On a happier note...New Orleans pics! (huge dial-up warning)

[huskerlaw]

I just got back from New Orleans, and I had a fabulous time! The food is second to none and the people are extremely friendly.

Canal Street, between the Convention Center and the French Quarter:


Near Canal Street:


Inside the Palace Cafe (highly recommended):


The infamous thunderstorm. Notice how the street lights are on. It was NOON. :D


Mmm, beignets! (and yes, I ate them with Coke. I know that's blasphemy, but it was WAY too hot for coffee)


This was right outside my hotel... :(


French Quarter:


A church in the French Quarter:


Jackson Square...or is it Jefferson Square? Whichever one's in the center of the French Quarter, lol


Bourbon Street (aka Where Husker got her ass kicked by a Hurricane)


Bananas Foster at Brennan's (home of Bananas Foster, and frankly, the best food I've ever tasted):


The House of Blues! WHEEE!


And, really, the best street sign EVER (I have NO idea what it was advertising. None. It was outside a bookstore somewhere in the French Quarter)

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Where's the pic of the crying baby?

:hide:

Beautiful pics, sweetie. I hope you had a wonderful time. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

3. Buahaha!

Damn, I knew I forgot something. :evilgrin:

Once I got over the shock of seeing an American city that, in places, looked more like a 3rd world country, I did have a very nice time. We didn't even go into the "bad" places, but a large portion of NOLA still has a very long way to go.

The people make it hard to focus on that for too long, though. Their fighting spirit is simply amazing.

[SeattleGirl]

2. Great pictures!!!!

And I'm sure Kitchey will really love that last one! :7

[huskerlaw]

4. Thanks!

Isn't that last pic a kick? LOL It was just so random! And nobody that I was with had any clue why a) I started laughing and b) I simply HAD to take a picture of it. ;)

[SeattleGirl]

7. I was in a bookstore a couple of months ago, and saw this book

title: Kitchen Witch. :-)

[huskerlaw]

8. Hmmm.

Well, this sign was in front of a bookstore...maybe they were talking about that book? ;)

[SeattleGirl]

15. Are you kidding?

Strange confluences of the universe, eh? :)

[jobycom]

5. Woohoo! Did you visit New Orleans East or any of the damaged areas?

Great pics!

[huskerlaw]

6. No, not really

I was there for a conference, so I didn't really have time to explore much. We did go pretty far into the garden district, which in itself wasn't horribly damaged, but there were parts of it that seemed pretty deserted.

There's also some damage evident on the ride from the airport to the French Quarter...water lines on the sound barrier walls, etc.

[jobycom]

11. Hey, you kept your eyes open.

That's exactly right. There was flooding between the airport and the Quarters, and the Garden District didn't flood, but got some damage from wind and more from the looting and fires in the days after.

Fun trip! The French Quarters is one of the best places on Earth to visit. Your beignet pic is making me hungry! (And I drink coke with them, too ;) )

[huskerlaw]

14. Glad I got it right!

We ended up going to the Garden District on our last morning there. We were looking through the Frommer's guide and read about an ice cream shop that sold Red Velvet Cake ice cream. And really, who could pass that up?

So we got a cab and headed to the Creole Creamery on Poydras. Just like all of the other food we ate in NOLA, it was heavenly!

[jobycom]

19. My mother grew up just past that area, on Magazine Street, close to where Oswald lived.

She also dated a Cuban who went back to help Castro. I think she shot Kennedy!

Actually, I've never been to the Creole Creamery, but I just looked it up. It's on Prytania. My grandfather owned a hardware store on Prytania, maybe on that block. He moved it to Magazine Street at some point, and my mother grew up in that store (house and store were combined). He still called it Prytania's. So you were very near where she grew up. :)

[huskerlaw]

20. You're right...

Poydras was the street near Harrah's! Oops!

You should definitely hit up the Creole Creamery if you have a chance. It's AMAZING.

[jobycom]

22. Oh, you had me at Red Velvet Cake ice cream!

Thanks for the rec!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear huskerlaw!

Oh, sweetie!

Those are awesome pics!

I think you had a wonderful time...

Thanks for sharing these....

And....

Welcome home!

:bounce: :bounce:

[huskerlaw]

10. Thank you!

Overall, I did have a wonderful time.

Alas, I'm only home until Friday evening. Then it's the BIG trip!

Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK for THREE WEEKS!

I'm already exhausted! :D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Oh, I knew that was coming up!

I know you'll have fun, sweetie......

And you will be missed too.....:cry:

Will you have internet access? I don't think you have a laptop, do you?

Well, it'll be all the sweeter when you do return.......*sigh*

Have fun and stay safe!



:hug:

[huskerlaw]

13. I will have internet access...

I'm staying with friends and they have computers.

I do have a laptop, but I don't think I'm taking it.

