St Expedite, pray for us
The gift shop employee at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel and the International Shrine of St. Jude said that the coin box for St. Expedite is plugged up because people were probably fishing donations out of it.
I've been to New Orleans seven times now, but this was the first during the French Quarter Jazz Festival, which featured 17 stages of free music, mostly outdoors in the French Quarter. I loved l'Angelus, a xydeco band from Lafayette that I'd seen in Seattle on St. Patrick's day.
At the Absinthe Museum of America, I had absinthe for the first time (not counting homemade); Pernod. Not sure which variety. I liked it.
I finally made it to the mint. I didn't tour the featured exhibit (how drugs are ruining America), but I got a quick overview of the permanent exhibit, featuring displays from when New Orleans actually minted US coins. Funny story: when they closed it in 1909, the mint machinery was packed up to be sent to Philadelphia. No one ever saw it again. I'm not sure counterfeiting 3-cent pieces with an 'O' mint mark will get you very wealthy, though.
Another first: I don't recall going to an aquarium before. Some of us went to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, where I got to pet -- and Julie got to feed -- stingrays. I just read that some jellyfish may be immortal.
Another first: Green Goddess (207 Exchange Alley) was worth the wait -- and possibly the trip. Small restaurant with excellent food. I'm still dreaming of the aged goat cheese I had there. I also ate golden beet "ravioli" which is ten million times better than that sounds.
Also, first time touring a plantation. Yay! Creole architecture was well displayed at the Laura Plantation, which also had an amazing French garden, and a never-ending attempt to sell a book.
We crossed the Mississippi River at (a new (to me (if I recall correctly))) bridge, near Gramercy.
Several more firsts, and a slew of repeats. I've finally been there enough times that I missed Cafe Du Monde and Pat O'Brien's, both visited on all of my previous trips.
The city's colors are shifting from green and purple to black and gold. Saints be praised. I don't care about football, but I sure care about New Orleans football. Winning the "superbeauxl" this year seems to have added a particular jauntiness to the step of your average stumbling drunk. The SuperBowl has done wonders for putting the city back into the mental map of Americans.
What a great year. What a great festival. What great company! I can't wait to go again.
I still have not: seen a Saints game; taken a river steamboat; been to the zoo; taken a train ... so many reasons to go back.
I've been to New Orleans seven times now, but this was the first during the French Quarter Jazz Festival, which featured 17 stages of free music, mostly outdoors in the French Quarter. I loved l'Angelus, a xydeco band from Lafayette that I'd seen in Seattle on St. Patrick's day.
At the Absinthe Museum of America, I had absinthe for the first time (not counting homemade); Pernod. Not sure which variety. I liked it.
I finally made it to the mint. I didn't tour the featured exhibit (how drugs are ruining America), but I got a quick overview of the permanent exhibit, featuring displays from when New Orleans actually minted US coins. Funny story: when they closed it in 1909, the mint machinery was packed up to be sent to Philadelphia. No one ever saw it again. I'm not sure counterfeiting 3-cent pieces with an 'O' mint mark will get you very wealthy, though.
Another first: I don't recall going to an aquarium before. Some of us went to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, where I got to pet -- and Julie got to feed -- stingrays. I just read that some jellyfish may be immortal.
Another first: Green Goddess (207 Exchange Alley) was worth the wait -- and possibly the trip. Small restaurant with excellent food. I'm still dreaming of the aged goat cheese I had there. I also ate golden beet "ravioli" which is ten million times better than that sounds.
Also, first time touring a plantation. Yay! Creole architecture was well displayed at the Laura Plantation, which also had an amazing French garden, and a never-ending attempt to sell a book.
We crossed the Mississippi River at (a new (to me (if I recall correctly))) bridge, near Gramercy.
Several more firsts, and a slew of repeats. I've finally been there enough times that I missed Cafe Du Monde and Pat O'Brien's, both visited on all of my previous trips.
The city's colors are shifting from green and purple to black and gold. Saints be praised. I don't care about football, but I sure care about New Orleans football. Winning the "superbeauxl" this year seems to have added a particular jauntiness to the step of your average stumbling drunk. The SuperBowl has done wonders for putting the city back into the mental map of Americans.
What a great year. What a great festival. What great company! I can't wait to go again.
I still have not: seen a Saints game; taken a river steamboat; been to the zoo; taken a train ... so many reasons to go back.