New Orleans

This quick trip to Gulfport, MS and New Orleans almost didn't happen. My grandfather, who's been in a nursing home, took a turn for the worse on Thursday and I almost hopped a plane to Phoenix. But my parents pleaded with me to still go, so Friday morning I somehow got myself together enough to get in the car and hit the road. My first stop was Chevron (what, you were thinking Starbucks, weren't you?) and my second stop was Starbucks. That's when I knew it was going to be a good trip - Starbucks had started their Christmas cups. I love the Christmas cups. I look forward to them every year and this year's are no exception.



So I headed east on I-10 about 8:30a.m. on my way to visit my friends Scott & Vy who live in Gulfport, Mississippi. I've never been to Louisiana or Mississippi so I had my camera out to capture the new sights - like the Atchafalaya Swamp in Louisiana. Eighteen miles of bridge span this quintessential experience. I only wish I could have looked over the side more instead of having to watch the road.

And here's a shot of me crossing the bridge that spans the Mississippi River just as you enter Baton Rouge. I really liked the feel of Baton Rouge and found myself wondering just how much the populatoin grew after Hurricane Katrina.

After about four hours crossing Louisiana, I finally crossed the Mississippi state line - WooHoo! I love checking off new states I've never been to :-)

I made pretty good time to Gulfport, about six hours. Once there, we piled into Scott's car for a little tour of Gulfport and coffee at someplace other than Starbucks, PJ's. This is Scott & Vy giving each other an air-kiss over the chocolate mousse cake they ordered.

From PJs it was off for a drive along the shore with it's beautiful white beaches that put Galveston to shame. Scott said the further east you go, the nicer both the beaches and the water get. So we continuted east to Biloxi and Ocean Springs to wander up and down it's old downtown shopping district. This lovely lady was waiting for us in a tiny back room of an antique shop.

And this was an old time pharmacy complete with a soda bar.

Just a random, "I'm feelin' camera happy" shot. The top of the bird feeder says "Sing For Food".

After Ocean Springs we drove a little further down the beach to Biloxi itself and it's Las Vegas-style casinos. Here we are at the Beau Rivage at their incredible all you can eat buffet. The crab legs were definitely what most people came for. The people watching at the "Vegas of the South" was a highlight of the evening as well. There were lots of older ladies walking around in all white dresses as well as others in Scarlett O'Hara type dresses. We think we figured out they were Daughters of the Confederacy, or something like that. In any case, they were a hoot to watch. I definitely felt like I was "getting away" for the weekend.

From the Beau Rivage we walked to it's neighbor, the Hard Rock cafe. Both had been completely destroyed in Katrina and Scott informed me that they were the first structures to be restored.

I'm certain that all that weight on my face is from the buffet. I'm skinny under normal circumstances. Ugh. This picture makes me ill.

The next morning we piled in the car again and this time headed southwest towards New Orleans. I hadn't been particularly interested in going to New Orleans, but Scott, Vy, Pam, and several others all insisted I would like it, so I went. Here's a shot of the now infamous (meaning "more than famous" for you Three Amigos fans) Superdome as we sat in bumper to bumper traffic on the ramp into downtown and the Garden District.

And here's just a quick shot of one of the famous trolley's. We didn't actually ride one, but they were fun to seen all around town as we drove up and down St. Charles Ave. and oogled the wonderful homes. And did I mention the weather was absolutely spectacular? We couldn't have asked for better weather, dry and in the mid-70s.

Vy is working on her dissertation at Tulane and had to go do work for it, so she dropped Scott and I off on Canal Street in the French Quarter for the afternoon. You can just make out another trolly headed our way.

The French Quarter turned out to be a very fun experience. I loved all the details and colors and sights and sounds (not so much the smells). Both Scott and I commented that we were both so busy taking in all the stimuli of our surroundings, that we both realized we had each quit talking - a fact that almost never occurs between two psychological professionals! I told Scott that my first associations of New Orleans come from Disneyland - you know, the Haunted Mansion, the Pirates of the Carribean ride, etc. New Orleans is certianly like no other American city I've ever been to. It definitely felt like I was on a vacation.

Scott noticed and pointed out this Pegasus statue in the window overhead. The camera just didn't quite get it...

