21st Anniversary in 2017
New Orleans Short-phrase-style (mostly from Chris' point of view):
Day 1, Sunday, May 21: Flight delayed and no guarantee so taking red-eye through Atlanta on Delta. (Sitting outside the airport to decide what we are doing to wait. Still happy. Birdie friend.)
Trax to Temple Square and met some sweet sister missionaries. What did we take away from our missions? Why did they come on a mission? Challenges: 1) Reflect on God's hand in your lives! Collect a Book of Mormon to share on our trip. Exercise faith. Maybe the change in schedule will be for a reason!
Stopped at Apollo Burger and sat down at the table noticing "Army's of Helaman" playing in the background. (Fish and Gyro sandwiches with sweet potato fries.) Went back to car to get some shut eye before the big night. Not super effective but worth the try.
Day 2, Monday, May 22: Slept in airplane going to Atlanta and then to New Orleans. Lucky for us the United app fixed it so we could sit together. No sleeping on a stranger. 🙃
Huge airports--escalators, "metro", walk and walk. Nice big toilet stalls for you and three pieces of luggage. Mother's nursing pod. Good morning Atlanta! Not feeling so well. Humidity hangs in the air. Overcast.
Uber driver, George, with substantial crucifix necklace, 5 kids, 14 grandchildren. Wife's and his full time job--uber-ing. Impression to ask if religious; I’m too shy. Wrote thank you instead. Good restaurant suggestions.
Feel like "dying" and sleep in lobby chair; probably not common place in a luxury hotel (Hyatt Regency). Ben already feeling the groove of Change Management. Alone until check in.
Finally a text...find room after "magical carpet ride" elevator conveys me to twelfth floor. Floor is so high restaurant looks like it's model size. Fear of height gives me tingles. 
Concierge gets and delivers luggage, explains room and A/C. Feeling a need to tip but don't. Service good, no connection if no tip, turns to duty and drudgery. Crazy nice hotel (no complimentary breakfast, cooler not fridge 😳, no windows, no reasonably priced food). Alone to shower and nap. Try famous Orleans gumbo with chicken, not seafood, and sausage. Yum. Stop for pralines candy too. Sweet.
"Home Improvement with Tim", email Elder Pack, nap. Ben too tired to go out after I spent an hour getting ready. No. No. No. I still want to. Ben is persuaded to go out with everyone. Dick Brennan's Steakhouse=$$$$+ restaurant. Ordered Turtle Soup (asked if we wanted a dash of sherry on top) and Lettuce wedge with French onions, two cherry tomatoes and blue cheese dressing ($20). With endless baguettes we're full. Nice colleague shares taste of crawdads and steak. "Melts in your mouth!" And breaks your wallet. 😂 Interesting experience. April's Charlotte, NC tales--alligators on the road, scuba diving, fresh shrimp. Jackie quietly eating simple dishes. Mike and Marian enjoy beer and steak and potatoes au gratin (shared). Walked back after taking cab there.
Favorite color purple projected lights. Plan. Bedtime.
Day 3, Tuesday, May 23: Dark room. Ben's early departure and bad dream. Innocent lives killed in dream, but true in Manchester England after huge Ariana Grande concert when suicide bomber sets it off in venue’s foyer killing Moms and young girls. 😧 Pray. Room with an interesting view. (Note: clarinet on small white hotel)
Dress and seek out sustenance. Walk where others do. See ”OurHouse”. Nothing catching my eye. Finally...Marjoria's Commerce "Cafe". Breakfast and lunch. Disappointed breakfast menu is over, cause would have ordered breakfast. Cheap food, but yummy sustaining, BLT on wheat. Big Boys Gooey Cake very gooey good.
Retrace steps. Signs of Idaho. Shop at corner grocery store. Picture perfect produce. Packed with lunch goers. Cute recycle bag full of healthier food for more lonely meals. "Home." Fridge not real, just cooler. 😳 Another luxury.
