MY ADVENTURES N NEW ORLEANS & OTHER ASSORTED SILLY STUFF TRIP REPORT; NOV '17

[knewton64]

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY TWO

I am finding out that no matter how hard you try....

......there's really no gracefull way to eat dem dang beignets as here I am , literally opening my mough full wide and literally jutting my teeth out as far as I can (bad visual IMHO) as I am trying soooooooooooooooo freaking hard to NOT get that powdered sugar all over me.....


SO, literally 12 napkins later, I felt very proud of myself in accomplishing that task - RIGHT??


Just to stand up and see I was literally WEARING anout 1/2 of that powdered sugar ALL OVER ,my shorts.



Ah well....... so I will let you know how I fare when I head out again to Cafe Dumond for a might cap as I just got out from listening to some pretty neat jazz on Bourbon street.

UP NEXT-

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210771414901087

Getting schooled at the Nawlins School of Cooking and other various fun things from my day two.




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

SO... WHERE DID WE LEAVE OFF??

SO earlier in the day, our group had a walking tour of the city and after that......


Now, feeling that I need some much needed dessert, I decided from Cafe Du Monde to head out to
Deanie's Seafood Restaurant


and nibble on some much needed ice cream and a brownie etc

along with some Irish coffee.....
heavy on the Irish (had a extra shot in it)


that IMO was just outta dis world. Loved it as it made the 30 minute walk back to the Hotel that much more pleasurable / fun as I ventured through Bourbon Street......




ANYWHO -
soon 5:45pm was upon us and our group all mozyied on over to this place

So I was having fun talking with this Guy when we first entered their building

not realizing that he's our cook for the tour - Ed is his name and he is quite a riot to listen to

SERIOIUSLY - learned a lot while watching him cook. For example - I am now going to be changing the way I use spices as I now see that spices doesn't necessarily mean HOT.

(I am such the Texas boy)

ED.


Now, from the school of cooking, we all headed out to Bourbon Street to listen to some very very very nice and traditional jazz



and after that, I will admit it got a wee bit hazy as I had just had the hankering for some beignets at Cafe Du Monde so off I mozyied on over there (yup, twice n one day) followed by some fantabolous


strawberry Hurricane cheesecake and a Hurricane......or "two" at Pat Obriens
(very easy I see now to navigate my way around the city as Pat Obriens is just a left outta da Hotel, right at first street ya see and right at next street ya c and BOOM!! u r there as its off on LHS.




Overall,
a very nice way to end what has been truely a fun day two here in Nawlins.

(me at Jackson Square)





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Now just a wee bit of an FYI:

Blogging while still feeling jjuusstt a wee bit tipsy can be quite a shall we say, a challenge

- so I thought I would take a wee bit of a break and hit cha up with a little jazz ditty....







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Some misc pictures from DAY TWO -



So
sround mid morning, I boogies on over to the Presbytere to see a very well put together exhibit on Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras -

Gotta say it - with me being raised in the Houston area, I am so used to Hurricanes -
and KNOW that for example, during a heavy rainstorm (Hurricane Harvey) - this is what you SHOULDN'T DO........



Body recovered of Omni hotel worker who went missing during ...
abc13.com/body-of-omni-hotel-worker-found-after-hurricane-harvey/2387676/
Sep 7, 2017 - The body of a woman who vanished while working at the Omni Hotel during Hurricane Harvey has been recovered more than a week later.




....so I will admit the Hurricane exhibit brought back a lot of unhappy memories for me

but soon I was off to the Mardi Gras part of the exhibit

and -

Learned a lot about Mardi Gras I will admit.







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

imo, better than UBER if ya want a lazy way to see the city

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

TIME TA GRAB YER FAV SNACK CUZ.......

(fried bananas with ice cream) = YUM!!





.....DAY THREE is now upon us.

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

The Alligator Swamp tour - very relaxing and fun - different than the French Quarter

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210779838991684

and -

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210777413731054

....and it's on this tour I finally learned how to pronounce the word - "here"
And b4 I forget I now know the distance from a gators eyes to their nose is how long in feet overall they are - I really enjoyed listening to the Swamp tour guide as IMO, thats the best accent of a local that I've heard while on this adventure - i will never forget him......you made my day.

(just watch out for their tail)



More to come






T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

On the river cruise now ...

coulda swore I heard the Kialapy player play "Turkey in the Straw" as we were boarding ....

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210777469492448

dang near felt I'm on a DISney cruise

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210779844831830

Will explain more tonight....



Just FYI .....
be aware.......
When I pick back up this travel blog after seeing some Chrstmas lights later on tonight.................

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210778281192740

(lobby area of the Royal Sonesta Hotel)



Its about to be a rather "Dark and Stormy Night" 4 me




T.T.F.N
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

and those Christmas lights in this place was just FAB
(with a stop on over to Royal Sonesta Hotel as well)


* FYI - this was something our GoCollette tour leader (Jen) did out of the kindness of her heart; ie - she asked if our group wanted to see the Christmas lights and some of us said yes and well.....she was kind enough to lead us down to these hotels.

(the lobby area of the Roosevelt was just )



and of course, ya cant ferget the Royal Sonesta' Decorations -

Again - sorry about the mess -

I am about to head back to the Bourbon Orleans Hotel for a nice night cap at their bar
(jazz band playing tonight)





More to come overnight I promise


including the story about me getting slapped on the behind by shall we say a female store Barker on Bourbon street, her reaction and my reaction......





