True Story.
I often go grocery shopping on my lunch breaks at work. It's a great way to shop for a day or two worth of groceries at a time. It helps that there is a Trader Joe's about two miles from the police station.
The other night in our work kitchen, as I was unpacking my shredded cheese with a bag of tortilla chips also in hand, my sergeant walked in giving me an opportunity to ask him a question about a call I was holding onto at my desk.
I try to professionally explain this complicated child custody drama using the dispatcher's code of conduct (ABC = accuracy, brevity and clarity) when the sergeant uses the first break in my explanation to blurt out:
LESS TALKING AND MORE NACHO MAKING.
This post will carry on the spirit of my nacho loving boss - not so much talking and a good selection of photos to show you what an amazing time I had in New Orleans a few weeks ago.
I went with some of my best girlfriends from Las Vegas and because we no longer live in the same city, there were many, many hours of girl talk after a full day of sight seeing, beignet eating and voo doo avoiding.
These are some snaps from our endless walks exploring the big easy:
I couldn't stop admiring the doors and windows:
Beignets. They've become synonymous with Nola. They're basically puffier funnel cakes, like a hybrid between a donut and a funnel cake with a more doughy consistency than a donut. But honestly, they taste like a funnel cake.
Cafe du Monde gets all the love when it comes to beignets but we found this little gem and we all agreed that their beignets were superior to their much busier and commercial competition.
Some of my favorite parts of any downtown area, in any city, are quaint alleyways and New Orleans has many of them tucked between and through their busy streets.
Another favorite thing--the incredibly talented musicians that play on the street everyday. We saw this duo in the French Quarter several times during out trip and they were outstanding. (she's not giving me the stink eye, I tip for pics)
The less than classy Bourbon Street. If you are party pants and like to be in the midst of thousands of loud and happy drunk people, Bourbon St. begs for you. I briefly fantasized about being a crazy fun Bourbon Street goer, but this girl has no Boogie Woogie left in her:
St. Louis Cathedral
The opposite of Bourbon Street:
New Orleans is an amazingly beautiful and fun city. I enjoy going there every ten years or so. As much as I enjoy it, there is one huge negative that I can't seem to overlook each time I visit. The city, the French Quarter especially, stinks - so bad. It smells like wet, hot garbage and pee.
This boggles the mind because almost everything else is amazing! The architecture, the landscape, the food, the fun ...
This trip will be my last for a while and I'm perfectly okay with that. I have a doggie that needs me at home. Every holiday (we alternate Thanksgiving and Christmas on the east coast), Curtis and I spend with my family in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia. This year, I cancelled so we could stay home with Fannie.
Australia and New Zealand has also been canceled.
We may schedule a quick weekend trip to Vegas or San Francisco for our anniversary in December but the most important thing is spending time with our little one.
I hope you are doing well and enjoying cool weather and lovely melts. <3
You mean you didn't have a Huge Ass Beer? hehe
ReplyDeleteSeems like all the books I'm reading lately end up in New Orleans to settle some paranormal problems. In fact the one I'm reading right now, they are currently in St. Louis cemetary, so your pic of the cathedral caused a dorky giggle.
~Deb
I love these photos. So beautiful and vibrant with life. It sounds like you had a lovely time. The stink would bother me a little too. But all the gorgeous architecture draw me enough I would try to overlook it. My sister wants to go to NOLA one day all together. A quiet at home holiday season sounds indulgent and well needed. I hope you make beautiful memories with your family this season. <3
ReplyDelete@Deb - I went to the St. Louis cemetery! I didn't like it very much--it was way too touristy and it didn't feeling like any kind of resting place for peace. There were some great ornamental gates surrounding individual plots though --and it's all above ground because of the sea level so that was interesting.
ReplyDelete@Julie - Thank you <3 A sister trip to NOLA would be perfect for y'all. I actually ran into one of my co-workers while walking around one day --she was with her sister, her mom and her mom's sister. I thought that was so great and yearned for my mom and sister that day :)
Such beautiful photos, Sunnee!! May I ask which camera you used?
ReplyDeleteI've never visited NOLA but would love to see the cemeteries. I've always had a fondness for visiting cemeteries.
I'm sorry you are postponing your trips but am so glad you will have more time with little Fannie <3
@Lynda - thanks! I used my sony point and shoot --I love that camera. As much as I wanted to take my big camera, I decided not to because I loathe lugging it around all day! :)
ReplyDeleteSunnee, sometimes I read your posts and I think that you may be my long lost twin. Obviously we were in NOLA just a few days before you were but it seems we chose to do a lot of the same things!
ReplyDeleteI 120% agree that Cafe Beignet has the superior beignets! I also much prefer the setting. Royal St. is probably my favorite street within the Quarter and nothing beats being serenaded by an accordion player while sitting under those fascinating trees while eating beignets. Sure, we'll always stop at Cafe du Monde as well but Cafe Beignet is the best!
And those two ladies with the electric violin and handmade electric guitar? Also my ABSOLUTE fave live music we saw the entire trip, which says a lot because we made a point to experience live music daily. I am so regretting not picking up one of their albums while putting my tips in.
Ahh, the smell LOL. There is a certain...aroma...at times, but I also associate the smells of the perfumeries with the Quarter, heavy rose and carnation with a touch of incense from the voodoo shops. Did you stop at the perfumeries? Hove and Bourbon French are the two in the Quarter and I always come away with a ton of scents to try. Hove even had wax tarts this year!
Looks like you had an amazing trip! Continuing to keep you and Fannie in my thoughts and prayers <3
@Jacqui - Hello! I have just re-added New Orleans back on my list of cities to visit sooner rather than later because I definitely did not visit the perfumeries. They were not even on my radar and I'm kicking myself now for it.
ReplyDeleteWe, too, listened to live music every night and some of our favorites were hidden away dives that had some great talent.
The lady with the handmade electric guitar? --fun fact, she's a high school principle by day. Fascinating, right!
There have been many times I've smiled straight from my soul at how many likes and similarities we have in common. <3
I hope you are doing well and enjoying everything in your life to the fullest!
Your photos are breathtaking. I feel like I was there with you! It's so nice to get away with friends. I WILL get a beignet before I die! Your description of the smell, unfortunately, I can smell right now...yikes!! Hot garbage smell is the worst. Gorgeous doors and alleyways and benches. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteLess talk more nacho making!? Your boss RULES!!