NOLA!!!

So we got in to New Orleans late last night and coupled with our unexpected Houston expense, we decided to stay in and go to bed early (1:30).  Since our hotel is on Bourbon, it was pretty loud but we've been doing a bit of running around so that didn't really seem to matter too much!  We woke up early this morning and went to The Court of Two Sisters for their jazz brunch.  By the way, before I forget, big shout out to Tom, Lauren, John & Kelly for all the NOLA tips!  So we were actually a little too early and had some time to do some shopping- which Brian always enjoys!  After shopping we headed back to the court!  We had the best waiter there - Lloyd - who was not happy with my brunch selection.  He wondered why I came all the way to New Orleans to get brunch I could get by me, hmmm, he had a point!  So he offered to make me a plate.  I hope you're sitting down for this.  I tried creamed spinach, cornbread dressing, cajun pasta salad and ... seriously, sit down... okay turtle soup!  They were all actually good, even the soup but I told him I could not finish eating it since it was turtle.  So then he brought me dessert... homemade ice cream... with some sort of hot ... bananas.  Well I felt I owed it to Lloyd, so I tried it.  I don't remember what the bananas were called but they had something crazy on them which actually made them a little more bearable.  So if anyone is ever in New Orleans, definitely, definitely make this a stop.  We were full until dinner, everything was awesome and so was Lloyd!

Then it was off to the Oak Alley Plantation.  Unfortunately I didn't factor in that it was almost an hour away, so it was Amazing Race time!  Tours run every half hour so we got there at 11:54 and caught the 12:00 tour-phew!  The house was so beautiful and the pathway leading to the front of the house is lined with 28 live oak trees (they kept referring to them as live oaks, so I guess maybe there's a difference?!?).  It really is beautiful, especially when you're looking down from the second story balcony.  After the tour, we raced around, took some pictures and ran back to the car since the last team to arrive at the hotel MAY be eliminated... CUE traffic here!  So I had to call our bus tour and tell them we may be a few minutes late...

But we made it... kind of.  So out of the car, onto the bus!  Our tour guide was so great.  She took us through the French Quarter, down to the 9th ward where Katrina hit the hardest, to one of the famous cemeteries, through the Garden District and back!  She was actually from one of the neighborhoods that got hit with 12 foot floods so it was really cool to hear her perspective.  She had all sorts of stories from her friends, neighbors and family.  Since New Orleans is below sea level, they were having problems burying their dead so they had to switch over to above ground tombs.  They can cost $30,000 (100 years ago) and fit about 20 family members.  They don't really look big enough to fit 20 people so she explained that once someone dies, they put them in this tomb, which can get up to about 200 degrees (totally believable as I think it was like 175 outside today) and they are "naturally cremated."  She said they have to wait a year and a day and then re-open the tomb and sweep them into a bag to make room for the next one!  Even if 2 people died at the same time, only one would be buried at a time.  The other would be put into a holding wall until the 1 year, 1 day mark and the family would have to pay rent until they were ready to go in the tomb!  Then off to the garden district.  These houses were amazing!  We saw Sandra Bullock's new home, Nicholas Cage's house that he's selling if anyone is interested and some other people I don't know but the houses were sick!
We had a reservation to go to Emeril's for dinner tonight but decided we're really just not fancy enough and didn't feel like coming back and getting all gussied up so we went to Huck Finn's!  Evangelina (our bus driver) recommended it so we trust her.  We started with some fried pickles -always a favorite- and they did not disappoint!  Oh and we also got drinks in 32 oz souvenir cups- yay!  Brian got the Tiger's Wood which is like a spiked Arnold Palmer and I went with our waiter's recommendation of the Gator Bite which was some blue cool thing that tasted delicious and fruity!  Then we both got Po' Boys for dinner.  A Po Boy is what NYers call a hero, or what Philly calls a hoagie... it's a sandwich.  Brian got muffuletta which I have no idea what is in it... a lot.. he liked it!  And I got shrimp.  But enough about those, I mean they were good but the fries were to die for!  They had some magic orange fairy dust on them, some crazy cajun seasoning, it was ridiculous!  We were pretty stuffed but couldn't leave without having the bread pudding because Evangelina said "it's so good, it's gonna make you wanna slap yer mama"... and it is!!  - Sorry Mom!
So we finished that up and walked back to the hotel... with our cups... and our drink still in there!  Oh yea for those who didn't know, you're allowed to walk around everywhere with drinks.  Our waiter gave us lids with the check, crazy!!  So now we're digesting for a bit and then we're going to head out for our night on Bourbon St!  There's some interesting places around here... Big Daddy's World Famous Love Acts is just across the street!  It's world famous, gotta be some good wholesome fun, right?  Depending how tonight goes, we plan on waking up early to go to the New Orleans River Walk then get some beignets from Cafe du Monde!  Then off to Tennessee to see Elvis, and even better, Brian's cousin Sara!