Part 4

Tuesday, the 14th: Today I was taking the afternoon tour to the plantations, so again couldn%26#39;t do much in the am. Figured perfect time to go do some laundry as I%26#39;d already gone through about 1/2 my clothes, and I still had a week to go. :) Went to the Wishing Well accross from Clover Grill. I thought it was a regular laundry mat, but they do you%26#39;re laundry for you. They charge by the weight, you put in your stuff in the washer, they take care of putting it in the dryer and taking it out if you%26#39;re not back b4 it%26#39;s done. Well!! I was more than happy to pay my 7.50$ and off I went to do some more exploring and picture taking. Just walked around the quarter some more.

Picked up my clothes when they were done, dropped them off at the hotel and off to Johnny Poyboy%26#39;s for lunch. I got there around 11:15 and the place was packed!!! No tables, long line to order, I knew there was no way I%26#39;d have time to eat and make it back to the hotel for 12:30, so I circled back to the hotel via Decatur looking for a quick spot to eat lunch. Ended up at the sportsbar restaurant at the corner of Jackson Square. Bluck, overpriced and semi bad service. And they automatically add the tip on the bill. I didn%26#39;t like that at all, especially since it was higher than I would have tipped, but didn%26#39;t have time to argue with whomever, so just paid my bill and left. The most regrettable meal of the whole trip, that%26#39;s for sure.

My plantation tour was to Laura and Oak Alley. We stopped at Laura 1st. It was soooo beautifull %26amp; nice, very informative. I took a lot of pixs. And the size of those slave quarters, and 2 families had to share?!?!?? Good Lord! Talk about sleeping on top of each other. The people who had to sleep on the porch probably had the better deal. :) We stayed about 1h %26amp; 1/2 I%26#39;d say, maybe a tad longer. I bought the book that they made out of Laura%26#39;s diary which was found in archives in St Louis a few years back. The author was there, he gives tours at Laura, so he signed the book for anybody who bought one. It%26#39;ll make interesting reading this summer on vacation at the beach I%26#39;m sure.

We then went to Oak Alley. The house and the grounds are exactly what you%26#39;d picture when u say the word plantation: big, beautifull, sitting on the veranda having a mint julip,etc. But the tour is only 30 mins long %26amp; you can%26#39;t take pictures inside the house (I%26#39;ll admit, I snuck a couple). I have to say, I enjoyed much more Laura plantation. But I%26#39;m glad I saw Oak Alley, don%26#39;t get me wrong. If a person is in that area, they have to stop to see the oak alley. Makes for gorgeous pictures!

We got back to NO around 6pm. Went to Chartres House Cafe for supper. Had a cup of gumbo, yumm, and the duck quesidillas. I was expecting a regular quesidilla, but it was 3 triangles made out of something like phyllo pastry, very flaky, stuffed with the duck mixture. Had some salsa and sour cream on the side. Talk about good, I was quite surprised and impressed. Very yummy, I%26#39;d have to say one of my favorite meals. I had planned on going back but alas, ran out of time.... They also make a mean marguarita which comes in a souvenir glass, plastic. I had no room in the suitcase, so I had to leave it behind.

Then off to Bourbon St again. I started with Cajun/Zydeco music, then some regular rock %26#39;n roll (Elvis, Alanah Myles) and I ended my evening at Fritzels. Was lucky enough to get a seat right up front, so had a great view of the band. Traditional jazz band with a banjo. Very entertaining, a great time. Another place I planned on going back but......

Notice a theme????? Another faaaaaaabulous day!!!

Part 4

This should say part 5. Think it%26#39;s time to quick for today. :-)

Part 4

I%26#39;m loving your reports porelly...and the book you bought at Laura is excellent, I have read it. You will definitely enjoy it.

WTG porelly! You are writing a great TR. It%26#39;s like a good novel, and I am only halfway through it! Keep it up.

judging by the fabulous time you were having, I%26#39;m assuming it was ok as a solo traveller??? I%26#39;ve really considered visiting solo, and am unsure about it, but it sounds like you made it work!!! Good for you...wish I had the courage to do it :)

and PLEASE keep %26#39;em coming!!! I%26#39;m really enoying reading all about your first experience in New Orleans :)

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Part 3

Sunday the 12th: It%26#39;s Easter Sunday, and being the good guilt-ridden catholic that I am, I went to 9am mass at the cathedral. What a beautiful church. I had gone in earlier in the week-end to take pixs. I must admit, I was dissapointed. Nothing spectacular, just you%26#39;re regular run of the mill church service. I was expecting more for some reason, especially with it being Easter.