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

We have a slight course correction - After a "few" Dark and stormy nights, my night is now being forcasted with hurricanes (and cheesecake) Out at Pat Obriens-

T.T.F.N
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

**HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY THREE**

(a mailbox at the Roosevelt Hotel)



1) The swamp tour I really enjoyed cuz I can easily see how people underestimate the power of Gators.....


2) and yes........
of course you cant forget walking down to see the Hotel Christmas lights w/Jen and a few from our tour group and from what I could tell -

a Bourbon Streets' store's Barkers assistant (?) came out of the store.......
just as I was walking by ....


she just decided to slap me on the rear........
Now.....I will admit I was ok with that -


just let it go at that

and just continue on walking......


BUT.....
it was that one word verbal reply as I kept on walking that
well.....

just didnt sit well with me -


ummmm.....
Perhaps she felt insulted that I didnt respond in a positive way


BUT nonetheless -
it was that one worded response from her that I swear she would have made Aretha Franklin proud when she uttered "that word" from the old school movie, "The Blues Brothers."



and before I knew it, I whirled around and said, "NOW WAIT A MINUTE!!"


Couldn't believe it that there was about to be a verbal rumble ....I was about to let her know that that's private property (among other choice words)
So
as I began to walk towards her and nearly get n her face while standing toe to toe with her and give her a piece of my mind....

....when all of a sudden I looked around and saw all the Christmas decorations around me.....

saw Jen our Tour Leader -


and it was there I choose to remember that old motto:


"WHAT HAPPENS WHILE ON VACATION STAYS ON THE INTERNET**



....and we proceeded onwards walking to the Hotel decorations laughing about it and just enjoying all the sights and sounds of the Christmas season Nawlins style.




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

I am having fun.....
enjoying the sights, sounds and oh yes......


** THE FOOD **
And of course- thank you staff of the Bourbon Orleans hotel; especially the staff of the breakfast area & Charles Cornish as they have always been very helpful n helping me wakkkeeeee up after a rather loing but fun night.


and with that, be on the look out for me (per Charles' kind suggestion) to check out
Lil' Dizzy's Cafe

on the 2nd: MY DEPARTURE DAY
Yes.....I miss Ladybug dearly

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1838496683115034

(saw this posting on FB and just had to share)




But lets don't get ahead of ourselves just yet.......
cuz -





UP NEXT:
Onward to the start of DAY FOUR

FIRST STOP - cemetery #3

and -

(the cemeteries of Nawlins)

yes......that is NOT a castle - that is a crypt. Pretty neat how they address the sensitive issue of burying their dead.






T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

City park.... very nice

BUT.....
from the didja know file:



At 'Mardi Gras World,' did ya know that they also make "those" cows that we all see on billboards while we are out driving??

and -

MORE TO COME -



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Mardi Gras world rocked !!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210784159219687

and -

(didnt know that they also have reverse throw bead floats)

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

(from the "I didn't know that file)

The Mardi Gras colors Purple Represents Justice. Green Represents Faith. And Gold Represents Power.




ANYWHO -
just just back
to the hotel

and

about to throw my bod down 4 a 90 minute dog nap



and then I am out tha door for some much needed dinner.





took lots of video and pics from today....
(been downloading onto FB etc thats how I am able to post so quickly)



more to come i promise




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Having dinner at Tableau Restaurant

and -

ANYWHO --
speaking of having dinner......


Imagine having dinner at Blue Bayou over at DISneyland

ok?


But enstead, you see this for the courtyard

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10210784138739175

(at one of the whsrehouses at Mardis Gras World)


Yes, to the right and to the left of the building you see - IMO it loks just like the courtyard of the Blue Bayou view of POTC and yes - the ceiling there has lighting that simulates stars....






UP NEXT:

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY FOUR





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

GOTTA SAY....

that Mardi Gras World was by far and away the highlight of my day as it was really such a treat to see how the floats and things are put together.


Just what stinks is that this now brings to a close the GoCollette.com part of this adventure......



No worries
as I do have a neat little farewell video of the tour group I plan on posting as it will be the last posting on this blog -


But hey .....
before we get ahead of ourselves.....


Gotta a big day ahead of me as in the morning I have a tour of the Garden District, etc followed by that blissful 4-hour spa at Hotel Monteleon in the afternoon

then a brief stop over at their bar -

And among other things - sazerac w rye


before I see what mess of silliness I can get myself n2 in the evening.



So until then -




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

A little ditty ta keep ya n the Christmas mood until morning

(I will b seeing this group in concert n about 28 more days)








T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

-MORNING WORLD -

Today is going to be a hodge podge sort of a cobbled put together day of fun courtesy of Viator.com and the Hotel Monteleon before alas -


I must venture back n2 Texas -



But before things get crankin'....
let me catch some breakfast and I will pop in here and there later on today




P.S.S. - this morning while taking a shower, i did write on the shower glass door in steam:
WHERE IS MY MOMMY
(its a Bourbon Orleans hotel Ghost tour inside joke)



T.T.F.N
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

About 2 head out for a tour of the Garden District



Until we meet again - trivia question time

1)... what's the name of the horse Jackson sits on n market square ?
2) Q- what's the official adult drink m Nawlins? ( pst! It's not the hurricane ).

And
3)q- how many pumps does Nawlins have?
4) Lastly - how many votes did the Louisiana purchase pass by?






T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL