New Orleans

New Orleans was an amazing city! We were ready to move on after 3 nights, if only for the need to eat vegetables somewhere (too much rich Southern food has been going down our throats but we're not complaining). We didn't realize what a scene Bourbon street is (kind of a mini Vegas) with girls hanging out of doorways trying to get you into places like Larry Flynt's Hustler and plastic to go cups being offered up everywhere so that you can take your drink with you! Hahaha, never a dull moment! One block away from Bourbon Street in either direction and it's completely different. We ate lots here, including the biggest oysters I have ever had (overwhelming actually, I was scared to swallow them whole), saw live jazz 2 nights in a row, explored the Garden District and tried alligator. Oh and finally got our laundry done - love Suds Dem Duds! We'll be back to this enticing city.

Our temporary solution to the laundry situation until we got to New Orleans. Thanks Target (Mike sure loves his NASA t-shirt)!

Soon...soon I will stop with the animal references. :) 

Swamps in Louisiana - Mike kept shouting 'take a picture' as our car was whizzing down the road. Too bad I didn't grab one of the police officer later...;) Actually, he wasn't speeding that much and just got a warning. 

Got to New Orleans after driving from Dallas and it was about 10pm. Needed to find some dinner options so we decided to try the to go cup idea while we looked around. 

And decided on alligator! We were told that it was like chewy chicken and sure enough, it wasn't all that bad. ;) 

One of the oldest bars in the U.S...Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar. A bit touristy but okay (we tried it the next night)...this guy was talking a snooze in between sipping his drink so he seemed to like it. 

Bourbon Street

So peaceful during the day

Hotel

Our laundry solution 

NASA (aka Target) man - he just got the hat at the French Market behind us

Thanks for the tip Kevin - ate some yummy beignets the next day here. 

Here are those overwhelming oysters...a little hard to tell from here.

Jazz concert at Preservation Hall (founded in 1961)

Outside of Preservation Hall

Hi Mom and Dad

The Bourbon Street mayhem

Riding a streetcar in style

Giggle, yes, we're kids.

Cemetery

Garden District

Last night here - time for a nice dinner

Oh shoot, I didn't realize that I ordered half the chicken!

In front of the police station - they let you go inside and buy t-shirts (I restrained myself from buying but I definitely went inside). 

Our 2nd jazz concert - it was a fundraiser and went for over for 5 hours! For $22! It was amazing. This is Shannon Powell, a well-known drummer in NOLA and he actually played at our concert the night before too. 

Couldn't help myself...don't know when I will get to take a picture with a Grammy award winner again. This is Irvin Mayfield (trumpet player). It was 2am by this point. Awesome show!

Ok, not a Grammy award winner but he did sing and play 'Happy Birthday' on his sax to Mike's mom and it wasn't half bad. He also convinced us to buy his CD (volume 6). We haven't listened to it yet, even though we have driven hours and hours since then. Gotta fire that sh*t up soon! :) 

And there's that artsy husband of mine

One last muffuletta for the road...where are we going next? Oh right, no hotel booked! Open road, here we come. :)