New Orleans weekend adventure
It started off as a conversation last Thanksgiving. My cousin Beth (actually, my husband's cousin) mentioned she was going to be in New Orleans for a conference. It had been a while since I myself had been to the area, for either work or travel. Even though the schedule was getting pretty full for that month already, I decided to take the plunge and go on a short work trip, and stay over the weekend.
Even though the work results were less than stellar, the weekend vacation was wonderful. Beth booked a bike tour though buzz nola, and the resulting 3-hour bike tour was informative, and to my surprise, relaxing. The weather cooperated and as the tour group wove our way in and out of neighborhoods I would have never gone to on my own around the city, I was in a stage of happy delight. Late into the tour we stopped at City Park and shared mini muffuletta sandwiches and a mango freeze near some gorgeous old oaks.
Much of our free time we spent walking, of course in the French Quarter. The first night we made the ubiquitous pass/gauntlet down Bourbon Street, which I found out later on the bike tour is not named after the whiskey, but after a French family name. We also made our way to Frenchmen street for live music, both on the street and inside one of the comfortable, laid back small bars. The night we were there seemed more blues-oriented than jazz. We also did the late night stop for beignets and a way-too-long bathroom line.
We saw a cute kid drumming on the sidewalk on a plastic bucket and he was so good. It was only later that I thought about it - there was a 9 year old on the street, playing for tourists and nary a parent or guardian in sight. I saw him later that weekend in a different spot playing with another child drummer. We saw the tall ships that had sailed in to commemorate the 300th anniversary of New Orleans. We saw both a funeral and wedding jazz band procession. I think those moment are some of my favorite New Orleans experiences. Oh, and the oysters.
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| My traveling companion Beth in front of Jackson Square |
Much of our free time we spent walking, of course in the French Quarter. The first night we made the ubiquitous pass/gauntlet down Bourbon Street, which I found out later on the bike tour is not named after the whiskey, but after a French family name. We also made our way to Frenchmen street for live music, both on the street and inside one of the comfortable, laid back small bars. The night we were there seemed more blues-oriented than jazz. We also did the late night stop for beignets and a way-too-long bathroom line.
We saw a cute kid drumming on the sidewalk on a plastic bucket and he was so good. It was only later that I thought about it - there was a 9 year old on the street, playing for tourists and nary a parent or guardian in sight. I saw him later that weekend in a different spot playing with another child drummer. We saw the tall ships that had sailed in to commemorate the 300th anniversary of New Orleans. We saw both a funeral and wedding jazz band procession. I think those moment are some of my favorite New Orleans experiences. Oh, and the oysters.
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