After mass it was off to the Court of 2 Sisters for brunch. Now, I know a lot of you out there don%26#39;t care for it and yes, the food was fine but nothing spectacular (but rarely are buffet%26#39;s amazing), but you just can%26#39;t beat the ambiance. I had requested a table out in the courtyard when I made my reservation, and I was seated at a table next to the wishing well. It was a cloudy but warm enough morning with the birds singing, almost everybody dressed in their Sunday best, a few ladies even had grand hats on. The jazz band playing in the corner, not too loudly so as to not interfere with conversation, was just perfect. I took my time eating, and stayed a little over an hour. Had great service from a very nice young lady named Tess (her I remember her name).

Afterwardsd, walked down Royal for a bit to digest my meal, then made my way back to the hotel to change in something comfy and get ready for the 1st of 2 Easter parades that I was planning on seeing. The 1st was the Chris Owens one. Was great fun, though the parades were a bit smaller than I expected, but still gives you an idea what Mardi Gras must be like. And I learnt that you%26#39;ve really gotta watch out for those beads. They whip those things at you like they were baseballs!! :)

Later on in the afternoon was the Guay pride Easter parade. Now that one was really fun!Very flamboyant, very generous with their beads (I got most of my beads from that parade). I actually caught it twice. I was up on Bourbon to watch it, then realized it was coming down Royal so I stayed to see it again. I%26#39;m glad I did cause I was able to get better pictures the 2nd time around.

For supper, I went to Cafe Pontalba in Jackson Square. Was in the mood for something ';regular'; so had the chicken with garlic mashed potatoes. Was a good enough meal, pretty tasty if that%26#39;s what you%26#39;re in the mood for. I had gotten a coupon from the internet for a free desert, so choose the white chocolate bread pudding. It was served warm with whip on top. Mmmmm. I wasn%26#39;t able to finish it all (though I tried very hard) as I was just too stuffed.

Preservation Hall was on the agenda for that night. I got there around 7:40, already a long line-up, well pass Pat O%26#39;s. So needless to say, I didn%26#39;t get a place to sit. I was stuffed in the back, in the heat and humidity (was pretty humid by Sunday night)with still aching feet. I lasted 2 songs, then I went to sit in the entry way and listened to the music from there. Not the same. So I decided to stay for the 2nd set (someone had mentionned in an earlier post about having to leave after a set, but they didn%26#39;t say anthing like that this time. Might depend on how many people are waiting). I still only manage to get a seat on cushions on the floor in front of the band, but beats standing.

The St Peters All Star band was playing. Was a great evening with great old time jazz. And was kinda sharp being right up close and personnal too. They said at the beggining that you can%26#39;t take pixs with a flash. Do you think I could figure out how to turn off my flash on my new digital camera??? Noooooo. So I wasn%26#39;t able to get a pix of the band. I did get some of the room b4 the show though.

Going home from Preservation Hall, I had some hunger pans so decided to finally go have my 1st taste of beignets. As it was past 10pm, I didn%26#39;t have a coffee. The beignets were good, lots of powdered sugar as everybody says, but the sugar was sticking pretty well to the beignets, might have been the humidity?? But I did manage to get some on my black(of course) shirt.

After that, off to bed. Another great, great day!!!! Aching feet and all.

Part 3

I am really enjoying your reports. Keep %26#39;em coming. How long did the set at Preservation Hall last. I%26#39;m not sure I could stand too long either and walking all day. I%26#39;m sure my feet and legs would protest immensely!

Part 3

The sets last about 45 mins. They take a 15 minute, well deserved break in between each.

Oh! I had the same table at the wishing well last sunday. funny. I was not in New Orleans for Easter this year (spent it in houston) but I have been there before for both Parades. I loved the gay one. I stood next to a real HUNK and had trouble keeping up with all he couldn%26#39;t catch. And the Hats all those guys wore were amazing. I agree they really throw allot of beads.. plus I got allot of plastic eggs filled with all kinds of stuff. WAY FUN! Your trip sounds great. It pays to be organized/informed when you travel.

Yup, you have to get there at least 30 minutes before hand on a regular weekday and then 45 minutes or so ahead of time on the weekends to get a seat. I usually will stand by the first door and watch from there, if I get there late. But, it%26#39;s a pretty small and intimate venue :)

I do like cafe pontalba as they have good bread and just decent food but the real plus is having a couple drinks with the po-boy or such and just people watch. At Preservation Hall I kind of hang way back and lean on the back wall or side wall and never last the full set-getting old I guess.

