New Orleans
New Orleans was amazing! I really loved it despite its lack of any rule following, the dirt and the smell. If I ignored the smell it was better. BUT really I did love it and I had a great trip. It was really great to see my friend L who's living down there. Her boyfriend (who I've never met before) is really great and a good guy. I like that the older we get the more good guys my friends choose for boyfriends. It really decreases the amount of fake smiling I have to do in my life. I'm going to do a quick day by day description mostly so I'll remember because cuz in about three months I'll no longer remember anything about this trip. Such is the way my brain works.
Thursday- The flight was good. I like stopping in Texas because they always have good BBQ in the airport terminals. Flying into LA was weird because I've got some lady from the OC behind me talking up a storm because she's all doped up on Xanex because apparently she's afraid of flying. Now I'm not really that afraid of flying. I used to be but now its mostly fun but for some reason this trip really freaked me out. I think its all the Lost I've been watching. So the stewardess comes over the intercom saying "We're going to hit turbulence in exactly two minutes people so please hurry up your drinks and we'll collect them and buckle up!" So Xanex OC lady is freaking out, I'm unexplicably nervous which is getting on my nerves and so we're waiting. And then nothing happens, we land just fine and we go on with our lives. That night we went to Mexican (the whole weekend I was asking for Cajun and they just kept taking me to other things. I think they didn't realize my love for southern food), hung out with my friend's new 9 wk old rat terrier (which for a small dog with a lame name is super cute!) and caught up on the old times. It was fun!
Friday- Caught the street car down St. Charles to Canal St and then walked on to Bourbon St. Had beignets and iced cafe au lait and it was delicious! Then got on a walking historical tour of the French Quarter which was only mildly interesting but did let me get familiar with the layout of the Quarter. After that, had lunch with L and walked around the CBD. Then went back to the Quarter to buy touristy crap including a beautiful mask for the Masquerade Ball in Canada assuming I ever work again and can afford to go. Then it was back home to walk the dog and then we packed up and headed off for the Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Destin FL.
Saturday- Spent the whole day in a park watching frisbee and keeping score and playing with the dog. Got a killer sunburn which is turning into a decent tan and learned a lot about ultimate frisbee. Which is a kick ass sport and I think I' might try and get into it. I need to start running again though if I'm going to go to some pick up games with L this summer when she comes home. Also need to practice frisbee throwing in general. Saturday night we bought an obscene amount of alcohol and partied with the team which was a lot of fun. We were staying in a condo right on the beach. These are some of the worlds most beautiful beaches and the condo was right there and it was only about $800 for two nights and it slept ten people and we put in almost 20 so it was super cheap. It was so much fun. Went swimming in the ocean in the dark, taught the dog to swim in the pool and got hit on by a 33 yr old guy which was a suprising development but he passed out on a lawn chair early so that didn't go anywhere.
Sunday- Watched frisbee and played with dog all day again. But this time it was on the beach so between games was ocean swimming and wave jumping. Then after the second game a big old thunderstorm rolls up and we all have to leave the beach. It went away really quickly and then we kept on playing. We got all the way to the finals but by the last game they were exhausted and we got slammed. But at least we played in the finals! Then we drove home. This drive consists of going through Mississippi and Alabama by the way which was just a treat for me! Some of you may know and others may not but I have a secret obsession with the South. I just find the whole thing fascinating. I love it! So to be in Alabama, if only for a little bit, was just awesome!
Monday- Woke up really effing early to go to Oak Alley Plantation but had only registered for the tour the night before so apparently I was not able to go this day but had to go on tuesday. So I walked down to the Riverwalk and got some more beignets and whatnot and found a morning cemetary tour. We went to St. Louis I just outside the French Quarter and it was a really fun tour. They talked a lot about preservation and restoration of the cemetaries which I found interesting from a professional (and geeky) standpoint. They talked about why they bury that way which was also interesting and surprisingly land use and eco conscious. Got to see Marie Laveau's tomb which was rad. Then went on an afternoon Haunted Garden District tour which was also awesome. That tour company was my favorite of the whole trip and when I go back will probably just use them instead of any others. Monday night I took my friends out to dinner for Cajun food (finally!) as a thank you for letting come stay with them. I had an alligator sausage po boy sandwhich. Alligator sausage tastes like gyro. It was great! Then we went to Bourbon St. and had a few drinks and generally enjoyed ourselves but my friends were still exhausted from their tournament and aren't the party types really so I didn't really get to do the drunk bourbon st experience so now I have to go back!
Tuesday- Woke up effing early again to pack my shit up and get it ready to go and then get to the Oak Alley Plantation tour. The actual tour of the house and grounds was great, a little long and they didn't talk about the ghosts or Interview With a Vampire, but overall was really cool to see and I'm glad I went. But there was another issue with my reservation and paying for it and it was lame and I don't want to talk about it because its really stressful and I don't want to think about it. Hopefully it all just gets resolved on its own and I don't have to do anything. BUT my tour guide was just amazing. He cracked me up. Called me Cover Girl the whole day. He told us his Katrina story (which a lot of people do) and it was really funny. Then got back just in time to hug my friends goodbye and hop on the shuttle for the airport and go home. The flight back just sucked because I wasn't ready to go yet and I think airports are only easy to do if you're excited to get where you're going. And the assholes in front of me on both flights home put their seats back right into my knee caps! GRRR! But I got home, I slept for like 11 hours and now I'm looking at what it might cost to go back for Mardi Gras next year with some friends who like to party.