I'm going to miss everyone here too! As well as my furkids...I've deserted them nearly the whole summer!

I'll be sure to post a LARGE amount of pictures when I return. ;)

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. Glad to hear you will have internet access!

Um....just sayin'....laptops are sooooooo convenient for storing digital pics!

Well, at least you can pop in from time to time, and say hello!

Believe me, that is such a grand thing, being able to talk to your friends when you're far away... :pals:

I'm sure as heck looking forward to your pics!

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

17. I thought about it,

but I think I'll just pop for a 2GB memory card instead (I already have a 1GB)

I've been carting my laptop all over the US all summer and I'm kinda sick of having to deal with it.

I'll definitely pop in when I have a chance!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. Ah, I understand that!

They do get heavy!

You should be OK with all that memory!

You might want to make some notes, though, on just where you were every day....Cause you will forget!

That was the one advantange to having the laptop!

I labelled the files every damn day......

And I was sooooooo glad I had once I got home!

[huskerlaw]

21. That's a great idea!

As you'll notice upthread, I'm already forgetting things about New Orleans!

Poydras...Prytania...whatever, the street started with a P! LOL! ;)

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Glad you had fun.

I live a few blocks east of the FQ. I have never seen the Katrina "memorial" stone. Where is it?

We do have great food, don't we?

[huskerlaw]

24. I did, indeed, have fun!

And your food, it is AMAZING. I got some really great recommendations from people here, so we ate at the Palace Cafe, Brennan's and Creole Creamery. Oh, and once at Mulate's because we didn't have time to go anywhere else. ;)

The memorial stone is on Convention Center Drive, across from Hall...um...D, I believe. Basically, there's a little park next to the Hampton Inn, and it's in a small plaza in front of that park.

[huskerlaw]

25. .

:kick: for KW!

[SoxFan]

26. "Huge Ass Beers To Go"

Reason to love New Orleans, # 746!

In New Hampshire, bars have been fined because the "B" in a Budweiser advertising banner was a quarter-inch too big. And no, I am not kidding.

In New Orleans, you have bars at the mall food court, drive-thru daquiris, and "Huge Ass Beers To Go"!

[huskerlaw]

29. Hee hee, I know!

I got a hurricane to go, just so that I could walk down the street, openly drinking alcohol. Their only request is that it not be in a glass container! :woohoo:

[Hand]

31. Hilarious! True Nawlins stuff!

Short on subtlety, admittedly... :rofl: :toast:

[In_The_Wind]

27. I really must get there sometime! It's beautiful.

Your pictures are wonderful. Thank you.

[huskerlaw]

30. It's a lovely city

despite all that has happened to it. The food and the amazing people make it well worth the trip!

[In_The_Wind]

33. I am sure I'll be heading toward New Orleans someday.

My travels are becoming easier now that I'm getting a camper.
Taking my parrot along with me as I travel makes life challenging but she's ready to go whenever I am.

[RandomKoolzip]

28. This thread brought tears to my eyes.

I lived in New Orleans for five years. It was tough - the weather was unfriendly and I had everything I'd owned stolen from me.

But seeing these pics reminds me that it might have been my home for good. I miss it badly now. :cry:

In any event, nice pics. :thumbsup:

[huskerlaw]

32. I'm sorry

that your experience there was so negative. I know that even in the best of circumstances, it's a hard city to live in. I think that's why the people who do live there are so fabulous.

I can definitely understand why you would miss it...it definitely has a charm that doesn't exist anywhere else.

[guitar man]

34. HUGE ASS BEERS

TO GO!!

God I always loved that town, I hope she makes the best recovery she can... <sigh>

[huskerlaw]

35. She's trying.

In spite of all the government has done to actually ensure that she doesn't recover, the people who live there are fighters. New Orleans will be back. (especially if we can get a president who will fund a recovery effort...sigh)

[RetroLounge]

36. Thank you for these...

I spent over a week there on my (first) honeymoon back in 1988. We stayed in a woman's house on Chartres Street and walked everywhere. It was an amazing time. We went for the food and the music. Drank a bit too much. Spent a bit too much. But had a great time.

Well, thinking back, we stayed in the converted slave quarters in this old house, maybe that was an omen? :shrug:

:hi:

RL

[huskerlaw]

37. You're welcome

That could have been an omen...did you touch a voodoo doll too? ;)

[RetroLounge]

38. Uhm, I think I might have...

:scared:

RL

[huskerlaw]

39. Doh.

Well, there you go then. Slave quarters and a voodoo doll. 'twas doomed from the start.

;)

[RetroLounge]

40. Well, the Beignets made it worthwhile...

:D

RL

[GOPisEvil]

41. It looked like daylight when you had your beignets!

I've never eaten at Cafe Du Monde while the sun has been out.

NO is lots of fun, although after about 3 days it gets old. Great pictures!

