Yes, it's true, I'm finally blogging about New Orleans. My sickness is at bay! Verdict: ear infection and some bacterial thing in my throat. Now that I'm on antibiotics I'm feeling SO much better. At first the doctor thought I had mono, but luckily that test was negative. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the flu two weeks ago and I am not amused I suffered for so long.
On to New Orleans! The original reason I was going to New Orleans was for a work conference. But since I had never been there before, my co-worker Victor and I decided to go a couple of days early to explore. My trip to did not start off well. As you know, I was super sick and my brain was foggy. Jed was late to pick me up, but I made it to the airport with time to spare. In order to get to New Orleans I had to catch a connecting flight in Dallas and my layover was only 40 minutes. When I checked in my Dallas flight was delayed by 30 minutes because of crew issues. This made my chances of getting on my next flight iffy.
The American Airlines customer service woman (who ironically was not very customer oriented) told me I was definitely going to miss my flight and that my bags wouldn't make it either and AA would not take my bags to my hotel. It was "policy." She then proceeded to type away on her computer for literally 5 minutes without looking up and then told me that the only way I could get to New Orleans was to go through Chicago and I would arrive there at 11:30 pm. This was at 7:15 am.
Needless to say, I was not amused and asked to speak with her supervisor. Luckily the supervisor was accommodating and assured me that if my luggage didn't make it AA would drop it off at my hotel since it would be their fault. I decided to take my chances and try to make my connecting flight in Dallas. When I arrived in Dallas, my New Orleans flight was delayed as well so I made it!
Victor and I were on the same flight into New Orleans; we disembarked and made our way to the baggage claim. On the way I stopped in the bathroom and saw this:
Have you seen these before? It's a motorized seat cover and it kind of freaked me out. I guess it's the new era of airport restroom sanitation. Down at the baggage claim we were greeted by a live band and miraculously my bag made it to New Orleans! I took this as a good omen.
Next Victor and I got in line for the shuttle bus to our hotel. There was a huge line for the shuttle bus, but somehow we got picked to go right after we got in line. Another good omen! We got a nice tour of the French Quarter on the shuttle bus, talked to some cool people from California. The last stop was our hotel in the Garden District. Victor and I get out and I realize that the bag the driver gives to me is NOT my bag. Apparently my good omens had run out. The driver had to go back to 3 other hotels to find my bag, but at least he found it.
Once we were settled in the hotel (which only had one elevator and was hot as hell) Victor and I set out to catch the streetcar to the French Quarter.
The streetcar never came, so we just started walking. We saw all kinds of crazy stuff on our walk: a crack pipe, a drug deal, a shirtless/shoeless guy carrying a pizza. It's quite an entertaining city. Finally we made it to Bourbon Street! It was Saturday night, there had just been a St. Patrick's Day Parade..the freaks were out. We were starving so we sat down to our first Cajun meal. Notice my drink is already empty and everything on my plate is fried.
I always knew Victor preferred balls...
Bourbon Street basically consists of 3 things: bars, strip clubs and pizza places with the occasional hot dog stand thrown in. This was my favorite sign:
There are 2 signature drinks in New Orleans: hurricanes and hand grenades. Some of you will remember my last experience with hurricanes back in September. I won't get into the details, but it wasn't exactly my most flattering moment. But you know, when in Rome. So I got myself a hurricane and the free shot that came with it.
There are some characters on Bourbon Street. A living statue! Random guys in chicken suits! Firemen! Boys in boas!
One hurricane was enough for me, so we moved on to beer! Huge ass beers, that is.
Victor was thirsty!
Our last stop of the night was this voodoo store.
Victor and I both got psychic readings, but I'm not sure they were accurate. She said Victor was going to get married to a woman and that I was going to marry a divorced medical professional from another state. At least it was entertaining.
The next day we switched to our hotel in the French Quarter and I had this lovely view of the Mississippi River from my room.
Our friend Mike arrived on Sunday morning so we took him out to Bourbon Street. By 2 pm, we already had several rounds of Bud Lights and I saw some chick throw up her hurricane all over the bathroom.
Anywhere else, we would be considered alcoholics. But we were in New Orleans my friends, so we just kept on partying! We stopped at a karaoke bar for a few minutes and this lady showed up.
This picture is mild compared to what we saw afterwards. Let's just say the dress kept coming up and we saw some old lady lavender underwear and something that resembled roast beef. Not a pretty sight. In her drunkenness, she thought was super hot. She told me she was 52 and she looked damn good. Yikes!
The conference started on Monday afternoon, but that didn't keep us from going out later! It was St. Patrick's Day after all. Here we are enjoying drinks at Pat O'Brien's.
Christy, me, Victoria, Christina, Mike
Don't worry, Christy didn't drink all of those drinks herself.
Christina, me, Mike
Then we got some hats...
Christy and Christina got CRUNK
Victoria and an old friend (I'm lame and can't remember his name)
The next day we did some work stuff and sat in meetings all day. I was really, really sick most of the day and I almost died from a coughing fit. I also got some weird eye infection, which is why I'm wearing my glasses in a few pictures.
Victor and Mike
Me, Maria, Christina
Tuesday was Maria's birthday so we decided to venture out into the Garden District for dinner. Once again, we attempted to catch the streetcar. While we were waiting a hurricane was blowing in. Lynnette said to me, "Girl, is my weave still on??"
A streetcar came by after we had been waiting for 40 minutes, but unfortunately it was full. We had 12 people in our group, so decided to get a cab. On our ride over we started talking about how many middle aged boobs we had seen on Bourbon Street, then Victor and I were talking about our roast beef experience at the karaoke bar. The cab driver was cracking up! He told us he called the old lady boobs a "chest of drawers" because they just fall right out. He was gracious enough to be in a picture for me.
Gracie and Victor
Vanessa and Eryka
Seth and Beth
Christina and me
Maria and Christina
Victor and I are Southern Belles. I promise I'm not really wearing transitions lenses...it just looks like it!
Maria showing a little leg to get us a cab
No parking on Victor!
We finally got a cab back to the French Quarter. Victor stole this hat from the cabbie!
I decided to try the hat on...I may or may not have head lice from it. I did get some beads thrown at me though!
Our last night on Bourbon Street...Mike, Christina and me
I ended my time in New Orleans with a trip to the famous Cafe Du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets. Here's Vickie, me, Lynn, Christina and Sherry
