My brain is tired and I’m still decompressing from my vacation, (maybe I need another one? Sigh.) Anyway, just a few random thoughts from my trip.
If I lived in New Orleans I would be the size of a house. All that deep fried food – gosh I loved the freshly caught shrimp! Not to mention the great pralines, beignets, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Oh yea. I would be HUGE. Either that or I would have to work out every hour of every day.
The people in New Orleans were some of the nicest folks I had ever met. They were friendly, gracious and always went the extra mile. I loved them to bits!
The Zydeco, Jazz and all the other music never failed to move me. Either I was tapping my foot or dancing in the aisles. Se7en posted some Jazz Fest video on his blog, check it out!
The humidity sucked though. I think I only had one good hair day while I was there, (hey that’s important!)
Se7’s Mother was charming, lovely, warm, and really fun. A great cook too. He lucked out BIG TIME in the Mom stakes. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
It was heartbreaking to see the high water marks on all those deserted homes. And seeing a house with numbers written on it and knowing that someone died there. I got a chill when I saw the Superdome for the first time. The city had done a great job rebounding but there was still such a long way to go.
I adored Jazz Fest! The energy, verve and excitement surrounding the music were simply outstanding. It was wonderful to see New Orleans come alive with pure joy. LOVED IT! It was hot and very muddy and we had a ball. FYI, fried alligator tail tastes kinda like chicken and kinda like seafood. Good stuff!
New Orleans will always have a special place in my heart.
I’ve always said…if it’s a good vacation….you’ll need another one to recover from it.
I did try gator tail and gator tail sausage. I can live without that stuff. I really want to get to jazz fest some year. Mardi gras is always during my busy season though. Glad you had such a terrific time. I have a close friend there too. Got to get back there one of these years.
LOL. I came by way of your comment at Zen Wizard’s place, although I’ve come by way of Se7’s before. I have a son in NOLA, a sophomore at Loyola and I’ve been writing about the city in my blog since summer of 04. His freshman move-in in August of 04 was the hottest I have ever been in my life (especially the hours I had to spend in the Prytannia Street Washeteria). I honestly thought I was going to die of it, BUT the food and the music and the spirit of the people is like no other place on earth. I have fallen in love. If you haven’t already, next time you visit, try Pascal’s Manale on Napoleon for shrimp. Yuummmmm!
LB, your trip sounds divine! So glad you had the opportunity to take vacay, considering how busy you’ve been. Nothing like taking you out of your element, plying you with insanely good food, treating you to the finest music, and providing you great company. Just what the Dr. ordered!
There MUST be somewhere in NYC to find a decent beignet, I know it.
It sounds like I’m going to have to try to get to NO sometime.
Hey Lisa: I just Blogged about how to fix the flooding problem recently. I envy you for going. All the time I lived in Texas I could have taken a Southwest Airlines flight cheap and never did. I’d have to pass on the alligator. Yes, it would be heatbreaking to see the homes with the red spray paint. But it sounds like you had a very cool visit. Maybe next time, I could stow away in a trunk? lol!
You know, I heard that last Friday they broke attendance records for the JF. That’s so frikkin’ cool to hear. I hope everyone who went and everyone who is there this weekend drops a TON of cash. I really can’t wait to get back there sometime. Tell me, did you go check out the gospel tent? I’m not much of a swayer, but boy howdy, I was shoutin’ out hallelujahs like nobody’s bidness! I might just have to go to JF next year… oh wait. Goin’ to Spain. Ok, then. Jazz Fest 2008 it is.
I’m glad your vacation went great. Use this Cinco de Mayo to keep on partying girl! Get out there–it’s gorgeous out in New York tonight!
Sounds like you had a blast! Then again, it’s kinda hard not to down in the Big Easy
Hi babe! Great post, i’m so glad glad you came and passed a good time, we really did have a lot of fun! woohoo!!
God, New Orleans. Home of about five million kinds of cake. Cake = happy Golf Widow.
So… did you meet up with the notorious Wade?
Sounds like you had such a wonderful time! I’m so happy for you. New Orleans is on my list of places to visit.
Buffy – You are SO right!
Bud – Thanks! I was actually surprised how much I liked fried alligator tail lol. You of all people must go to Jazz Fest sometime, what a musician’s paradise!
Sophmom – Welcome! NO is a city that is easy to love yes? Except for the humidity
Thanks for the referral for Pascal’s – I will have to check it out sometime!
Miss Trubs – Indeed my friend! Let’s go on a hunt for the elusive NY beignets yes?
Serra – Most definitely, it’s a magical place!
Michael – Get yourself on a plane to NO – NOW
Cootera – I didn’t know about the attendance breaking records but I’m so happy to hear it. I too hope everyone spent big bucks! I know I did
We did not get to the gospel tent – simply too much to see, (and hear,) and not enough time. Shame! I like an occasional Hallelujah as well hehe.
Deb – Thanks hon! I think I am a bit partied out for now though
Brianne – You aint just whistling dixie lol.
Se7 – Hey babe! Thanks for all – what a great host you are! I am so glad I got to share this with you.
Golfwidow – King Cake – Oh Yea!!!
Miss BLS – We did! And Wade is a sweetie. We also mentioned you
Leave – Thanks dear, very appreciated. NO is not to be missed!
Yep, fried gator is like a chewier version of chicken! Still yummy, though, especially with a spice dippin’ sauce!
Glad you had a blast…and hey…you met THE MOM! That’s something!!
The only good thing about the humidity is that it makes you lose some of the weight–I remember last time I was there, I took about three showers a day I sweated so much.
The food and drink is tempting.
You do meet a lot of people in NO who seem to have, shall we say, “lost the Battle of the Bulge.”
The only reason I’ve ever eaten alligator tail is my extreme disliking of the Florida Gators. And as for the bad hair, oh hon – I can empathise. The bayou is bad for the tresses! Glad you enjoyed Jazz Fest, and indulged in the sinful edibles.
Wow, what fun. And just reading about the food has made me hungry. Has tourism completely returned to town this year for the Jazz Fest?
I’ve never been to New Orleans…maybe one day…I LOVE CAJUN FOOD!!
OMG Lisa! I’m so happy to hear that y’all had a great time! I’m totally craving fried seafood right now. Or even some gumbo. Mmmm. And hey, if you are planning on going back there to decompress from your first time there, tell me, so I can go to NO and be all “Oh, hey Lisa, what’s up?”
If you think the humidity is bad now, then check out New Orleans in August. Icky! But I love the city.
We DID have fun, didn’t we? Very nice to meet you and Se7en!