Sam and I just got back from a 4 day "Mommy & Daddy Only" trip to New Orleans and it was wonderful! We wandered all around the French Quarter, had a hurricane (strong and very tasty adult beverage), and sharing some beignets at Cafe du Monde. After that I really wasn't too sure what else we would do while there... I had NO clue how much there actually was to do! We headed over to a strongly recommended place for dinner that first night called Jackamo's and had some very unique and tasty food! Appetizer was alligator & shrimp cheesecake (not sweet like a dessert), Sam had stuffed quail!
 |
| A cute little cafe we discovered one morning in the French Quarter |
Our 2nd day we took a bus tour of the city to get our bearings and it was the only raining morning. That was the best idea to get an overview of things we wanted to check out more.
 |
| One of the ways we got around the city when we weren't walking |
Some other things we did on the trip included:
- a 5 1/2 hour bike tour into the lower 9th ward (where hurricane Katrina hit hardest). No other touring companies go there because the people were tired of gawking tourists and had a city ordinance passed. However the company we went with is well respected there and allowed. There was only one other couple on the tour besides us!
 |
| Our comfy cruiser bikes! |
 |
| Traditional style home (next to one that was never re-done after the hurricane) |
 |
| Frequent site in the 9th ward |
 |
| Homes near the levy were literally sweeped right off their foundation. Everything is now overgrown. |
 |
| The swamplands where salt water entered fresh water. Killed off everything. |
- a steam boat ride down part of the Mississippi river. There was a live jazz band playing and it was from 7-9pm right during sunset! Beautiful views of the city.
 |
| Sunset on the boat |
- rode the street cars to visit City Park (larger than Central Park in NY!) and one of the many above ground cemeteries.
 |
| Cemetery |
- visited the World War 2 museum. So interesting!!! I think my favorite part was the 4D film narrated by Tom Hanks - great history overview. Another favorite was listening to documentaries.
 |
| Planes from the war |
- our last night there we had dinner at a place called Cochon. Very up scale trendy place with VERY good food (and the price to go with it).
- walked around the set of the new Planet of the Apes movie. Now we'll have to go see it!
All in all it was a great trip and we'd love to go back with friends some time! I missed our kids so much especially that last day and looked forward to coming home despite all the fun we were having. They were well taken care of by their nana (my mom) and the morning after we got back, when I went in to get Lauren, she cried for her nana and was disappointed it was mommy :( Makes it less hard to go away though knowing they're having a good time too!
What a great trip! You both look great!!
ReplyDeleteWhy are the cemeteries above ground?
Thanks Roxi! The cemeteries used to be built above ground because the city is below sea level. I guess a good portion still is but it's just something they still do. Multiple generations are usually buried together and theres a really gross system in place to basically creamate the bodies (a year and a day)because the temps are so hot there then they push them back into this dug out pit inside the tomb to make room for the next body. Crazy how much people with pay for a tomb there!
ReplyDelete