So that was my trip. It was really fun and I had a great time. I think the one thing I really got out of it was the message that New Orleans is not a third world country after the storm, you can drink the water, everything is safe and they're enormously grateful for people who come to visit the city. So I know I'm going to spread the message and go back!
Thursday- The flight was good. I like stopping in Texas because they always have good BBQ in the airport terminals. Flying into LA was weird because I've got some lady from the OC behind me talking up a storm because she's all doped up on Xanex because apparently she's afraid of flying. Now I'm not really that afraid of flying. I used to be but now its mostly fun but for some reason this trip really freaked me out. I think its all the Lost I've been watching. So the stewardess comes over the intercom saying "We're going to hit turbulence in exactly two minutes people so please hurry up your drinks and we'll collect them and buckle up!" So Xanex OC lady is freaking out, I'm unexplicably nervous which is getting on my nerves and so we're waiting. And then nothing happens, we land just fine and we go on with our lives. That night we went to Mexican (the whole weekend I was asking for Cajun and they just kept taking me to other things. I think they didn't realize my love for southern food), hung out with my friend's new 9 wk old rat terrier (which for a small dog with a lame name is super cute!) and caught up on the old times. It was fun!
Friday- Caught the street car down St. Charles to Canal St and then walked on to Bourbon St. Had beignets and iced cafe au lait and it was delicious! Then got on a walking historical tour of the French Quarter which was only mildly interesting but did let me get familiar with the layout of the Quarter. After that, had lunch with L and walked around the CBD. Then went back to the Quarter to buy touristy crap including a beautiful mask for the Masquerade Ball in Canada assuming I ever work again and can afford to go. Then it was back home to walk the dog and then we packed up and headed off for the Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Destin FL.
Saturday- Spent the whole day in a park watching frisbee and keeping score and playing with the dog. Got a killer sunburn which is turning into a decent tan and learned a lot about ultimate frisbee. Which is a kick ass sport and I think I' might try and get into it. I need to start running again though if I'm going to go to some pick up games with L this summer when she comes home. Also need to practice frisbee throwing in general. Saturday night we bought an obscene amount of alcohol and partied with the team which was a lot of fun. We were staying in a condo right on the beach. These are some of the worlds most beautiful beaches and the condo was right there and it was only about $800 for two nights and it slept ten people and we put in almost 20 so it was super cheap. It was so much fun. Went swimming in the ocean in the dark, taught the dog to swim in the pool and got hit on by a 33 yr old guy which was a suprising development but he passed out on a lawn chair early so that didn't go anywhere.
Sunday- Watched frisbee and played with dog all day again. But this time it was on the beach so between games was ocean swimming and wave jumping. Then after the second game a big old thunderstorm rolls up and we all have to leave the beach. It went away really quickly and then we kept on playing. We got all the way to the finals but by the last game they were exhausted and we got slammed. But at least we played in the finals! Then we drove home. This drive consists of going through Mississippi and Alabama by the way which was just a treat for me! Some of you may know and others may not but I have a secret obsession with the South. I just find the whole thing fascinating. I love it! So to be in Alabama, if only for a little bit, was just awesome!
Monday- Woke up really effing early to go to Oak Alley Plantation but had only registered for the tour the night before so apparently I was not able to go this day but had to go on tuesday. So I walked down to the Riverwalk and got some more beignets and whatnot and found a morning cemetary tour. We went to St. Louis I just outside the French Quarter and it was a really fun tour. They talked a lot about preservation and restoration of the cemetaries which I found interesting from a professional (and geeky) standpoint. They talked about why they bury that way which was also interesting and surprisingly land use and eco conscious. Got to see Marie Laveau's tomb which was rad. Then went on an afternoon Haunted Garden District tour which was also awesome. That tour company was my favorite of the whole trip and when I go back will probably just use them instead of any others. Monday night I took my friends out to dinner for Cajun food (finally!) as a thank you for letting come stay with them. I had an alligator sausage po boy sandwhich. Alligator sausage tastes like gyro. It was great! Then we went to Bourbon St. and had a few drinks and generally enjoyed ourselves but my friends were still exhausted from their tournament and aren't the party types really so I didn't really get to do the drunk bourbon st experience so now I have to go back!
Tuesday- Woke up effing early again to pack my shit up and get it ready to go and then get to the Oak Alley Plantation tour. The actual tour of the house and grounds was great, a little long and they didn't talk about the ghosts or Interview With a Vampire, but overall was really cool to see and I'm glad I went. But there was another issue with my reservation and paying for it and it was lame and I don't want to talk about it because its really stressful and I don't want to think about it. Hopefully it all just gets resolved on its own and I don't have to do anything. BUT my tour guide was just amazing. He cracked me up. Called me Cover Girl the whole day. He told us his Katrina story (which a lot of people do) and it was really funny. Then got back just in time to hug my friends goodbye and hop on the shuttle for the airport and go home. The flight back just sucked because I wasn't ready to go yet and I think airports are only easy to do if you're excited to get where you're going. And the assholes in front of me on both flights home put their seats back right into my knee caps! GRRR! But I got home, I slept for like 11 hours and now I'm looking at what it might cost to go back for Mardi Gras next year with some friends who like to party.
So that was my trip. It was really fun and I had a great time. I think the one thing I really got out of it was the message that New Orleans is not a third world country after the storm, you can drink the water, everything is safe and they're enormously grateful for people who come to visit the city. So I know I'm going to spread the message and go back!