NOLA!

Always thought that would be a pretty name.

After landing in New Orleans we found the city pretty easy to navigate and the people willing to help. It offered the option to take the city bus into the city, which is nice since some airports offer only expensive options to trap the tourists. It cost less than $5 to get to our hotel which was on the edge of the French Quarter.

We didn't set our sights to high the first night but still had a great night! Just walked down Bourbon and took advantage of being able to drink on the street. We looked at a lot of art and menus while getting a stronger and stronger buzz before we found a place with a rooftop party where we could view a major corner and what must have been a very rowdy bachelor party. The food was awesome! Po'boys and Etouffe....mmmmmmmmmmmm. At some point some random Italian parade went by and then we went bar hopping.

Sunday we walked around the city for hours and hours and did all the touristy things. First we walked to Cafe Du Monde for some beignets which have a great view of Jackson Square. Home makeover was shooting there too, so maybe I'll catch myself on the Nola episode. I'm not holding my breath. Here we bought a tour to the swamps and walked around the cathedral and took pictures. We then walked more around Decatur street and hit the aquarium. Here, Gus tried to make his peace with the jelly fish, but alas failed. I touched a sting ray which was a little freaky and I can only describe the texture as the inside of a pickle cut in half lengthwise. Yummm....we stopped to get some food and then napped before the Flogging Molly show.

The Flo Mo show was at the House of Blues which was a great venue! Every room was different and great care taken in decoration. The food was also great and would have allowed us to jump the queue if we had cared about seeing the opening bands. The show was great too! Unfortunately, we had an extra ticket. Good news, we got rid of it. Bad news, the guys we met and tried to sell it to first were looking for three, and ended up getting back stage passes and drinking with the band all day just because they had hung out at the box office a little after we left. Grrrrrrrrr!

Monday was the swamp tour. Quick breakfast and the drive out of the city to the North East area. Here I learned this is where most of the damage happened and got to see most of the abandoned houses and areas as well as people living in tents under bridges. This seemed really out of place, especially since the city supposedly has housing available for all those people. But I know sometimes it's more important to well being to have something of your own. The swamp was so much fun. Lots of snakes, alligators, and no mosquitoes! Our guide was also tons of fun.

We napped and then went to hibachi sushi! It was our first hibachi experience and Gus's first raw quail egg sushi experience. We celebrated a stranger's birthday and ate great food! We walked a long way home through the business district which is swanky and completely different then Bourbon. We stopped at Harrah's where Gus and I won $130 at Blackjack in 5 minutes or less. I had a horseshoe up my ass I think = )

Tuesday, my only goal was to go the the oldest cemetery in town but we were told only to go early and I slept in. Yay! I guess it's something to do when I go back. We ate like piggies all day and napped and I had a little scare with Bish getting out of his baby sitter's house but all was okay. Gus headed to 311 day while I slept. Because of this I couldn't sleep all night. After Gus left I spent some time walking around taking pics and then watched No Country for Old Men at night. Creepy to watch by myself.

Slept in again on Wednesday then headed to the airport. Ahhh...good times.