Eat some groceries for dinner. Love “Memoirs from ____”. Sit at outlying tables near hotel restaurant. Mood changes from day to evening. Poolside conversation with “site” buddies. Mike’s drinking beer. Patra and Ben disgruntled with lack of others’ enthusiasm. (Could have brought swimsuit, darn!)
Ben’s free to go out! Yipee! Walk to the Conference party place. Guarded by security. Not paying $125 to go in with him. Walk around to gain an appetite. Beautiful buildings, Mississippi River. Buy souvenirs for kids. Feeling the humidity and heat of NOLA for the first time.
Visitor Center guru points us to the best Swamp tour and a restaurant/safe haven for Chris to wait while Ben’s at the “party.” Huck Finn’s for Chris with a crab cake—delicious. “Filipina” waitress’ first day at this new job. Talked about Filipinos in America, she nor friend have ever heard of “Hey Joe Show.” House of Blues for Ben with a Southern food buffet—"okay," though shrimp and sauce are good. Night walk back. Like the balloon and whisk lights.
Day 4, Wednesday, May 24: Conference finally over. No more lonely Chris. First stop Lafayette Square for picnic of leftovers. Cathedral bells playing familiar hymns. Next stop Federal Reserve one-room Museum a “must see” for Ben. Makes Ben’s Bank of Ray dollar bill. Not fitting into Ben's version of Maybury’s paradigm.
Dinner and entertainment back at Lafayette Square—Youth Council fundraiser. Surveyed by cute black lady with a frustrating iPad. Bought entrepreneur’s “giving back” t-shirt for Ally, make a connection. Crawfish tacos and coleslaw. Banana and Nutella mega-crepe. Yum. (I did get some. No worries!) No drinks but alcohol, silly us.
Famous St. Charles’ Street Trolley evening ride to the end of the line and back. Beautiful ol’ mansions, college. Disgruntled passenger and trolley driver’s argument holds up the trolley a while. Keep hands and arms inside the car at all times. No joke! They'd get chopped of by poles and trees if you failed obedience.
Late bus ride to AirBnB with luggage. Feels a little sketchy getting there as it gets dark, but phew! we made it! and Ron’s a perfect gentlemen.
Day 5: Thursday, May 25: Downtown walk and lunch before grand alligator adventure. Repeat Marjorie's Commerce Cafe--fried chicken and meatball poboy (one of top NOLA famous foods). City life: sounds of jazz, street living, burned out building, "watch for bikers" memorial.
Swamp tour Cajon Encounters with Captain Al. Alligators are friends not food! And supposedly they are very friendly. And the hogs, well they like corn. Don't want to meet one of those on my morning drive. Captain Al grew up on the water. Better learn how to swim early here. Son just built a home. Raised here, stay here and no property taxes!
Day 6: Friday, May 26: Eating at the Toast. Southern chicken and waffles AND biscuits, sausage and gravy. Regular bus stop with the "colored towns" people. National World War II Museum that's big enough for multiple days. Interactive displays, videos, mood lighting, somber atmosphere...intimate experience with tragic history. Break for some fried alligator, jalapeño mac and cheese, and BBQ'd ribs with pickled watermelon rind. Cochan Restaurant. Spicy! but worth it.
Hot cocoa and ice cream at The Drip Affogato Bar (but usually where coffee and ice cream meet). Fun modern dessert twist. Squeeze in some time at NOLA city park. More food taste testing--jumbalaya and muffuletta (not the yummiest) at the park cafe. Moss!
Day 7: Saturday, May 27: Last food hurrah for beignets at Cafe Du Monde. with Cassidy, Emma, Brigan, and Kendal (Moss nephew and his family who were living in Baton Rouge at the time, plus Emma's sister and her son). Definitely worth the wait. *wink, wink* Brief touring as a family down the market and through the cathedral. Never a dull moment in NOLA (bachelorette party parade). Oh my is it HOT. First day of killer weather, glad it's our last.
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| Live "dummy." All we could say was, "ouch!" Haha. |
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