I can%26#39;t believe I have never been to Preservation Hall..I%26#39;ve always been discouraged from the long line-up. I will be in New Orleans a day longer than the usual (I usually can only go for 3 nights, but this time it%26#39;ll be 4..yayyyyy!!!!) so I will definitely get in this time around. Good thing you chose to go for 12 days, Porelly, there%26#39;s so much to do and see, not to mention being able to just relax and soak it all in...I soooo wish I could go for longer, but having young kids kinda holds me back....but I do so enjoy the time there, even if it is too short :)

i can%26#39;t believe you had your FIRST beignet on DAY THREE! I usually shove a few down (and powder all around) immead. upon arriving!

keep em%26#39; coming Porelly!

Football Tickets

Can anyone tell me when the Saints tickets go on sale for home games?

Football Tickets

Have you contacted the Saints? They would provide the best and most reliable answer!

Football Tickets

The Saints are sold out on a season ticket basis. They don%26#39;t offer ';single game'; tickets because of this.

To get one game, you have to (as mentioned) contact the Saints for ';re-sells'; by ticket holders, use a ticket broker or contact the opposing team as they get a few hundred to sell.

Even though the Saints are technically sold-out for all games, a limited amount of single-game tickets are sometimes still available (mostly tickets that have been returned from the visiting team%26#39;s allotment). These usually go on-sale a week or so before the game and are available through TicketMaster (there is a link at www.NewOrleansSaints.com).

There is also an ';official'; ticket re-sale system on the Saint%26#39;s site that allows season ticket holders to sell their individual game tickets. This is the only way to be sure the ticket you buy will be valid.

Because tickets are bar-coded now, it is very risky buying tickets on the street. The ticket you purchase could be a real ticket and still not be ';valid'; for entry. StubHub and other 3rd-party sellers usually offer some kind of money-back guarantee, but that doesn%26#39;t get you in the game if your ticket is bogus.

Best Chocolate Lovers Dessert

I have seen some chocolate bread puddings mentioned, but not much else. Just wondering where to take my husband for a to die for chocolate dessert for his birthday.

Best Chocolate Lovers Dessert

My favorite chocolate dessert - the double chocolate bread pudding at Red Fish Grill on Bourbon St. It is amazing - like a molten, chocolate bread pudding cake with white and dark chocolate sauce - totally to die for!

Best Chocolate Lovers Dessert

I think it was your post I saw about the bread pudding before....I should have taken your word for it then. I have the Red Fish marked on my map with their operating hours. Thanks for the reply

AND the white chocolate bread pudding at the Palace Cafe on Canal is great, too.

B&B or Hotel?

Hi,

We%26#39;re doing a tour of the south in the summer and are mostly trying to stay in B%26amp;Bs. Do you think this is a good idea in NO (there are some really lovely ones!) or are you better to be in a hotel in the French Quarter. Some of the B%26amp;Bs say there are bus stops right next to them and they are only a few minutes to the centre, but I%26#39;m just wondering is it better to be right there... also from a safety point of view?

Thanks for any thoughts, and if anybody has any strong recommendations I%26#39;d be very grateful.

Cheers,

Steve.

B%26amp;B or Hotel?

There are B%26amp;Bs in the French Quarter (granted, not many) and in the nearby Faubourg Marigny (many!) where walking is possible. Still others in MidCity and the Uptown/Garden District areas are quick cab/streetcar rides away.

I think you gain a unique perspective by staying with B%26amp;B owners. It%26#39;s like having a concierge 24/7 and many of the houses are beautiful. It feels like you%26#39;re ';home'; and this is a huge draw for many people! They aren%26#39;t for everyone, of course, and many folks (like me) prefer hotels with room service, etc.

So, it%26#39;s your call! If you decide on a B%26amp;B, New Orleans does have a great variety of properties from what I%26#39;ve been able to tell and the incredible reviews on this site and others seem to suggest that guests love them, too.

B%26amp;B or Hotel?

We prefer B%26amp;Bs for all the reasons stated by CajunWave. If you%26#39;ll read the TripAdvisor reviews of the top B%26amp;Bs in the city, you%26#39;ll be able to gain a sense of each hosts%26#39;s degree of involvement in your trip while you%26#39;re staying at their property. Our preference is for a host who is as involved as you want them to be, and most of the hosts at the top properties fit this mold.

Our sitting around the breakfast table in the morning, visiting with hosts who have become our friends over the years, while meeting other guests and getting their perspectives on New Orleans have produced many fond memories for us.

Of course, hotels in the French Quarter have their advantages also. Your being able to walk out the door of your hotel and be in the midst of the ';action'; is a great convenience.

