New Orleans and a Four Day Pass

Warning: There will be a lot of pix on this post - so please give it time to load :) 

I am dusting off an older post to join up in the Traveling Tuesday Blog Hop, hosted by Shannon at Eat, Pray, Love, Live. 

I figured this was a great post, since it is Mardi Gras! I love New Orleans and if given the chance, would go back in a heart beat. I hope we can live there again someday. 

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Happy Mardi Gras and enjoy :) 

I promised some pictures from my trip to New Orleans in November, so I figured I had better follow through. I 'may' be procrastinating just a little bit on after Christmas housework and there is no way I am going to the commissary on a day like this: 

We are supposed to get more... and people wonder why I miss New Orleans!?

Anyway, I hadn't been back to NOLA since we left for Seattle in 1998. My heart broke five years ago after the hurricane, but Soldier boy was in Iraq and I couldn't go help like I wanted. We have lived in a lot of places over our 18 years of marriage, but I think we loved New Orleans best. It felt like home more than any of the others. The people are wonderful and the history amazing. I miss the Creole culture and even Mardi Gras (real Mardi Gras isn't what you see on television).

When we knew that Soldier boy would get a four day pass, we decided to spend it there. He was in Mississippi, so it wasn't much of a drive and I was able to use my frequent flier miles to get a cheap ticket. I rented a nice car (got an upgrade!) and picked him up. I did arrive without my luggage thanks to Denver International, ugh!

We walked all over the French Quarter, including a wonderful three hour walking tour (if you ever go, please check out  Le Monde Creole Tours, they were amazing!), had dinner at all the places I have been dying to go to (Delmonico, Emeril's, and by far the best - K-Pauls!) and we're serenaded on the river walk by an amazing musician. It was a fun four days, not long enough to enjoy my Soldier or the city.

We drove down the coast and stopped at Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis' house in Biloxi.

Then took the street car to Delmonico. I recommend the Bananas Foster :)

Cafe du Monde for breakfast and a walk by the river.

Jackson Square

I love this place!

Oak Alley

River Road and all of the plantations are beautiful.

K-Pauls

K-Pauls' was amazing. Our waiter was wonderful and they gave us a military discount and Soldier boy a gift. You must try the blackened drum and the sirloin with debris sauce. We both agreed it was the best food we have ever had.

Our tour was amazing! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The cemeteries are a must do.

Lee Circle

It was so fun to play tourist.

Emeril was in the kitchen. It was so cool!

The devastation still visible after 5 years was heartbreaking. Whole communities just gone.

Saying goodbye.

There is a slight possibility that we will go to Mississippi for two years after this deployment. I really hope it works out. I would probably never come back to Montana. It is just too cold.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

This week's MilSpouse Weekly Round-up is hosted by Food, Photos and Tanks. Come over and join the fun :)

Love,