Before this trip, the last time I visited New Orleans was well before Katrina. We were only there for a day, but the city left a strong impression on me and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had changed very little over the years. The day we arrived was the day of the wedding, so we had only a few hours to eat, dress, and make our way over to the gathering place for the wedding party. We ate at Acme Oyster House, apparently a famous New Orleans eatery as there was a line out the door only 20 minutes after they had opened for lunch. While our meal was good, the confusion was such that some other people took our place in line without us realizing it and we ended up waiting about an hour to eat lunch.
Once we were finished, we headed back to the hotel to dress then took a cab to another hotel where all the wedding guests were to meet. When I say this was the most fabulous wedding I've ever attended, I mean it the most fabulous...period. The actual wedding venue was an old plantation about an hour outside of the city. Charter buses were scheduled to take all the guests out, and back. Once we arrived at the plantation there was champagne and enough time to walk around the property for a bit. After the ceremony ended we were led through the actual plantation house where there were drinks, food, and a woman hand rolling cigars for guests. There were also tiny shot glasses available with the couple's logo on them. The reception was in another building where there was a buffet dinner, a 12 piece band, and more drinks flowing. Guests danced for several hours before the couple was led out of the plantation property, and sent off under a show of fireworks, riding back to New Orleans in a classic Rolls-Royce. Fabulous.
The next day, we got up and had the most spectacular brunch ever at Commander's Palace. Then headed right across the street to walk through the famous Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. One thing I wasn't aware of was the fact that people are still buried in this cemetery today. Some of the tombs are falling into disrepair, but others have clearly been updated and refreshed as the years have gone by.
After a great brunch, Dad headed off to the casino and Mom and I made our way through some of the more famous streets of the French Quarter. I thought the architecture and people were more interesting than most of the shops we visited. As far as my adventures on Bourbon Street go, well I have nothing to tell. Not because I'm trying to be coy in some kind of "what happens in New Orleans" way. Quite simply, that is just not my scene. I've never liked being around masses of drunk people, or just drinking to get drunk. Actually the whole idea is rather stupid, if you ask me.
He might look like he was walking, but he's actually one of several mime's we saw.
Our last morning in New Orleans was marked by rain and a required trip to Cafe Du Monde. It was just as good as I remember. Fluffy white piles of powdered sugar over hot chewy beignets accompanied by a side of hot coffee. It was the perfect way to end a mini vacation, and start off Spring Break. Now that my week off has passed swiftly and sweetly by, it's time to get back into work mode again. At least I will have the memory of those little beignets to keep me going.