Either choice is a good one. We lean towards the B%26amp;Bs.

We stayed at Ashton%26#39;s bed and breakfast about a year and a half ago, and it was absolutely wonderful. We were there during an off-peak time and had the whole house to ourselves. The breakfast that Patrick served was probably the best meal of our trip - oh those bananas foster!! I prefer staying in a b%26amp;b over a hotel. However, staying right in the French Quarter certainly has advantages, and most of the b%26amp;b%26#39;s aren%26#39;t in the Quarter.

We loved staying at 1896 O%26#39;Malley House, because the owner is awesome. A Canal streetcar stop is less than a block away, so you can get to the FQ pretty quickly, and riding the streetcars (especially the St Charles) is a must. We stayed once at a place right off of St. Charles, and that was okay, but I liked staying at La Maison Marigny (on the far end of Bourbon), and at 1896 O%26#39;Malley and Block Keller (both in Mid-City) a lot more. But if it%26#39;s a first trip, and especially if time is limited, I would definitely recommend staying at a hotel right in the heart of the FQ.

Hi Steve,

We stayed at Holiday Inn at French Quarter. Although the street didn%26#39;t feel that safe in the evening, the hotel itself was good, safe and very well priced.

Have a good trip!

Helena

We stayed at the Inn on Bayou Rd. which was a fabulous B and B. Frank, the innkeeper was very attentive, the rooms (we had a little cottage) were beautifully decorated, the pool was lovely, the grounds delightful - cute baby chicks and cats co-mingled without acrimony. Breakfast was first rate and other guests were there to visit with. Location is a bit removed from the quarter which made it peaceful and it was a safe and pleasant walk through a lovely neighbourhood (Esplanade Rd) to the Quarter. Quick cab ride too and a bus.

I would actually recommend that you NOT walk from Bayou Road to the French Quarter. Parts of the area are very dangerous. A cab is cheap and convenient for these trips!

The Holiday Inn in the Quarter is on Royal...one of the safest streets. I believe there is another HI on Dauphine, another safe street. In fact, the Quarter is the safest area of NOLA...just don%26#39;t wander into an isolated area late at night and remember you are in a city, take precautions as you would in any city in the world.

B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the Quarter: Continental Breakfast

Villa Convento

St. Peter House

Royal Barracks

Ursuline Guest House

Full breakfast:

Melrose Mansion (on the Marigny edge of the Quarter)

Also several of the Boutique Hotels in the Quarter offer a free continental breakfast, and are just as lovely as the B%26amp;B%26#39;s. If you have never been to NOLA, and want to see a lot and get the feel of the culture quickly, stay in the Quarter this first time. The small hotels and B%26amp;B%26#39;s will be less expensive at the time you are talking about. Public transportation, i.e. streetcars and buses can get you most everywhere you will want to go. They are inexpensive and easily accessible from most any place in the Quarter which is only @ 12 blocks square.

Austin to New Orleans leg of road trip- where to stop?

Hi,

I posted this in the Texas forum but thought that I should post in the Louisiana forum as well. Hope that is ok!

Hi!

Any ideas of where to stop for a night when traveling from Austin to New Orleans?

Thank you!

Austin to New Orleans leg of road trip- where to stop?

What day(s) of the week will you be traveling?

Austin to New Orleans leg of road trip- where to stop?

It looks like we will be leaving Austin on a Monday and we would like to spend a night on the way to New Orelans. I have been reading about the Lafayette area and it sounds very interesting. We will have time to toodle around the next day. I would like to see some of the more interesting towns.

Any recommendations of places to stay? Or little towns that I should research?

Could you suggest some twons and places that would be fun to see?

We will be traveling the first week of August or the end of July. I am assuming that it will be Hot. Will we need to worry about mosquitos?

Thank you so much in advance!

transportation between Gulfport and New Orleans

Dear Advisors,

Please recommend a one-way transportation from Gulfport to New Orleans.

I%26#39;ll be visiting USM in mid-May and would like to stay over the weekend in New Orleans. I don%26#39;t have a car, and I can%26#39;t convince my group (with a car) to check out the Big Easy. Your input would enable me a respite from the casino scenes.

Thank you.

transportation between Gulfport and New Orleans

There used to be a bus that went from the casinos to NOLA and back. You might try the casino sites to see if it is still available.

transportation between Gulfport and New Orleans

I believe Greyhound offers service between New Orleans and Biloxi. I%26#39;m not sure how up to date this site is, but here%26#39;s some more info: www.biloxi.ms.us/PDF/GMAaccessibility.pdf

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