Wednesday, February 26, 2014

One Of My Favorite Places In The World

You know how normal people go to a dealership or shop locally for a car?
My husband is not normal. A few months ago, he decided that he wanted a particular GTO or what he calls a Goat, and he has spent countless hours scouring the Southeast for the right one. I knew this was going to be a pain in the ass because I would be the one driving him to wherever this car would show up, ergo I used it to my advantage and hinted that he search fun places. New Orleans was on the top of that list, so I didn't argue when he found his "dream" car there. He still admits that he used up every brownie point he's ever earned for allowing this insanity, but at least New Orleans kept him from going negative. Winkwink

We booked an awesome room at the Hotel Modern in Uptown New Orleans, which put us on a great parade route, right next to The Bar, and about a mile away from the French Quarter. Unfortunately, we didn't actually get to see a parade, but we did get to meet up with my friend from high school that I haven't seen in TEN years. As a matter of fact, other than Facebook, we haven't even spoken in ten years, which is a testament to our friendship.


As a local, she took us off the beaten path for a real NOLA experience. We went to Cafe 615 for dinner (where Catfish is the side dish for Gumbo), and we all had so much fun we decided to continue it on Frenchmen Street. Laurel and Chance wanted nothing to do with the tourists on Bourbon Street, so we got a VIP tour of the local bars. However, don't think we are too cool for school; we still called it a night before midnight. Geez that seems really sad now that I type it out. Hey, there's always next time.

The next morning was gorgeous, so we meandered down to the French Quarter for breakfast. We had lofty plans of eating at Cafe DuMonde, but considering about 1,000 other people decided on beignets, we ended up at the Gumbo Pot.

It was right off the river and allowed Weiser to sit on the porch with us, so it turned out to be an awesome substitution. As soon as my Eggs Creole hit my lips, I knew that I loved this place, in spite of the fact that it got bad ratings on Urban Spoon. Would I say it's a 'must eat'? No, but I would say it's good if you don't have time or patience to wait for a meal in the French Quarter.

We decided to take a different route back to the hotel, so we finally got to walk Bourbon Street. I was underage during my other visits to NO, so this was my first time physically walking the strip. It actually reminded me of the Red Light District in Amsterdam, minus the naked women in the windows. But close.

Bourbon Street, where the bums smell better than the drunks, the locals are more colorful than the tourists, and the cocktails are always to go.

One of the neatest things I saw was a Before I Die wall.
Before I Die is an interactive public art project that invites people to share their hopes and dreams in public space. Painted with chalkboard paint and stenciled with the sentence “Before I die I want to _______”, the wall becomes an enlightening way to get to know your neighbors and discover what matters most to the people around you. It creates a public space for contemplation and reminds us why we want to be alive in the world today.

This was an awesome mini trip, and now I just want to go back. Of course I'd rather go when we don't have to bring an extra vehicle home...even though the 'Goat' was totally worth it. {More on that later!} So, what would you write on the wall?


27 comments:

Brittany said...

Fun! I will have to visit there some day.

HickChickBritt said...

That looks like fun, but I am totally more excited to see the Goat! haha So do you have to be 21 even walk Bourbon st?

♥ ♥ Just a Girl in Love w/ a Soldier ♥ ♥ said...

Looks like yall had a great time!!! We have one of those walls here in our down town area. Such a neat piece of art!!!

Cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve. said...

Ummm... I'm pretty much jealous right now. Next time you go to New Orleans, take me with you!! I'm glad y'all got away and had a little fun!

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

What a fun trip! I really want to go to NOLA. Before I Die I want to rescue more dogs.

Jen said...

So glad you had a good trip! Sounds like a great time. :)

Kait said...

You are so beautiful!!!! XO

Kenzie Smith said...

Looks like you guys had a wonderful time! I'd love to go there one day :) Can't wait to see a picture of the goat ha ha!

Ashley said...

How fun! I went to New Orleans before I was 21, but since the cocktails are always to-go, I still had fun ;)

Kathy@MoreCoffeeLessTalky said...

NOLA is definitely on my bucket list..i've always wanted to go! that place looks so gorgeous and historical.

-kathy | Vodka and Soda

Jenn said...

New Orleans is awesome--I've been once and it was SO much fun!
Glad you had a good trip :)

P!nky said...

NOLA is so amazing! I'm glad you got an off the beaten path tour but still got to see bourbon street. I've been four times and I LOVE everything about it :)

Kelly said...

I'm SO jealous, NOLA is on my bucket list and I'm so sad that I didn't make it down since we've been living in SC. I guess I'll have to try my best to make it there once we come back to the mainland in a few years..

Miss Rachel M. said...

Sounds like an awesome visit to NOLA! I'm supposed to be going next month but things are not looking like they are panning out. We shall see.

Lynn | Motherhood in Motion said...

Gorgeous girl and love that city! Oh to have just a hint of powdered sugar from Café du Monde....

Mandie said...

That looks like such a fun trip! Jealous! I would love to visit NOLA...that's what I would put on that wall - Before I die I want to visit NOLA. Ha!

Whitney @ EHFAR said...

1. When you first said GTO, I automatically thought GTR (NIssan) and was like wow, those are like $100,00+. I then realized it was the GTO which was something completely different. Ha!

2. I've never been to Bourbon Street before.

3. I want to visit the "Before I Die" wall and do it!

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

I'm dying to see a Before I Die wall and write on it.

Great photos! I'm glad you guys had a productive, social, and fun all wrapped into one trip!

Rach said...

Ahh! So much fun! I love NOLA! Glad you guys had fun off the beaten path. :)

Eva Marie Taylor said...

I have never been to NOLA! That wall is so cool...and I love there are cocktails to go! I would love to go there some day even just for the authentic food.
Eva Marie Taylor

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

I'd write exactly what you did on that wall!! And it really does look like the red light district in that pic. I'd say that his crazy car hunt worked out okay!! Perfect excuse for a trip. And that's so cool you got to see your friend that you haven't seen in a long time. So, did he get the car??

Ashleigh said...

I love New Orleans!
I have a friend whom lives there..
I have to visit her..
I see her at least twice a year!
I see her there once then she comes here!
Glad you two had fun while there...
I guess it was worth getting his dream car huh?

Pamela said...

Love that picture of you outside at the restaurant! So pretty :) that wall is the neatest thing!!

Because Shanna Said So said...

How adventurous is this?! I can't wait to see the "Goat". Glad you guys had a fun time! NOLA is one of my favorite places. How fun you got to meet back up with an old friend!!

Nicole said...

Very cool! I want to go there someday! So far I've never had the opportunity and jealous that he got a Goat! I want a 69 GTO!

Anonymous said...

GTO's are the best! Go Will for having excellent taste. I've never been to NOLA but REALLY want to get down there. As much as I've wanted to do mardi Gras, I think I'd rather go at another time when I can just soak up the city.

Unknown said...

Looking from one place to another just to find that dream car can be quite exhausting. It’s a good thing the place where he found his is also a good place for a vacation. At least you were able to have fun on the trip, as well. Cheers!

Rhonda Burgess @ Bob Dunn Hyundai

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