Part 7

Thursday the 16th: Had a late regular, greasy breakfast at Déjà Vu. Nice place, would have liked to have the chance to go eat there for another meal but.... again, not enough time.

Today was Audubon day. I had planned on doing the zoo, aquarium and Imax Theatre, but when I saw from my trip to the Garden District the day b4 how far out the zoo was, and I didn%26#39;t feel like having a rushed day (was feeling kinda tired), decided to skip the zoo (on the agenda for next time). So bought the combo ticket for the aquarium and Hurricane on the Bayou. I got there at 11am, and the movie was at 1pm. Thought perfect, gives me 2hrs to see the aquarium. It was very nice, but small. I was done in an hour. The white alligator was sharp to see though. I had to ask the people around me if he was real as he didn%26#39;t move at all!!

So since I had an hour to kill b4 the movie, I bought a ticket to see the 3D movie about ocean life. Was ok. Hurricane on the bayou on the other hand was very very good. I cried through 1/2 of it. Fortunately, I wasn%26#39;t the only one sniffling in the theatre. :) How ironic they started working on that project 3 months b4 Katrina. Kinda creepy if you ask me. Somebody somewhere%26#39;s was making a point.

My stomach was feeling a bit queasy when I got out of the theatre. Thought that 2 movies in a row on that big screen was maybe too much, especially with one of them being a 3D movie. Decided I needed some grub, so off to Coops again I went for more chicken (Coops is the only place I ate twice). I was browsing, taking my time walking back towards my hotel from Coops when I started to feel really queasy. Picked up the pace to get to my hotel, just made it in time b4 I got sick (I can%26#39;t see it being the food at Coops, wouldn%26#39;t have hit me that fast).

I wont%26#39; go into the gory details, but by 7pm, I was shivering in bed freezing, but I was boiling hot to the touch. Then I started having to go to the bathroom quite often (if you get my drift). I barely slept that night from the shivering, which turned into sweating to death in the middle of the night, and the trips to the facilities.

Friday, the 17th: 1st thing in the morning, I made my way to Rouse%26#39;s for something for my stomach and pick up more water as I was out. I can%26#39;t remember the last time I felt that bad. Thankfully the FQF parade went down St Ann, just under my balcony so I was able to at least see that. I didn%26#39;t leave my room again until suppetime. By then, the Pepto Bismol had started to work a bit, and I really didn%26#39;t want to miss Bruce Daigrepont who was playing at the Cajun stage, so I went for a little while. Didn%26#39;t enjoy myself though of course. Was a long walk back to the hotel. Picked up a plain ham sandwich on the way back as I was starved. Spent the rest of the evening in bed again. Thank God for remotes!!! :)

Saturday, the 16th. By then the frequency of the trips to the facilites had gone down quite a bit, but I still felt awful, quite the stomach pains actually. Tried to go out for a bit in the morning, made one turn around Jackson Square, went back to bed. Around 2pmish, I went to Clover Grill. Thought eggs and toast might help as I was reaaally hungry, was only able to eat 1/2, back to bed. I sooooooooooo wanted to go to the meet %26amp; greet, you really have no idea. I felt so bad and guilty about missing it, I still do. I really wanted to meet everybody! I%26#39;m trying not to think about it too much cause it just makes me so mad. What a time to pick up a bug or whatever it was. It couldn%26#39;t wait until I got home??

The rest of the day was again spent in bed.

Part 7

I%26#39;ve had what I thought was food poisoning from Deja Vu so I really hated reading this part of your trip report. So sorry that happened. Miserable feeling, I know!

Part 7

I%26#39;m so sorry to hear about your food poisoning. Actually, I had a friend in town that same week, and she got a bad case of food poisoning the last day of the trip. At least you were able to enjoy the city for a little while, before you got sick.

Just gives you an excuse to come back! ;)

Do you all think that%26#39;s what it was, some sort of food poisining?? I guess it must be, a regular flu bug or whatever wouldn%26#39;t be that fast, that extreme. Just my luck!!!

Based on your symptoms, I would guess food poisoning. Symptoms can start hours up to a full day after ingestion, varying based on the contaminant (who knows what it was?!). They can also include chills, fever, abdominal/stomach cramps, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Usually clears up in a few days.

It%26#39;s impossible to diagnose from afar but it sure sounds like food poisoning. Quick, painful, lots of trips to the bathroom and that awful flushing/hot skin. Blech!

