Beach Vacation - Getting There

We headed south and of course that means Louisiana!

First stop, Nachitoches Meat Pies!



We took a little time and walked the downtown area. Always beautiful!





Our first destination was Baton Rouge. And of course, that meant Cadillac!!!



Sam will love that I posted that! LOL But as you can tell by his face, that Cadillac is serious business!

After a wonderful visit, we were on our way to the beach. But first a stop in New Orleans was a must!





It was a beautiful beginning to an awesome vacation!

Mother's (NOLA post #3)

March 15, 2013

The day we arrived, we were hungry! One must always arrive in New Orleans hungry. The only dilemma is where to eat. We decided to grab a po-boy at Mother's.



They did not disappoint!

All Aboard! (NOLA post #2)

March 15, 2013

Friday evening found us on Frenchmen Street! The Blue Nile.



This was not a random thing. Actually, this was the reason for coming a day early. Kermit Ruffins! Goodness, can he put on a show! If you ever have the chance to see him in person, do it! True New Orleans, baby!



I've seen Kermit several times, this was Jamie's first. She was just as impressed as I knew she would be!

It's all Good (NOLA post #1)

March 15, 2013

Jamie and I decided to go down a day early. Always a great idea!

We were staying at a bed and breakfast in the faubourg Marigny. This was a new place for me and we had never stayed this far out of the French Quarter.



The B&B was Schiro's (skee rows). It had six guestrooms on the second and third floor and a small grocery/cafe down below. The cafe served traditional New Orleans cuisine, along with Indian food. We ate several meals there and as the sign says, "It's all good!"

You can see the balcony in the first picture. We spent peaceful evenings sitting there enjoying. We were also close enough to the river that you could see the cruise ships pass by on their way out to sea.



Zak and Naas, the couple that owns the guesthouse were wonderful hosts. We will definitely be staying there again!

The first night we were in a suite on the third floor. This was the view from our window.



And a shot of the sitting area in our suite.



After the first night, we moved to a smaller less expensive (and fewer stairs)room!

A New Orleans Icon is Gone

The Hubig's Pie bakery in the Faubourg Marigny burned down today. The bakery had been serving New Orleans fried snack pies since 1922. In March, we stayed in a bed and breakfast just blocks from the Hubig's bakery. So sad. We always have to snack on and buy some to bring home when we visit New Orleans. One of the co-owners says that they will rebuild, but doesn't know how long it will be.




http://photos.nola.com/tpphotos/2012/07/hubigs_pies_fire.html

Streetcars

Kale loved these!



Whether he was leaning out the windows...



Or just riding inside!



He was such a great traveler!!!

Birds, birds, birds!

It rained on us most of our time in New Orleans. We decided during one of the heavier rains to visit the aquarium and wait out the rain. We had been here before, about 11 years ago. I think the boys were 4 and 6 years old when we came. Now they are 15 and 17 years old.

Kale loved it! The fish, the sharks, the penguins. But what we all loved most were the parakeets!





Especially Jamie, who loves birds! LOL



And after she screamed and freaked out some, Kale and I were not sure about these birdies ourselves!



But even with the misgivings about birds, this experience stands out as one of the best of our trip!!!

Top o' the World

We had a chance to view New Orleans from atop a 34 story sky-scraper! What an awesome experience!!!!

Street Performers

I never have quite understood these guys. They paint themselves gold or silver and stand so still. They draw lots of attention and money apparently. They may even scare small children.

Kale was not sure what to think of them, but he wasn't scared. Just unsure.

Walter and Samuel...not so much. They loved it!

Tradition

tradition : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)


The Gumbo Shop

This is our tradition. We arrive in the Quarter. Check in to Place d'armes and then head to the Gumbo Shop. Every. time.



Kale loved the jambalaya!

Making a Splash in Louisiana

We had a great trip down to Baton Rouge. Kale was a super traveler. Only thing was it rained over half the way. Sometimes it was hard to see the road. Even after we arrived it continued to rain. All I could think of was that I wish we were getting some back home and I think we did.

Kale loved it though. It has been so long since we've experienced rain, we had to go play in it!

St. Patrick's Day Revisted

On March 17th, Diane and I were in New Orleans. This is a very festive weekend for New Orleans. Nothing like Mardi Gras, mind you. But festive none-the-less. We had a blast. In one 24 hour period, we managed to catch three parades!



We played the part too. We dressed up. I even colored my hair, which was supposed to be temporary, but still holds a shade of green, even today. It's okay, sometimes it matches my mood for the day!



Diane surprised me with awesome St. Patrick day socks! It completed my outfit!



Diane gets two pictures on this blogpost because her pictures were just too cool not to post! Love ya!

They're Not Telling Me Anything I Didn't Already Know

Top Ten Cities in America for Foodies

Before you click, take one guess where the number one city is!?!?!?!

Kale Goes to New Orleans

Of course, with Mama and Mimi in tow. Sam and Diane too.

A shot of Kale in front of St. Louis Cathedral.



Strolling in the Quarter.



A picture of our whole party in Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Kale loved this place. So colorful and the music is great too. I love it too.





A traditional shot. We've taken pictures here for years. Now it is Kale's turn to start his tradition.



All in all, Kale loved New Orleans as much as we did, I think. It was a great day in the Quarter.

Another Trip Back in Time

I first visited the past here, at Oak Alley. I loved it. I, then returned to times gone by at Houmas House.

Saturday morning, on our way to New Orleans, we visited Destrehan Plantation. Another wonderful visit to another time.

Love, love, love the live oaks. The pictures just can't do them justice.



A shot of the back of the plantation house. I don't know how but I got away without taking a picture of the front of the house.



Besides the live oak trees, the other thing I love about southern plantations are the galleries or porches.



A shot of the kitchen. Kitchens were always separate from the main houses.




There was usually one of the slaves that was a cooper by trade. He could have easily been the most valuable/expensive slave on the plantation. The cistern below is an example of something he might have made. The cistern below was made to hold water, many, many gallons of water, for the plantation.