October 2010
"Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler”
The "Big Easy" Gang at Oak Alley
We had such a fun time in the Big Easy! Our boutique hotel was well located in the French quarter. Those of us who arrived early enough had a leisurely and tasty dinner the first evening. It was a first for us to dine at a BYOB place, but we didn't hesitate to bring in a few bottles!
Our group of 16 (largest ever) started out the next morning with a walking tour of the French Quarter. Our marvelous guide, Cheryl, whom we had for the next 2 days as well, filled us with information on culture, history, architecture and legend. That afternoon, some of us took a paddle boat ride and most took the Swamp and Bayou tour. The latter group return with fun stories about the scenery and getting to hold a baby alligator ... That evening we went to dinner and a jazz show just outside the French Quarter.
The following day we took a city tour and got to see some of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina as well as the permanent changes wrought by the storm. We also visited an above ground cemetery and learned about burial customs in the city. In the afternoon some of the group took a cocktail tour; there we learned the history of absinthe and the reason it had been banned for a number of years. Then we went on to another place to sample a Mr. Pimms cup #1, later a sidecar and later still..... The rest of the group took a ghost tour that evening.
On the day after, we visited Oak Alley Plantation about 75 minutes outside the city. We finished up our sightseeing in the afternoon, taking in the streetcars, the newly opened Katrina museum, the World War II museum, sampling pralines, etc. For our Grand Finale dinner we enjoyed excellent food and service at NOLA one of Emeril Lagasse's 4 restaurants in New Orleans.
Yes, we all ate a lot during the trip--beignets, po-boys, fried catfish, oysters, clams and grits, but we came home with no regrets!
We had such a fun time in the Big Easy! Our boutique hotel was well located in the French quarter. Those of us who arrived early enough had a leisurely and tasty dinner the first evening. It was a first for us to dine at a BYOB place, but we didn't hesitate to bring in a few bottles!
Our group of 16 (largest ever) started out the next morning with a walking tour of the French Quarter. Our marvelous guide, Cheryl, whom we had for the next 2 days as well, filled us with information on culture, history, architecture and legend. That afternoon, some of us took a paddle boat ride and most took the Swamp and Bayou tour. The latter group return with fun stories about the scenery and getting to hold a baby alligator ... That evening we went to dinner and a jazz show just outside the French Quarter.
The following day we took a city tour and got to see some of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina as well as the permanent changes wrought by the storm. We also visited an above ground cemetery and learned about burial customs in the city. In the afternoon some of the group took a cocktail tour; there we learned the history of absinthe and the reason it had been banned for a number of years. Then we went on to another place to sample a Mr. Pimms cup #1, later a sidecar and later still..... The rest of the group took a ghost tour that evening.
On the day after, we visited Oak Alley Plantation about 75 minutes outside the city. We finished up our sightseeing in the afternoon, taking in the streetcars, the newly opened Katrina museum, the World War II museum, sampling pralines, etc. For our Grand Finale dinner we enjoyed excellent food and service at NOLA one of Emeril Lagasse's 4 restaurants in New Orleans.
Yes, we all ate a lot during the trip--beignets, po-boys, fried catfish, oysters, clams and grits, but we came home with no regrets!