New Orleans Trip (part 1)

As usual, we are having a great time on our Annual Mother/Daughter Trip.  Sheila and I left Sunday after the morning assembly.  We made it to Shreveport in time to check into our motel and get settled.  Then we visited the Walker Rd. church.  It was great to visit with the folks there...haven't seen some of them since our first trip 7 years ago. 

Monday morning Paula met up with us, we dropped her car off at Dot's house, and headed south.  We made it to New Orleans and "moved in" to our cottage.  It is a 100 year old house that has been converted into a sort of duplex.  The owners live in one half and rent out the other half to tourists.  It is really cute...a bit noisy (no insulation and wooden floors throughout), but homey.  After getting settled we headed to the Parkway Bakery for some shrimp Po'boys!

 

Tuesday morning we walked to the streetcar stop and headed to the WWII Museum to watch the Victory Belles perform a tribute to the Andrew Sisters.  It was a great show!  Those girls were very talented...and very sweet when we met them after the show.  After walking and waiting for a LONG time for our ride back, we got off at the Garden District.  We walked around looking at the beautiful architecture and lovely flowers, as well as touring the old Lafayette Cemetery.

 

 

This morning we drove to the New Orleans Botanical Gardens.  We enjoyed the beautiful flowers and tranquil scenery.  The Gardens even included a miniature village of local architecture and landmarks.  It looked like a little elf town! 

 

We were scheduled to pick up Jessica at the airport, so we headed that way, stopping for lunch at a local hamburger/seafood place.  It looked like a fast food restaurant, but it was much, MUCH more than that.  So far the food that New Orleans is famous for, and that we have greatly anticipated, is living up to its reputation!

 

After retrieving Jessica, we drove about 20 miles north to go on a swamp tour.  Our Cajun guide earned his fee as we drifted through the bayou, watching gators, raccoons and other native wildlife.  He even passed around a 3 1/2 years old "pet" gator for everyone to hold.  The weather was absolutely perfect!

 

When we got back to "The Big Easy", we headed down to the French Quarter.  We strolled the streets, admiring the beautiful buildings and enjoying the occasional musician playing along the way.  We enjoyed a delicious New Orleans style supper at The Huckleberry Finn:  etouffee, jambalaya, barbecue shrimp and grits, and the best bowl of red beans and rice we ever tasted!  Then back to our cottage to watch "The Princess and the Frog". 

 

 

New Orleans is a unique city, with so many new things to see and experience...even for our tame little group!  We look forward to 3 more days of exploration and fun!