I’m back! With all 10 fingers and all 10 toes. In fact, the alligators weren’t very chompy. They were too interested in the “swamp crack.” (See second to last photo for explanation.)
Here’s our awesome trip to NOLA in less than thirty seconds photos:
First up: beignets from the infamous Café du Monde. I’d been dreaming about them for weeks!
Then we took a leisurely stroll around the French Quarter (above) and Jackson Square (below).
For lunch we did a cruise on the Steamboat Natchez, which was very delicious (the food, not the boat) and relaxing.
That night we caught the Preservation Hall Band. I don’t know a lot about jazz, but I thought they were awesome. (And such cute little old guys!)
Sunday morning we were supposed to go on an airboat swamp tour. Instead, Andy got stuck in an elevator.
For 80 minutes. I was on the phone with him for most of that time, passing info between the hotel/elevator company and the 5 people inside the elevator. (I had to laugh when the manager asked me to “stick around.” Um, where exactly did he think I was going when my boyfriend was trapped between the 4th and 5th floors of his hotel?!) No photos of this lively event, unfortunately.
Since we missed our pick-up for the swamp tour, we rescheduled it for Tuesday and hopped over to the Aquarium instead. (Pun intended.)
That afternoon we resumed our scheduled itinerary, visiting the New Orleans Museum of Art, which had a cool ceramics collection and an awesome photography exhibit (“The Art of Caring”) that made me cry. NOMA is located in City Park, so we also took a (little kiddie) train ride through the park.
At night we went to Harrah’s, played video blackjack and a crazy Star Trek slot game, and only lost $18.75!
On Monday we toured St. Louis No. 1 cemetery, the oldest “City of the Dead”. In spite of the pouring rain sloshing through my shoes, I really enjoyed learning some of the history of New Orleans via its ghosts. (And actually, maybe the storms added to the spooky ambiance.)
Later we dined at Emeril’s flagship restaurant — NOLA is his hometown — and it was exquisite! Even in a city famous for its cuisine, Emeril’s really stood out.
Last but most definitely not least, we finally got our airboat swamp tour. (The raccoons seem to be popular swamp pets.)
Our (fantastic) guide was good friends with several of the gators. He made them jump for us, and the ones who didn’t jump were humiliated with hats.
Food, French Quarter, the Mississippi River, jazz, fish, gambling, ghosts, more food, ‘coons, gators, and swamps. That was our NOLA vacation!
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oh this makes me miss new orleans so bad! did you eat any alligator, or just pet ‘em? ;)
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We just pet them. I was too busy stuffing my face with oysters, (non spicy) jambalaya, and corn fritters to find room for gator… :P Maybe next time. (Is it good??)
i love it! it does taste like chicken, it’s just a little more….chewy.
Great photo tour. I love the one of you and Andy out to dinner. You are an adorable couple.
One of these days I will make it to New Orleans.
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Thanks! :) I definitely recommend it.
beignets!!!
drools, granted I just had a car ride full of cookie, coke (drink) and caramel fudge…which cant’ be good
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Can’t be good?! Sounds pretty awesome to me.
Oh fun! your pic of the alligator with the marshmallow hat cracked me up. Love the photo tour– I went around Mardi Gras several years back and as you might imagine, it was way too crazy for picture taking so I’m enjoying reliving the memories through your album. mmm… beignets….
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Glad to be of service. ;)
-gasp- that looks like soooo much fun! Great pictures! Apparently I need to get out more. And take more pictures. And stop being lazy in general. *cough*
LOL well you’ve had your hands full with your house. But thank you! :)
love the pictures! you guys make a great couple :) i’ve never been to new orleans but its definitely somewhere i want to check out one day. fun!
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How amazing!! You’re trip sounds a lot like mine. I ate at the Cafe du Monde as well. And I love all those adventures of simply walking the streets of the French Quarter. Did you eat those little sugar covered donuts. They start with a B I think. Yum!
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Thanks, SLG!
And D’Arcy, omg yes, BEIGNETS = HEAVEN! We actually have them in Houston too, so I could always eat them at home, but they’re truly a NOLA thing.
I like that 2nd cemetery photo! And you and Andy came out good in the dinner photo :)
I’m so jealous. I’ve never been to New Orleans. Briefcase has gone several times on “business” but I’ve never been able to tag along.
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I love how your NOLA post is more comprehensive than mine. Mine just consists of food…we didn’t bother with much else :).