New Orleans – March 2015

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

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.

. Fog ahead!

Mobile, Alabama in fog.

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.

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…

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

Cafe’ Beignet! yum! Canal Street

The foggy port!

Back to Bourbon Street!

“Our” parking lot most of the time we went into town.

Pretty sunset from the highway and our site.

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.

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

The Levee

This is near where one of the levees breached.

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.

guy on weird bike!

More beads…

SuperDome

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!

P edestrian walkway over RR tracks

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

Enjoying my bloody mary!

Inside the boat.

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

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!

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!

Yum!

Had a pretty sunset on the way in to town.

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!

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!

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!

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

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

Cool 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!