Anniversary Trip 2021

 For years, Lori and I have talked about taking a trip to Europe for our anniversary. We even made sure we had passports so we would be ready. Our 30th anniversary seemed like the perfect time, but sadly, our 30th was during Covid in 2020, and traveling out of the country was not a possibility. As our 31st approached, we were hopeful, but Covid was spiking, and London was not open for visitors. A bit dejected, and scared after the disaster of our last minute trip to Glacier National Park last year, we weren't share where to go. We sat down, starting looking at airfares and vacation packages, and landed on New Orleans as the spot. Neither of us had been there, so why not? We found a great deal through Delta, and our plan was set. Lori set about planning daily adventures for us.

Alyssa took us to the airport on a Wednesday. The flight went smooth, and we soon were landing in the Big Easy. The airport felt deserted. It was surreal, like a scene of a dystopian novel. We quietly picked up our luggage and went to the taxis. We figured we could walk to everything we had booked, so no need for a car.

Our taxi driver was incredible. She obviously was a southern gal, and very religious. When we asked if we should mask up in the vehicle, she emphatically told us NO. Only God could give her that disease. Nobody else. Only God. She talked with Lori about children and grandchildren, and soon we were in the French Quarter. Man, was I glad we did not have to drive or find a place to park. The French Quarter literally was built a long time ago, and has been carefully preserved. The streets are narrow, and there is pretty much no parking. 

We soon were checking into The Bourbon Orleans. As we entered, Lori noted the sign that talked about all the hauntings that have supposedly happened in the historic structure. We were then on ghost watch the entire time, but were not lucky enough to witness anything supernatural.

Our room was nice. It was painted dark, with dark flooring, which was a lot different from other places I've stayed. Our window looked out onto the street below.

It was late, but we were hungry. The restaurant in our hotel was closed, but we walked around the corner and found Pere Antoine. They had a Cajun sampler, which I opted for. Lori went with a PoBoy sandwich. I was not disappointed.

Thursday morning we found breakfast French Toast. Incredible. It's like a diner out of the 50s with very good breakfast. We were booked for the Cajun Pride combination tour. Our driver, Big Joe, was texting Lori for pickup arrangements, and told us he could pick us up by where we were eating. Southern hospitality right there, folks.

Big Joe first drove us to our swamp tour. He was very informative. He even had a Spotify playlist of music he felt really worked for New Orleans. I can hook you up if you want!

The swamp tour was great. It was basically a pontoon with about 30 people on board. We saw a lot of gators. We saw two large racoon homes, which honestly, the gators should eat them. I'm not a fan of racoons. I'm probably scarred from the time Jason announced there was one in our garage. I said, "There's no racoon in the garage!". I opened up the door to the garage, and there on its hind legs was the largest one I've ever seen. True story. Stupid racoons.

I did get to old an alligator!

Next, we were off to a plantation. It's the one where Bo and Hope were married on Days of our Lives. Lori was beyond stoked. The plantation was incredible. They did a good job of making sure the dark history of plantations was told. It's hard for me to imagine treating other people as slaves and property, but I also don't know what it was like to be raised and live back when slavery was legal. It was a good reminder of the dark side of human nature. The property was so beautiful, and well preserved. It is another supposedly haunted place, but still, no ghosts were seen.

Big Joe told us story about how all swimming pools in the French Quarter were built on old cemetery ground. According to him, they were all called the "Well of Souls", and you could see headstones hidden around each one. We decided to investigate this. The pool at our hotel had none of this. It did have a black tiled bottom, which made it appear to be bottomless. But no headstones. However, I never saw anyone swimming in it.....

Friday was supposed to be our steamboat trip on the mighty Mississippi, but the boat was down for the count and out of service. We had breakfast and Café Beignet, where Lori had the beignets she'd been craving. With our outing for the day canceled, we did  a lot of shopping and went to a movie. Still, a quality day!

When dinner time rolled around, our options were limited. Bourbon Street at night, which is right by our hotel, is like a scene out of Satan's fantasy. It is LOUD, bright and full of drunken behavior. We weren't up for that, so we wandered up a couple of streets and soon found ourselves in the gay zone. Their words, not mine. When we entered Betty's Bar and Bistro, I was a bit skeptic. However, the service was awesome, the food was incredible, and they had the Olympics playing on 6 different televisions. 

Saturday was our bus tour around New Orleans. It was informative and fun. We spent some time at one of the cemeteries. If a person can have a favorite tomb, mine would be the one where a rich old lady was mad at her children, so she built a tomb that cost a half million dollars. Bitter much?

Sunday night was the big ending to our adventures. We were off on the adults only haunted tour, featuring Hellvision. It was a lot of fun, up until the incident. I don't usually quote from myself, but here is the review I left for them:

"What started out as a fun tour quickly devolved into an awkward, uncomfortable experience. Jenny was doing her best, but she seemed very nervous. After sending our group off for a bar break, she kicked 6 people off the tour because one guy essentially told a Dad joke. She wielded her projector like a light Saber, aggressively shining it in the eyes of anyone who dared to question her decision. I was a bit jealous of the 6 who essentially escaped. Honestly, they did nothing wrong and were not a distraction. This was definitely not the Jenny from the Block, and her number is not 8675309."

Side note: the tour company saw my review, and we were issued a refund. We also received an email which implied Jenny was probably no longer with the company. Or at least wasn't conducting tours.

I should mention that twice we ended up eating the The Clover Grill. A gay diner, and again, the food and service was amazing. Lori had a club sandwich, which I had to attempt to remake for her because it left such a good impression!

Monday's ride to the airport was amazing. He was a young man, in his early 20s, just trying to start out in the transportation business. When we arrived at the airport, we found out he only accepted cash, so he took us to the nearest ATM. Too funny.

Our hotel was close to Jackson Square, and the entire French Quarter reminded me of Disneyland. Well, except the French Quarter also has a lot of vendors, street performers, homeless people and sirens. So many times we heard first responders. It was incredibly hot and humid, and not everyone was blessed to have a hotel room where the A/C never turned off. 

We did a lot of shopping. It was a lot of fun. We bought all sorts of gifts for the kids back home, including some Voodoo dolls and HOT sauce. We were in walking distance of everything we had planned to do.

New Orleans was also just entering a Covid flare-up, so we did  a lot of mask wearing.

I'm told the French Quarter is wonderful at Christmas time. I'd like to go back someday and see. I'd take my family as well, I just wouldn't turn them loose on Bourbon street. Also, they'd have to understand the importance of daily naps!