Days 21,22,23 Apalachicola to The Big Easy

  New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

States Added (we haven't done this since Virginia!): North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana for a total of 19

On the iPod: Mostly classic Louisiana zydeco and blues...though Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd) and Stars Fell On Alabama (Jimmy Buffet) were well-played on Monday.

Culinary Experiences: Hush Puppies, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice, Beignets, Red Fish. However, the larger culinary experience is being had by the mosquitos enjoying our exotic Northern blood.

Tourist Activities: Driving up the Redneck Riveria...er, we mean the Gulf Coast, walking around the French Quarter including Bourbon Steet,

Jackson Square

having coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde

Cafe du Monde

, pondering the advantages of voodoo, drinking hurricanes at Pat O'Briens.

Bourbon Street

Non-Tourist Activity: Getting kicked off the freeway 10 miles from our hotel here in New Orleans due to a major accident and having to navigate our way on surface streets through part of the Ninth Ward. Tense.

Opportunity: Bob found a nice roadside bar on the Gulf Coast of Florida and

Bob's New Real Estate Office

set up a real estate office inside. Really....

Bob's Office

Cultural Surprise: Not EVERY truck the past few days has had a gun rack in the back and a confederate battle flag symbol in the window.

Lessons Learned: Stay put on Memorial Day...drivers are CRAZY.

Our friends Brian and Adriane flew from Charleston to New Orleans to show us around...Brian went to graduate school here and then worked at Xavier University before moving to Gonzaga. Bob, Brian and Adriane had a lovely lunch and toured around the sites outside the French Quarter. Connie hung out in the hotel room, drinking PowerAde, sick in bed...in 93 degree heat. That fast food stop in Myrtle Beach continues to take a toll.

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER!!! Bob & Connie

PS. There are two reasons you will see more photos of Bob than Connie on this blog: 1. Bob doesn't know how to upload and weave the photos onto the blog. 2. Bob likes to take 'unplanned' photos of Connie ie. with food in her mouth, bending over to pick something up off the floor. Plus, Bob loves to have his photo taken, so he's a natural subject!