture, you're going to have to just take my word, and no he wasn't drunk at least at the time.

Millionaire Road

The next day we got up early to head out to Millionaire Road. It is about one hour from the French Quarter.  I wanted to see the plantations of the 1800s.  I read the web before I left and they all told me to go to Laura's Plantation, and forget Oak Alley, I beg to differ.  Laura's reminded me of something that you would see in the Outback of Australia. It may have been magnificent at one time before they had a fire and had to tear down two large portions of the house, but it was pretty simple.  A lot of history, but simple.

Oak Alley would have been like off from "Gown With The Wind."  It was very majestic with the forefront of these huge oak trees.  The history was just as interesting, but so much more gorgeous. 

After coming back we went back to the hotel for a little nap and then up to go again.  We walked down to the U.S. Mint, but they had closed minutes before.  Maybe next trip.

Then Gary asked what I wanted for our last night here and I didn't want to waste it with bad food for not knowing where to go, so we went back to Muriels.  As we walked in two women asked if they could go upstairs to see the ghost.  Of course my curiosity got the best of me and so Gary and I went upstairs.  As you walk into going up the stairs, monks started singing, the staircase creaks the entire trip upstairs.  The shadows on the walls do not help and then you enter the room where the owner had killed himself.  Of course then you have your husband go into another room, but don't tell you and your totally spooked out.  We couldn't just go up once, we had to go up there after the meal as well.  It made for a good Halloween dinner. 

Of course the meal again was absolutely delicious. 

Thanks to New Orleans hospitality, we had a very nice trip.  We will have to go back.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

FROM NEW ORLEANS