Trip Report: Part 2

I forgot to mention, I also stopped at the Funky Pirate Friday night to listen to Al Carson. The place was packed and you can tell he%26#39;s quite popular. I stayed for only about 3 songs which were very nice. I planned on going back, but never ended up doing it. Ran out of time (common feeling throughout my trip, not enough time!!)

Saturday, the 11th: I was up and ready early cause I had a reservation for the City/Katrina tour with Celebration Tours, pick up between 10 and 10:10am. I had reserved it, and was confirmed about 3 weeks earlier. So I%26#39;m in front of the hotel a few minutes b4 10 waiting for my van..... by almost 10:25, still no pick-up. I knew there was the marathon that morning and they might be a few minutes late, but my gut was telling me something is wrong. So I called from the front desk and the guy%26#39;s like I don%26#39;t have your name on the list. I told him about the email confirmation and whatnot. He was quite apologetic and offered to pick me up and give me a 1 on 1 tour. I was so surprised that I said sure, but then called back a couple of minutes later and declined. I wasn%26#39;t too comfortable being alone with a stranger for 2 hrs all over the city.

By the time all this was done, it was almost 11am and most of my morning is gone and wasted. I was not impressed needless to say. So not wanting this to happen again, I called Tours by Isabelle to confirm my plantation tour (and now make a reservation for her city/Katrina tour) as I still hadn%26#39;t heard anything. She%26#39;s like I%26#39;ve been calling your cell trying to reach you. I told her since I don%26#39;t have a cell, yes you%26#39;d have a hard time. She had my home phone# down as my cell. She says she left messages but there was nothing on my machine when I got back. Anyway, she%26#39;s like I can%26#39;t do the plantation tour on Monday (which was my preference) but can do Tuesday afternoon (I wanted morning). Figured I%26#39;d better take it, and she was able to do the city/Katrina tour for Monday afternoon, so booked that.

Now that was all out of the way, made a new game plan for the rest of the day. Since it was close to lunch time, I thought I%26#39;d go to Coops. And of course I ordered the fried chicken and jumbalaya. It was as great as you all said. And what a great place!! I loved the hole in the wall, neighborhood type feel. I got there around 11:30, and it was already packed (they open at 11). And the cat that lives there is too cute. I have to admit the washroom facilities leave a lot to be desired, but when u gotta go... :-)

After lunch, went to the French Market for souvenir shopping. I love those types of places, so I had a blast looking at everything. You need to go there with time though, you can%26#39;t rush. While I was there, a brassband came by out of the blue, and played some songs for tips. I love NO!!! :)

I bought t.shirts, shot glasses (I collect), stuff for family. I also bought coasters. They are tile/porcelain with different pixs of NO on them. What a great way to remember a trip when u%26#39;re back home. I got one with the Bourbon St sign, Cafe du Monde, the Preservation Hall sign, and ... for the life of me I can%26#39;t remember the 4th right now. I think it%26#39;s a streetcar though.

After shopping, thought it was high time for a drink!! So headed over to Pat O%26#39;s, after dropping all my stuff at the hotel, for my 1st Hurricane. I got one at the ';to go'; bar. Now, I have to admit, the 1st couple of sips weren%26#39;t that great, very sweet. But give the chance for the ice to really mix in with the beverage %26amp; properly chill it, and they become quite tasty. ;-)

I wanted to sit in the courtyard, but there was no room so I wandered into the dueling piano room. Oh my God!!! What a fun afternoon. I ended up staying for like 1h %26amp; 1/2. There were 3 ladies who rotated on the 2 pianos, great singers and every entertaining. Boy did I bust a gut when I heard their version of Kenny Roger%26#39;s ';Lucille'; (those of you who have heard it know what I mean).

After a very entertaining afternoon, I left Pat O%26#39;s with a hurricane glass in hand (I%26#39;ll figure how to get it home later)and a light buzz going. I stopped by Maison Bourbon again when I saw that same band from the night b4 were playing. I stayed for awhile, royally enjoying the music, even bought one of their CD%26#39;s. Then it was off to the hotel to rest up and freshen up.

I decided to go to the Cajun Cabin for a late supper as I wanted to hear some Cajun/Zydeco music. I get there no band, but thought maybe they hadn%26#39;t started yet. I get seated at a table, ordered and asked what time does the band start. They don%26#39;t have music anymore! They stopped about 2 months earlier (their website still says they have live entertainement). Again, not too impressed. So I ate my meal and left. I just ordered a burger and fries. Burger was really good. If you%26#39;re looking for a burger and you%26#39;re in the area, worth stopping.

The rest of the evening, I walked around Bourbon just people watching, listening to music at different doorways. The long day of walking and drinking was getting to me, so headed off to bed.

Minus the mix-up with the tour in the am, a great day!!!!

Trip Report: Part 2

I just got back as well, haven%26#39;t had chance to do up a trip report. I am really enjoying reading them though. I hope you post part 3 soon. I would have killed to have gotten the chance for a private tour of the Katrina areas. I went on a tour with grayline. It was great, and very informative.. but on a private tour I bet you would get so much more detail/closer look. I respect your sense of safety, but I am jealous of what you passed up on. Regarless, seems like you did plenty of great stuff. Please post part 3

Trip Report: Part 2

Oh, we LOVED thost tile%26#39;s with the NOLA pictures! They inspired us to do a cool project in our kitchen. I am fortunate that I work at a photography company that has the equipment to make those. I gathered a collection of our own photo%26#39;s from our travels. I had our company transfer them to the tiles and we glued them to our walls above our soffits in our kitchen. It turned out really cool, and of course there are several pic%26#39;s from our recent trip to NOLA. My company liked them so much, that they are now thinking of adding them to our product line.

When we go to Pat O%26#39;Briens its always only to the piano bar and it seems to be always alive. I do not rec. the Cajun Cabin and if you want a burger in that area just go down St. Peters to Yo Mama%26#39;s rather than the Cajun Cabin. With the difficulty in having fully trained personnel in tourism and restaurants post Katrina it seems slip ups do occur on all levels.

I did go to Yo-Mamma%26#39;s as well, but wasn%26#39;t in the mood for a hamburger, so had a bbq chicken (real chicken) burger instead with a side salad. Was surpringly good.

I%26#39;m vicariously enjoying your reports. I also got four of those tiles from that guy in the French Market, (one of Preservation Hall sign, too). He was really friendly and we talked of his Katrina woes. I have them on my coffee table and really enjoy them. I%26#39;m sure you will, too.

Glad you liked Coop%26#39;s. Hard not to like, actually.

I see you posted part 3, on my way there, now.

Thanks for your report! That%26#39;s too bad about the mix-up with Celebration Tours, but I guess it%26#39;s a lesson for future visitors to always confirm day before/morning of.

I love the dueling pianos too :)