Next adventure – New Orleans (Nawlins, the Big Easy!)

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The drive there was pretty cool for us. We have both been there before but not together and we went through 3 states (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana). I like to try to get pictures of the state lines as we cross them.

.IMG_1442 IMG_1445 IMG_1446 IMG_1447 IMG_1448 IMG_1449 IMG_1450Fog ahead!

IMG_1451 IMG_1452Mobile, Alabama in fog.

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And we arrive at our new home.  Chris was not impressed but I thought it was alright considering its proximity to the city.  It had a pool and hot tub (too cold to use unfortunately), laundry and showers.  I have to admit it was a bit of a parking lot for RV’s and no real place to walk the dog.  But it was great to be close to the city.

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We did not go into the city until the next day and it was soooo foggy!  Tried to get beignets at the famous Cafe’ du Monde but the line was already a block long and we were hungry so we went across the street and had a full breakfast (no beignets here) and later we found Cafe’ Beignet and got them there.  (one night late we got some from Cafe’ du Monde but I think the ones from Cafe’ Beignet were better)

We walked around the French Quarter for a little while then headed back to the RV so Chris could get some work done.  We took quite a few pictures the entire time we were in New Orleans so be prepared…

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Beads in the trees (I guess from Mardi Gras).

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IMG_1501 IMG_1504Cafe’ Beignet! yum! IMG_1506Canal Street IMG_1507 IMG_1508 IMG_1509IMG_1510 IMG_1512 IMG_1513 IMG_1514 IMG_1515 IMG_1516

The foggy port!

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Back to Bourbon Street!

IMG_1522 IMG_1524 IMG_1526 IMG_1527 “Our” parking lot most of the time we went into town.

Pretty sunset from the highway and our site.

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Next we went to the Lower 9th Ward.  Chris did not really want to do this but I felt compelled to see it.  It was very interesting to be there.

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New houses mixed in with ruins and empty lots all over the place.

IMG_1560 IMG_1561 IMG_1563The Levee IMG_1564 IMG_1566

This is near where one of the levees breached.

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This next batch of pictures was taken on the same drive – we went into the Garden District for a bit.  Got a few good ones I think, including my only two shots of the SuperDome.

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IMG_1581 IMG_1580guy on weird bike!

More beads…

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IMG_1587SuperDome

 

We took a riverboat cruise next.  They have a few choices – Dinner Cruise w/live Jazz, Daytime Cruise w/o live Jazz and Sunday Brunch Cruise w/live Jazz.  The food was optional and the reviews did not look that great so we opted for the Sunday (2nd cruise at 2:30pm) and did not get the brunch.  We did however get drinks.  I got one of their “Famous” Bloody Marys and it was delicious!  We picked a great day and time.  If there was fog that day it was gone be our cruise and the weather was perfect!  Thumbs up on this one!

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IMG_1603 IMG_1605 IMG_1606 IMG_1607 IMG_1608 IMG_1609IMG_1610 IMG_1614IMG_1639 IMG_1615 IMG_1616Pedestrian walkway over RR tracks IMG_1617 IMG_1618 IMG_1619

A view of the Lower 9th Ward from the river and St. Bernard Parish which was also flooded.

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IMG_1630Enjoying my bloody mary!

IMG_1635 IMG_1637Inside the boat.

Coming back we got a wonderful view of the city and listened to some great jazz!  Fun day!

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Afterwards we went to Coop’s Place for red beans and rice.  They were giving away shots of Jameson and a string of beads.  Had to partake!

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Next day was St. Patrick’s Day!  We started with a warm dinner of corn beef and cabbage in our belly’s and one shot of Jameson and off we went into the wild night!

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Had a pretty sunset on the way in to town.IMG_1682 IMG_1683 IMG_1685 IMG_1686 IMG_1687 IMG_1688

As we got closer to the French Quarter we ran into a parade which we would see again later when we were walking and we got lots of beads from them!  It was great!

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The rest of the pics (and some above) are a little blurry.  Partly because I was drunk, I’ll admit but motion and lights don’t photograph very well either!

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The next day (wednesday) on the news I heard about “Wednesday in the Park” concerts.  We love going to free outdoor concerts so we knew we had to go!  We rode the trolley there and caught some really good music (more rock than jazz, but still good!).  Afterward we went over to the French Quarter to get oysters at Acme Oyster House (another must do and the line was long(again) to prove it!  But it was worth the wait!

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After the trolley ride we got to walk the main part of the city a little on our way to the concert.

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This was the line at Acme Oyster House.  First where we started then again at the door.  Good oysters!!

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IMG_1776Cool pic of the New Orleans W.

Our last day in Nawlins we went in morning.  It was kind of a cool perspective – the last drunks were still walking around and people were hosing off the balconies and the sidewalks.  We bought a few trinkets, got breakfast at Cafe’ Beignet, walked around a little more and left.  Goodbye French Quarter!  Goodbye New Orleans!  We loved you and we’ll be back sometime!

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IMG_1792Street Cleaner – haven’t seen one in a while.

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IMG_1795 one last bag of beignets!

IMG_1797 The famous Hurricane Bar- those are empty cups on the balcony.

IMG_1798IMG_1799Bye Bourbon Street 🙁
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It was a BLAST!!!