NOLA 2011

We had a BLAST in New Orleans this past weekend, let this post be proof!

It was a little chaotic booking the trip, because apparently we decided to travel during JazzFest which we didn't know at the time. We also were using US Airways dividend miles to book travel, and an IBM discount on the hotel. In all, it was worth the savings as we got roundtrip airfare, and a 4 night stay at Embassy Suites (which, btw, was a suite, included breakfast and open bar for 2 hours a day!) for $600.

We headed out on Saturday morning and had uneventful flights to Charlotte and then New Orleans. Ade, as always, was a pro traveler. We got into our first taxi with Ade and headed to the hotel.

We went immediately to Riverwalk and checked things out.

When our room was ready we chilled out for a while, and went to Mulate's right down the street for some authentic local cuisine.

Sunday was HOT. We went on a swamp tour, and on the 45 min bus ride out to the swamps, we learned all about the Katrina disaster as we drove past the 9th ward. It was astounding to me that years later they still have so much rebuilding to do! The swamp tour itself was very cool, and Ade was as pleased with the alligator statues as the real ones who ate hot dogs from our guide.

We also saw a bird nab a crawfish, shake it til it stopped moving, and then swallow it whole, where we could see it move down its neck like a big lump.

By the time we got back from the tour, we were starving. We went into the French Quarter, and ended up eating some po boys at the French Market Cafe while we listened to live music. And some of us fed pigeons.

After lots of exploring, we took a rest at Cafe du Monde - beignets and cafe au lait!!!!

Then, back to the hotel for a rest, which was SORELY needed after what felt like miles of walking. We took a taxi back to the Jackson Square and took a horse carriage ride around.

We saw Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's house. I don't remember any of the historical discussion. ;-) Then we ate at the carriage driver's fave restaurant, Ralph & Kacoos.

Monday we hit Cafe Adelaide, which was very exciting for the smallest member of our family. They were so nice to us, giving Ade a balloon and lots of special treatment. Plus, it was delicious breakfast!

We hopped on the streetcar, and rode to the Garden District.

We stopped into the Rink coffeeshop for a refresher and into the book store, and did a nice walking tour. We were wilted by the end of the walking tour, but it was fun to see all of the old and amazing houses, including the Anne Rice ones, and also the Lafayette cemetery.

We grabbed take out sandwiches from Cochon Butcher, and rested for a while at the hotel. We headed next to Canal street and had some Pinkberry. We shopped in Canal Shops briefly, and then walked around French Quarter again for a bit.

We wrapped up with dinner in the hotel restaurant, including huge hurricane drinks. Mmm.

All of the days of the trip were HOT and HUMID, except Tuesday, which dropped 15 degrees and rained off and on. We went back to Cafe Adelaide for breakfast again, where we were greeted by name, and with some free beignets (score!). Then to the aquarium where we learned to go to the aquarium on weekdays after 3pm to avoid school groups.

Lunch was mostly snacks due to the large breakfast. We grabbed a taxi from our hotel to go out to City Park, and enjoyed the very cool Storyland part of the park.

We had another snack at the cafe, and got a taxi back to the hotel from in front of the art museum.

We ate at early dinner at Mother's, which was both an amazing culinary and cultural experience, and got back to the hotel early enough to pack and settle in before our trip home.

Two Adelaide anecdotes that I'll treasure from the trip -

1. Ade, having heard Ryan and I in the elevator saying we would need to get a taxi, promptly exited the elevator, walked over to the concierge and said, "Excuse, we need a taxi please."

2. As our food was set on the table at Mother's, Ade surveyed the plates and declared, "They didn't bring my side." No, she didn't say, "Where are my french fries?" or any other normal kid thing, but she indicated she was missing her side.

After this trip, I am pretty sure if Ade was dropped off at the airport, she could successfully travel to a city and navigate by herself, meanwhile enjoying - demanding - impeccable concierge and restaurant service.