the big easy (new orleans, la)

Good morning, mes chéres. Welcome to an absolutely beautiful city beaming with a flavorful energy. The blend of cultures is so wonderfully apparent in it's architecture, it's food, it's people. And yet, at times I felt alone. For the first time on this road trip of mine, I would've preferred to explore this city with a companion or two. But I suppose places like New Orleans are made for that. Meet ya'll on Bourbon Street? ;). Behold, the many faces of NOLA:

 [the French Quarter]

 [the Riverfront]

 [the historic French Market turned tourist trap]

[Unique architecture on the musical Frenchmen St]

 [Remembering the Spaniards amongst the Cajun and Creole influences]

 [Catfish Po'Boys with local Abita Beer in the park ]

 [the Garden district]

[Go Saints! ("Who dat?" is 'round every corner)]

 [the Ninth Ward, five years later]

 [the Royal Street Deli (again in the French Quarter) for a healthy meal]

 

[Beignets at the famous Café du Monde]

[the streetcar & mansions in Uptown]

 [the Mardi Gras Tree at Tulane University]

That's not to say I didn't have an amazing experience though, and I suppose I wasn't entirely solo either. My friend's older sister, Emily (pictured on the left), was gracious enough to keep me company when I arrived on Sunday evening. At first we took a walking tour with frozen lemonade & rums in hand, then we sought out the best po'boys for an economical tasting of the true cuisine. Late on Monday afternoon, I met up with an old childhood friend who is now a sophomore at Tulane, and afterwards joined Emily again (plus more friends) for a low-key trivia night. And all the while I stayed in the lake house of family friends. 'Twas ridiculously fun and I cannot wait to go back for more. See ya in Texas!