There are a very small number of places I will no longer eat in the Quarter due to my perceived issues with kitchen cleanliness, including Angeli, Fiorella%26#39;s and Deja Vu. Not to say they aren%26#39;t clean, mind you, but I can only go with what I perceive after previous visits! (In fact, all 3 had pretty grungy employees in addition to questionable kitchens/food prep areas.) I shoult note that these places must pass the state/city food safety inspections each year and I assume they have done so.

ah cajunwave,you%26#39;re so politically correct. :)

OMG - I totally forgot about the TA meet and greet at Lafittes - darn! I really intended to go but got sidetracked too! Thankfully for different reasons! BTW - I never did see a TA hat or pin, or anything else - what did they send?

What ';sounds'; like food poisoning is sometimes just a body that is not used to several days of drinking and eating unusual food to your stomach. Not to mention dancing to great music in the hot sun. I travel often and start taking Axid,Zantac, etc. before I go on a trip, 2 a day during the trip and for a couple of days when I return. A greasy breakfast could have been enough to set it off, and trying to eat anything during this time,i.e. ham sandwich and eggs does not help! New Orleans food is spicy, greasy at times, can be hot, unusual, etc, and a hurricane can help the problem along! Glad you had a great time otherwise and hope that you will return soon with some stomach meds just to be safe.

I eat at DejaVu often.

I will tell you that I took a high school group to IMAX in Boston and we had to send a couple of kids out who were getting super nauseous. The sounds and the sights are so incredibly large scale that it can be very disturbing. (Plus, we were watching a video that was a fly-over - I forget what but I think Leonard Nimoy narrated it - and it added to the whole stomach-turning experience).

There has been a flu virus going around also. Its too bad you missed the meet and greet..it was the only one we%26#39;ve been able to make.

original church - experience in NO

Hi

We are staying in french quarter and we would like to visit on sunday morning an original ';gospel';-style church, where there are black ladies singin in front etc... lot of hand clapping etc...all the things we have only seen on movies. Is this even realistic and can it be found in NO ? where? what time?

original church - experience in NO

I think that this can be found in any city in the US with an African American population. I am not familiar with the churches in New Orleans, except for St. Louis Cathedral. Hopefully someone will be able to help you out on this.

original church - experience in NO

There is Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 1823 Washington Street and they have a wonderful choir and a fine pastor in Pastor Keen. Most of the %26#39;spirit filled%26#39; gospel might be found in non demominational or baptist churches but I know the choir is really good at Bethlehem and lively.

Many of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) churches have services such as you describe. Here%26#39;s information on the Full Gospel Church of God in Christ. If their services don%26#39;t meet your needs, I%26#39;m sure they%26#39;ll be able to refer you to a suitable church.

Full Gospel Church Of God In Christ

1031 N Claiborne Ave

New Orleans, LA 70116-2202

United States

Phone: (504) 821-6289

While you%26#39;re in the process of locating your desired church, I thought you might enjoy these youtube clips. If they don%26#39;t set your toes to tapping, you need to head for the emergency room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkQWPMCxaB8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abkn2HPwEXg

thanks for your replies. What time the mass begins on sundays?

Sunday masses at St. Louis Cathedral are at 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M., but you won%26#39;t find any singing black ladies or hand clapping at those services.

St. Louis Cathedral is majestic. I only go to church when I%26#39;m in New Orleans and I attend mass at the Cathedral. It is the best religious experience I can hope to attain anywhere. I carry it with me till I can get back for my next visit.

well where can i find those singing back ladies and hand clapping gospel-stuff?

Read all the posts in this thread. I gave you a reference to a church (Full Gospel Church of God in Christ) where you%26#39;re likely to find them.

I can%26#39;t help but question whether this question is for real, or at least if it isn%26#39;t just a little bit offensive? Just a reminder to be respectful of people%26#39;s cultural and religious practices, which includes being sensitive in the language we use. I%26#39;m not sure these religious services ought to be sought out solely as spectacles and tourist attractions, but I%26#39;m speaking as an outsider.

Good Jazz Nice Place?

We%26#39;ll be in New Orleans in a coupls of weeks, we arrive the last day of the Jazz festival. We%26#39;ll be staying at the Marriott on Canal Street. I am looking for suggestions for a nice classy place to go in the evening, to sit have a few drinks and hear some of the Jazz NO is famous for. We are not into loud crowded places with smoke in the air (not sure if the NO bars allow smoking or not).

Love to hear some ideas from those in the know.

Thanks

Good Jazz Nice Place?

Hi folks! In addition to m%26#39;lady%26#39;s question above, any suggestions for some really good New Orleans cuisine that doesn%26#39;t involve seafood or sausage? I want to expose the wife to real NOLA food, but she doesn%26#39;t eat ';anything from water'; or sausage. So...?

Thanks all!

Down Home Dragon

Good Jazz Nice Place?