And, I'm sure you heard, it's Jackson Square. :)

[huskerlaw]

43. Actually, nobody corrected me!

As you can tell, I was a bit confused. I know I saw both on the map, lol.

3 days was just about right, although since we were also in meetings a lot, we could have used one more day.

[Haole Girl]

42. I looked at this thread just before going to bed last night...

..and I've been craving beignets ever since! :cry:

Seriously, thanks for sharing these. They brought back a lot of fond memories. In fact, I listened to some of the most amazing jazz I've ever heard just about where that "Food now being served" sign is!

:hi:

[huskerlaw]

44. Awwww!

They were pretty good, though very reminiscent of funnel cakes!

Ah, was it jazz on the street corner? We heard a fabulous band at the Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Palace Cafe. :)

[Haole Girl]

47. It was actually in a little bar...

And, I do remember a green door (at one end of Bourbon St.). But, it was many years ago... I'm sure a lot has changed since then.

[stuntcat]

45. wow beautiful!

TY for posting, I'm glad the trip was great!

[huskerlaw]

49. You're welcome

It was really fun!

[Le Taz Hot]

46. Makes me tear up a little.

N.O. my FAVORITE place outside of California. Oh, goddess, the Cafe du Monde and those bin, begn, you know those hoochies with the powdered sugar on top.

And did you happen to visit "Mother's" (a.k.a. "Mudda's)? Greatest, and I mean GREATEST greens I've ever tasted.

[huskerlaw]

48. hahahahhaha...hoochies!

those hoochies are pretty yummy!

I didn't get to Mother's. Alas, we had a very limited number of meals free. Stupid conference kept trying to feed us when really we just wanted to go find our own food sources, lol.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

50. Nice pics! I'm pretty sure it's Jackson...

as that's a pretty famous statue of Andrew Jackson, who helped defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

I want to go visit now! Thanks for sharing your vacation! :toast:

[huskerlaw]

51. You're right!

I have been corrected since the original post. It is, indeed, Jackson Square. That's what I get for paying zero attention to what I was taking a picture of.

To me, it was "Hey, isn't that where Bush gave that speech where he promised to send whatever aid necessary to rebuild NOLA?! That fucker. I'm taking a picture." ;)

Anyway, you're welcome! And do go visit...though I would suggest not going in July. The weather is rather, well, sauna-esque. :P

:toast:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

52. I'd like to visit when the azaleas are blooming...

and I'd like to take a boat through Bayou country...

[huskerlaw]

53. That would be fun!

We flew over the bayou and it looked like nothing I've ever seen before. A boat ride would be quite interesting.

[u4ic]

54. New Orleans is the one American city I've always wanted to visit

It's pretty obvious why from your great pics. :hi:


Thanks for sharing - and a kick so KitchenWitch may see them, too!

[huskerlaw]

60. It is a definite must-see

There's really no other American city like it.

[baby_mouse]

55. Lovely! NT

[huskerlaw]

61. Thanks!

:hi:

[Maestro]

56. Great series

I haven't been to the French Quarter since 1982. I so do remember Café du Monde and the chickory coffee with beignets! It's nice to see the French Quarter alive again. Thanks.

[huskerlaw]

62. The French Quarter is in great shape

The rest of the city...not nearly so much, unfortunately.

You're welcome!

[gr8dane_daddy]

57. I believe it is "Jackson's Square"...man, I miss 'Nawlins

And I do believe I had several of those Huge Ass Beers...ah, memories (or lack thereof)

[huskerlaw]

63. Ah, thanks for the clarification!

I avoided the Huge Ass Beers, but I did tackle a hurricane. And I soooo lost. ;)

[KitchenWitch]

58. Great pix!

I am partial to the last one in the bunch!

:rofl:

I love that memorial to Katrina.

[huskerlaw]

59. Thanks!

I wish I knew what the sign was for! It was just randomly leaning against a light pole outside a bookstore in the French Quarter.

The memorial is nice, and it was in a really good location. Right across from the convention center..

[jus_the_facts]

64. The summer I graduated high school....July 4th, 1985...I was still only 17...

...my cousin and I went to Pat O's with fake ID's...we bought one hurricane apiece...then went out onto the patio and ended up havin'to share a table with these guys from Rice University...as there were no other tables available....they had two 5 GALLON Hurricane glasses on their table...aquarium tubing was used for straws which they used to siphon the hurricanes into our glasses......pictures were taken of us watchin' the fireworks display...don't remember much else after that....on our mile long trek back to the Hilton parkin' tower it was said that I fell down in the middle of Canal St. and yelled "Fuck it..this is N'awlenz..you're supposed to get drunk and fall down!" to the cops across the way......never once concerned about what could happen to a couple of underage teens in New Orleans...never been able to drink Hurricanes since either. :D