Day 2 and 3 in New Orleans

Day 2 took us to the Garden District in New Orleans.  This is a ritzy area where some famous people have homes - Sandra Bullock, Brad and Angelina, Nicholas Cage....  The homes were spectacular!  Some took up entire city blocks.  Here are some examples :

After our Garden District tour, we headed to lunch at Joey K's on Magazine Street.  Casey had a shrimp and corn bisque and I had a salad.  Pretty boring, but we wanted to save room for the Gelato at Sucre's Cafe!  So glad we did!!!!!!!!!!  It was sooooo refreshing on such a hot day!




We also found a cemetery for Casey to walk around in.  He has a fascination with these as well!!!!!  The crypts in New Orleans are all above ground because the land is below sea level and the dead bodies would not do so well below sea level!

Hopped back on the trolley and headed back towards the French Quarter.  Walked down to the Riverwalk for a bit.  It got VERY windy!!!!!

Notice the waves in the river????

Back to our B and B for some rest before heading out for dinner and Bourbon Street.  Dinner was at a place called Coop's.  It was recommended to us by a waiter we had in Florida and our B and B hosts.

We were not disappointed!  Casey had a tasting plate and I had creole gumbo.  So amazingly wonderful!!!!!!! 

Then headed to Bourbon Street.  Again, I can't explain it.  I don't understand it.  I guess I'm getting (or am) old!  I'd rather sit in a pub and listen to some jazz than walk up and down a street and see this :

 It really is about a mile of road blocked off from traffic where people just walk up and down with their booze.  And this isn't even the high tourist season!!!!!!!

This is just an example of the craziness!!!!!!

 Eventually we made it back to Frenchman street where it is more civilized.  Cool jazz and ragtime bands playing in the streets.  The people here were much less drunk and more interested in the music!  We spent more time here....

And then back to our B and B for some well needed rest!!!!!!!!!

Day 3 took us to the Lower 9th ward where the devastation from Katrina is still evident.  Brad Pitt and his organization has done some amazing work.  It was really weird to see the empty lots with remnants of homes still there.  The homes Pitt has built are so NOT typical New Orleans architecture, but they sure are ready for another hurricane!

We then headed to the Bayou.  A place called Jean Lefitte.  It was really neat.  Swamp land all over.  We didn't see any crocs though:(.

And once again, had to replenish our tanks!  Went to a place called Voleo's for some gumbo and then to Boutte's for more gumbo and stuffed crab!

Both of these places were very little local places.  Very neat to see the locals coming in and out and the waitresses knowing exactly what they wanted to eat!

Started the day visiting the lower 9th and ended the day seeing some of the old Plantations.  WOW.  Can't believe these places and the history behind them.  Here are some pics of the Laura and Oak Alley Plantations:

Ended our day with a nice dinner at a place a block from our B and B called Schiro's.  It is an Indian/Cajun place.  Casey had a fried oyster platter and I had a greek salad and lentil soup.  Both were FANTASTIC!  The neat part about this place was that it is also a wine store so we could pick any wine off the shelf and pay retail for it!!!!!!!!!!!!  Too bad we didn't find this place earlier!!!!

Another neat and random thing - there is so much left over from Mardi Gras.  Beads and other things hanging from trees all over the place.  Very cool!

Tomorrow we head to Texas!  Probably stop around Houston for the night before going to San Antonio for a few days.

We keep checking the weather back home.  Looks like some great spring time temps are in store for you!

Enjoy!