Dragon:

I just had a really good meal at Tommy%26#39;s on Toupichatalous (spelling...i can%26#39;t say it either). Really top class. Plenty of chicken, etc. entrees. The duck was to die for. Hope that helps

I love Snug Harbor on Frenchmen St in the Marigny, walkable from the French Quarter. My favorite jazz place in the city! http://www.snugjazz.com/site/

I just got back from my 1st trip to NO, and if you want to hear really good old jazz music, go to Maison Bourbon on Bourbon st. It%26#39;s not a high class place, but it%26#39;s a great atmosphere and the band is excellent. I returned a couple of times to listen to them and even bought their CD.

As for the bars being smoky, it was no problem at all. I too was worried but because it%26#39;s so warm, they keep the doors to the bars and clubs open (and a lot of place have more than 1 door), plus most place have ceiling fans to circulate the air, so no problem whatsoever.

Have a great time!!

I%26#39;d also say Maison Bourbon and also Fritzels on Bourbon Stree. You are also close to the Ritz where Jeremy Davenport plays several nights a week in their lounge.

Harrah's hotel and casino

Does this hotel have a swimming pool? None of the pictures show one?

Harrah's hotel and casino

No Harrah%26#39;s New Orleans does NOT have a swimming pool, but the Riverside Hilton, just across the street, as well as the ';W'; New Orleans does.

Harrah's hotel and casino

No swimming pool, but you can get SOAKED in the casino. Sorry, I couldn%26#39;t resist!

Bill

Soaked, choked, and stroked. When I left my name was Jerry. Just Jerry. Even lost my last name there too...

There is a river nearby. You may want to ask the locals where it is safe to go for a swim.

Unless you want this trip to New Orleans to be your last ;), I%26#39;d skip the river, and go with the Monteleone%26#39;s rooftop pool or the Hilton Riverside%26#39;s pools.

Harrahs%26#39; doesn%26#39;t want you lolling by the pool...they want you in their casino losing your loot...NO POOL...but they have agreement with other hotels to use their pools I believe.

Donations to Katrina funds from the UK

Hi guys, wondered if you could help. My husband and I are English but LOVE New Orleans and can%26#39;t wait to get back out there. Anyway, we have a charity account that we both pay in to and really want to use some of the money to go towards our beloved city. The only problem is that as it is run by CAF it technically has to be British Stirling and to a charity registered in the UK. Does anybody know of any British charities that somehow feed into NOLA/Hurrican Katrina funds?

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Donations to Katrina funds from the UK

I would contact Greater New Orleans Foundation. They do outstanding work similar to Baton Rouge Area Foundation that we have here. http://www.gnof.org/

Thank you for your thoughts and support of a great American city.

Donations to Katrina funds from the UK

I would contact some of the bigger charities like United Way and International Red Cross because I%26#39;m sure there is some crossover. http://www.unitedwaynola.org/

http://www.redcross.org/

Good thought, Worldtraveler. I just would want those funds to get to the grass roots efforts and not administrative expenses like we%26#39;ve seen at times in the past.

I would absolutely contact one of the ';development staff'; at Greater New Orleans Foundation. Here%26#39;s a link for contact info:

gnof.org/index.php/…meet_our_staff

Having been on the development side of local non-profits, GNOF, at least IMHO, would be your best resource to at least answer your questions about British charities that could send funding to our area. They have been involved in managing multiple designated recovery funds, and might be able to make some suggestions about possible UK-registered charities sending funds our way (if such funds exist). Good luck!

makeup class

Habitat for humanity - still need help?

I was thinking of going to new orleans for a week, and volunteerign with habitat for humanity to help rebuild some houses. I did a search on tripadvisor, but all related posts were from 2006. Is there still quite a need for volunteers, or am I three years too late?

The HFH site states that camp hope is closing end of May- I was thinking of going early May. So...should I stay in camp home, or get other accomodations? I did see 1930 canal st guesthouse, which is $150 a week- but might not be the best location to volunteer. Especially since I%26#39;ll mostly only have nights to visit the city. Should I expect to get a car, or would it be ok to rent a bike and ride around New Orleans? I could bike up to an hour each way :) I%26#39;m training for a bike ride from Vancovuer to seattle, so it would be great practice (but I don%26#39;t want it to get stolen!!)

Any other tips for a solo female? Will If I go sat-sun, volunteer 5 days, will I have enough tiem to experience NO for the 2 free days and evenings? Probably not !

Habitat for humanity - still need help?

There%26#39;s definitely still a need. I would recommend contacting Habitat to see exactly what skill sets are in demand these days.

