An easy weekend in the Big Easy
If you would have told me in Aug of 2022 what my life in August 2023 would look like, I would have laughed. There’s been more changes and unpredictable adventures than I could have EVER imagined. A weekend in New Orleans (Aug 11-14th) ranks highly on the list of things I would have never dreamed of doing…dare I say it was memorable.
I’ve surpassed 100 nights in a hotel this year, pretty much all for “holiday” equating to just under 45% of the year traveling.
Monday, Aug 14th: I found myself wandering around the famous Garden District after a streetcar ride from Canal down St Charles Avenue. A bit of a later start than I had planned due to too much fun + festivities the night prior, but zero regrets about that.
I actually ventured out to Cafe Beignet on Bourbon and then back to the hotel to check on work before finally deciding to hop on the streetcar. I walked the streets in the Garden District, taking some photos of houses, trees, flowers and was planning on getting in the Lafayette Cemetery, but the gates are now locked, apparently overrun by tourists.
Having been to NOLA one time before, on my 30th birthday in a different time and place in my life, I was hoping to get a few shots from the inside of the cemetery with the camera. A memory of what was and a dream of what could have been is what I got instead.
The rest of the weekend was intertwined with people and activities that could be an entire book in and of itself. This may end up being the longest blog post of the year.
Taking one step further back, before we go on this train…err…streetcar, the entire reason for the trip was the Red Dress Run. Keep in mind, there was no running (and very little from what I saw of any of the 10,000+ participants) but there was a LOT of red dresses including my own and dang gurl, we brought it.
I do now fully understand why women complain about clothing with no pockets. How impractical is that? I resorted to using my Versace sunglasses case as a clutch to hold my ID, some cash, chapstick and a credit card. It, and my phone were on my hand the entire day.
People:
Will and Craig - Southwest Florida
Jason and Patrick - Ft Lauderdale, FL
Shelly - Austin, Tx
Joann - Ft Lauderdale, FL
Will and Craig, Jason and Patrick were on week 2 of the Carnival Celebration cruise in January, back when the world was still flat and I had only been to one continent.
Shelly, a longtime friend of Will and Craig was a new player in the game of life, and Shelly knows how to play and win. (#Respect new friend)
Joann - friend of Jason and Patrick was also a first time “runner”, like myself.
Jason and Patrick, always enjoyable and somehow still mysterious and people I want to get to know better.
Heidi and Holly. Heidi, a friend of Craig and Will and Holly a friend of Heidi - New Orleans locals joined us out one evening…honestly couldn’t even tell you what day. It was a blur.
Sights:
A LOT of people in Red Dresses
Carousel Bar - Hotel Monteleone
Numerous Art Galleries along Royal
Garden District
WWII Museum
Corner Pocket
OZ
Golden Lantern
Bourbon Pub
Desiree at the Royal Sonesta
Good Friends
Mr Bs (Larry the Bartender at Mr Bs is 💯)
Domenica
Razzoo
Cats Meow Karaoke Bar
Cafe Beignet
Roosevelt Hotel Bar
Sazerac Bar
Acme Oyster House
Curio
Pool and pool bar at the Roosevelt Hotel, a Waldorf Astoria property
Bourbon Street during the day.
Bourbon Street at night (and late night)
Bourbon Street early morning, post hose down, pre-crowds of people
The last 3 are the same and very different.
Weather:
Hot as a dickens and more humid than one could image. I gave up on trying not to stink. You can only shower and change so many times in a single day and everyone else is in the same boat.
As Shelly stated, alcohol is the lubricant that lets you slide through life (at least in New Orleans).
Ps- photos, not my favorites. But here you go
Cole from Colorado
