My Favorite Place

We’ve been back a week, and it is good to be home.  Now, it is time to start scrapbooking ALL those memories (2000 photos to be exact!!!)

We had some amazing adventures throughout our travels, saw some remarkable things, tasted some amazing food and even learned a thing or two along the way.  Among those almost 9,000 miles driven, my favorite place above all was New Orleans.   I LOVED IT AND CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK!!!  (It was great in January… I don’t think I want to be there in August.)

One of the things that I loved so much about NOLA was the people.  So often in big cities you come across some nasty people… not friendly, never smiling, and grouchy or downright rude.  They don’t want to be bothered by you.  Not so in New Orleans.  Everyone was VERY friendly and the people of New Orleans really take pride in their city and its unique culture.   Yes, we did many of the touristy type things, so people are “paid” to be nice, but I didn’t meet a single person who seemed like their friendliness was “forced.”  When we would talk to people on the street to get directions or ask a question, people responded genuinely and didn’t seem to be put off by us.  There wasn’t any time either when I didn’t feel safe carrying my purse on my shoulder.  For a big city, it was a comfortable place to be.

The culture of New Orleans is incredibly unique as well.  I can’t even put it into words.  It is something you must experience for yourself.  Street performers, artists, Voodoo, Cajun, Creole, and the mix.  The new.  The old.  Pre-Katrina.  Post-Katrina.  It was all very interesting. 

Russell and I were there pre-Mardi Gras, so crowds were minimal, which was good for me.  Crowds these days for me are very confining and claustrophobic and send me into a panic attack.  We didn’t deal with the craziness of Mardi Gras parades, but it is something I would like to experience at some point, maybe from a balcony where I can watch from a far instead of being in the mix.  J

The food in New Orleans was absolutely amazing!  I had crawfish for the first time at Channing Tatum’s Saints and Sinners Restaurant.  (Yes, you read that correctly, he has a restaurant there.)  It was delicious, but no, I didn’t see him and everyone kept their clothes on.  There were no Magic Mike moments.  We ate beignets.  We had pralines.  I drank King Cake flavored vodka.  Everything was delicious.

The only thing that I didn’t like about New Orleans is that the Mississippi River now lays claim to my car keys.  On our last day there, we had taken the ferry across the River to avoid dealing with the traffic or parking the car, which can be VERY expensive.  We had taken the ferry multiple times previously without incident, but on this last trip, luck was NOT on my side.  We had exited the ferry as we had done before and were walking up the gangplank to the parking area.  I had the car keys in my hand so I could unlock the door.  As we walked up the gangplank, which was grated metal, the keys fell out of my hand, through the grate and into the mighty Mississippi… never to be seen again.  I watched it happen in slow motion in my mind and had no time to react.  I think my keys are probably in the Gulf of Mexico by now.  Russell thinks a catfish probably ate them and a fisher will find them someday.  Either way, they are gone and that experience cost me $160 to get a lock smith to open up the car and have it re-keyed.  UGH!  Not New Orleans' fault by any means, just an added memory, I would rather forget.

Nonetheless, I loved New Orleans and have the Mardi Gras bug now, and can’t wait to go back for another adventure.

Maybe the next Cruise and Crop will depart from New Orleans.  Thoughts?

Until next time, "Laissez les bons temps rouler"

Roberta

The Traveling Crafter