Habitat for humanity - still need help?

After some research, it looks like the st bernard project might be a better choice, as they allow input from home owners. They also have volunteer housing at a minimum cost.

I will look into this one. Any more input would be appreciated.

Both are great organizations. Also, I know a lot of colleges work with the St. Bernard Project for alternative spring break trips, so you can%26#39;t really go wrong.

Habitat is also still strong in the Slidell and Mandeville areas. No matter which one you choose, you are very close to N.O. to be able to visit the city and have fun.

Let me say THANK YOU on behalf of the people in this area for choosing to volunteer your time to aid others.

Regarding biking. No I would not bike from St. Bernard to the FQ as you would travel through some rough areas.

There is a need and will be for years to come. Churches in Slidell and Mandeville are still official sites for Disaster Relief for Habitat for the gulf coast region and if you hook up with a group you get assigned areas and transportation there and back to your lodging.

Just returned from Jazz Fest but we volunteered with Habitat on 4/24 and were sent to New Orleans East. There is still a need %26amp; will be for a long time. I would not bike there. Can%26#39;t help with accomodations, we had a hotel room in the quarter. We took a cab there %26amp; hitched a ride back on a bus that was chartered by a large group that was working at the same site. I would recommend anyone who loves New Orleans try %26amp; spend at least 1 day of your vacation helping out. It was a great experience %26amp; we will be doing it again next time we are in town.

New Orleans Hotel Accommodation

Hi there, travelling to NO in June for 3 nights.

Would like to stay in French Quarter close to

everything. I have found these hotels on

Book It but would like some advice as to which

is better or if you have any other hotels you

could let me know about that would be great we

would like the hotel to have a pool because the

weather is going to probably be quite hot at

that time.

Maison Dupuy Hotel - Touloose St.

Bourbon Orleans on Bourbon Street behind jackson Square

Thanks heaps.

Debbie

New Orleans Hotel Accommodation

Just got back from my trip, haven%26#39;t had chance to do a review, but I stayed at the Bourbon Orleans during the FQF and the location is perfect, and my Room was fine. PLUS! was great to have a place smack down in the middle of FQF. The short walk to my hotel room was so much better than standing in line for the porta potty or having to buy something just to get to go pee. I will post a review soon, but I was happy with the place.

New Orleans Hotel Accommodation

Given that choice it would be the Bourbon Orleans by far but also check out hotel sites for Place D%26#39;armes, St. Marie, Prince Conti, LeRichelieu, Provincial...all should be into the sizzling summer savings rates.

I like the location and the hotel itself of the Bourbon Orleans better than the Maison Dupuy, but both hotels have that New Orleans charm.

My favorite FQ pool is the Monteleone%26#39;s rooftop pool, and they might have some great summer rates so check that out too!

I love the Monteleone, but my favorite pool area is at the OMNI-Royal, great rooftop pool with a raised observation deck. One can see the river, the Quarter, the CBD, it is fantastic. The Bourbon Orleans is just a block from my apt. and is in a good area of Bourbon. Very near all the excitment, but beginning to quiet down some. I would, however, ask to be placed on the Orleans side near Royal St. if you want some sleep, as the Bourbon side and St. Ann side can be pretty noisy. There are two bars on the corner of St. Ann/Bourbon as well as 4 bars on the Bourbon side. The pool is nice, but in a courtyard area, so no view. Another nice pool area is at the Royal Sonesta, a lovely courtyard, but again, ask for an off Bourbon room if you want any rest.

Thanks thats great to hear I will look out for your review.

Thanks so much everyone I will check out these hotels glad you told me about the pools as that is important to us as it will be hot. Do you think we should wait until closer to time to book and may get a better rate.

Cheers Debbie

Debbie,

I%26#39;ve stayed at Maison Dupuy twice, last summer and last October for a week...I love, love love it. They have a fabulous fine dining restaurant...you can ask for a room that faces the street or a lovely room with a sitting balcony that faces the courtyard, fountain and pool...very romantic...and just blocks to Bourbon. The Maison Dupuy has a separate bungalo - well hidden in it%26#39;s own little garden with a walking bridge over a koi pond...it%26#39;s a 2 story cottage that is incredible and not too expensive during the week...I%26#39;ve also stayed at the Omni Royal and it%26#39;s even better...especially if you ask for a room with a balcony overlooking Royal St. Stay away from their petite rooms (not sure what they are called exactly) they are extremely tiny..

Thanks those suggestions are great I will look

into Maison Dupuy Hotel and the Omni I think.

I had read that Maison Dupuy had bed bugs obviously

you didn%26#39;t experience that by the sounds of it.

Regards

Debbie