NOLA

Sorry for the delay. I've been working on this post for over a week. Trust me when I say we have a LOT going on...some of which we would rather NOT have going on...

The hubs and I took a quick trip to NOLA to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary.

We try to take an anniversary trip every year. We hope to be able to keep the tradition and take the kids along as they get older. Our first year we went to Chicago and our second year we went to NYC. The third year we were unable to take a trip because Miss Chloe was only 5 months old. This year we left her with Shorty and Pop for two nights while we soaked up the Big Easy.

We flew out of Houston's Hobby Airport on Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. We were in New Orleans by 7:00 a.m. and on our way to downtown NOLA. We left Sunday morning at 7:50 a.m. We were so exhausted that we had to take a nap at my parents before we could drive from Houston to Austin. But, it was so worth it!

Rather than give the whole play-by-play of the trip, (which consists of looking at art, walking, eating, drinking and listening to live music) I'll share the few pictures we took. At the end of the post, there is a list of places we ate and what we had...this is for my own records but feel free to take a peek if you care. I recommend everywhere we ate!! That's the first time this has ever happened on a trip. On most of our trips, we stumble into restaurants that are lacking.

Let me say this for the record. Do not let the media stories scare you about visiting New Orleans. The city, while dirty because it's old, seemed safe. We stayed on the touristy beaten paths, but we were out way after dark and we went down some dark streets. I never once felt unsafe. The people in New Orleans are hands down the nicest people I have ever met. And, that's saying a lot because I grew up in West Texas where we are notoriously some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

Mark doing Night of the Living Dead at the Saint Louis Cemetery

Crypt at Saint Louis Cemetery. The burial practices in New Orleans are interesting.

Lafitte's Blackshop Bar -- oldest structure used as a bar.
Built between 1722 and 1732.
Ordered a Bloody Mary and a Hurricane here.

Bourbon Street

Hanging out on Bourbon Street Friday night.

Our Hotel room...we got switched to a sister hotel, called The Ambassador.
It was a cute boutique hotel. Clean but old.

Brunch at River's Edge. Louisiana omelet with crab meat.

Mark and I at River's Edge.

Bourbon Street on Saturday afternoon.

Love that people don't ask for money. They 'perform' for money.
I gave this guy $2 to take his picture. At least he's doing something (i.e. working).
I hate how in Chicago and NY (and Austin) people just walk up and ask without offering any reason or service.

Me and some strange guy. Paid him for a picture, too.



Mark in his costume.



Me in my costume.

NOLA!

Cafe du Monde

Friday:

• Breakfast at Cafe Du Monte. We ate beignets (pronounced: ben yay) and drank Cafe Au Lait.
• Lunch at Huck Finn's. We ate Po Boys. Mark had pulled pork and I had fried shrimp.
• Dinner at Pierre Maspero's. Mark ate steak and I had Jambalaya. We both enjoyed a Hurricane. (As a side note, the boudin (pronounced: Boo Dan...I asked.) sausage in NOLA is as tender as a good steak. We also enjoyed some alligator sausage that was to die for...and my Jambalaya was one of the best things I've ever eaten on a vacation.) 

Saturday:

• Brunch at River's Edge. Mark had a Jambalaya omelet and I had a Louisiana omelet with crab meat. We both drank mimosas. It was delicious.
• Lunch at Daisy Dukes. I ate the fried green tomato Po Boy and Mark had a sausage Po Boy.