And here is where we ate lunch - The Napolean House. It was built in 1797 for the first mayor of New Orleans, and then was tapped to be the New World Home for Naploean when he was exiled here, though he died before he could move in.

Here's a shot of the main room when you first enter. I knew we were in for a treat food-wise and experience-wise when I saw it :-)

Since it's the Napolean House, there are of course lots of paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. of Napolean himself. This one happened to be one of my favorites that hung in the room where we ate.

I liked this silohuette shot of this couple a few tables away.

Scott said we had to try the house specialty drink - a Pimm. It has two m's because they are mmm...mmm... good! After just one we were each a bit buzzed :-) But it was the perfect thing to wash down another New Orleans must - a Muffeletta!!

Look at the size of that thing! And that's just ONE sandwich! You can order a quarter, a half or a whole. We decided to split a whole, each with a side of jumbalaya. I haven't been that excited to eat a meal in quite a while. That sense of anticipation was great!

So a little buzzed, we walked down to the mighty Mississippi River and worked our way towards Jackson Square.

There weren't many street performers out yet on the square, though the artists all had their paintings hanging on the fence surrounding the square. We were treated to some entertainment, though, as a rather rotund female security officer in a golf cart rode alongside a young female vagabond and the two fought about whether the young beggar was in fact entitled to be there on the square.

And here's a shot of the inside of the cathedral. There was a wedding party gathering outside getting ready to come in and have their ceremony apparently. There were a TON of weddings going on down in the French Quarter that afternoon/evening.

Just a shot of me in the square that is usually full of street performers. I guess it was too early in the day.

Another of Scott's finds: little French or Colonial soldiers glued to a window ledge of a little sidestreet we walked down.

Scott asked me how many pictures I planned on taking of the building with the hanging plants. In order to have mercy on all of you, I only posted two. I think. But believe me, there were many more. Scott was quite patient with my constant, "Hang on a sec! I wanna get a picture of this."

You can just make out a statue of Jesus at the end of this private alley. The French Quarter was full of wonderful little finds like this.

And of course you can't go to the French Quarter without going to Burbon Street. Been there, done that and now I don't have to do Burbon Street again. I'll stick to the other streets, thank you.

I thought this was a fun shot of these four bridesmaids waiting for the bride on the veranda of one of the hotels on Burbon Street. The bride is actually just to their right having some indvidual pictures taken. Again, this was one of many weddings going on that day.

From Burbon Street it wasa back over towards the River and a fight to find seats at the world-famous Cafe Du Monde for Cafe Au Lait and Beigniets. I think I spelled that right.

At least in this shot my chins are stretched out trying to get as much powdered sugar in one bite as I can.

Chalk sidewalk art.

Here was a unique street performer I'd never seen before. There were of course the usual men spray-painted all silver or gold acting like statues until you put money in their bucket. This guy, however, didn't do anything when I put a dollar in. But I still liked him for his uniqueness.

Soon after, Vy returned to pick the two of us up and it was off for a personalized tour of the Garden District and Uptown area by Tulane where Vy used to live. Then she wanted to treat Scott and I to sushi at their old favorite haunt.

And what was great about this Sushi bar was it was also a drive-thru! That's one of the waitresses handing a to-go bag out the drive-thru window :-)

The next day we woke up and had a great breakfast of fried egg & cheese sandwiches made by Scott and had a nice leisurely morning before I hit the road back to Houston. Before I got on I-10 west, I decided to quick drop back down to the beach to pick up a shot or two. One thing I noticed about Gulport and Biloxi is the sheer number of Waffle Houses! They're just about on every other corner! I swear it's like Starbucks in Houston...

I had noticed these on Friday afternoon, so I wanted to return to get a shot and fortunately they were still there.

Oh look!! What's that?! ANOTHER Waffle House??? Say it ain't so!

Since I didn't get a shot GOING, I got on of the Welcome to Louisiana sign COMING. The trip seemed to take much longer coming home than it did going to. Sigh.

I needed a restroom break, so I decided to stop at this Bass Pro Shop I had noticed on Friday. It's like a Disneyland for the masculine.

Look at this place! It was absolutely HUGE! And there were even live ducks and gigantic fish! I have never seen so much outdoor sporting goods in my life!