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.