New Orleans, Louisiana
We make it to New Orleans at around 6am, bright eyed and bushy tailed... NOT.
We have to wait until about 8am to check in since our host probably wouldn't appreciate us rocking up at 6am. We kill some time at a Starbucks in a shopping mall.
We head to our house. It's a beautiful, old 2 story "shotgun" about a 5 minute drive from Downtown. They call them shotguns because they are long and narrow and are split down the middle having 2 sets of tenants. Similar to what we would call a maisonette, I guess. But hey, this is America after all.
Our host, Jennette, let's us in and introduces us to Mister, her little poodle. Super friendly. He just wants to sit in your lap.
We sleep till about 11 then head into to town. It's pretty cold, but not as bad as Austin. We walk through the suburbs and notice quite a lot of condemned homes. We later learn that they are not all due to Katrina, but also Gustav and basically become that way bit by bit through every storm season if they are not maintained.
We head to a Voodoo museum. There is a cool little subculture around New Orleans of Voodoo, death and that sort of jazz, brought to the region by the Africans and their religious beliefs.
We find the famous tourist strip, Bourbon street and stop in for a drink. We are handed a "hand grenade", the local drink of choice... for tourists. We have a chat with some ladies from up north on holiday and the bartender and get the low down on this city. It helps us add a few plans to the itinerary.
Time to get some food. The local market has some great choices, so off we go. Through Jackson square where there are artists and bands. Live music is everywhere in this city as well. It gives the city a really nice vibe.
The markets have a great range of choices. I am keen to try a local "Poboy" and do. Courtney gets some equally local Jambalaya. So far so good in this foody city.
Ok, next stop is the casino. Jeff has been relentlessly studying poker theory in preparation for Vegas. He tests his skills at Harrah's and does very well.
Time to celebrate. It's off to Frenchman street. This is past Bourbon street and is where the locals go for music to get away from the craziness. There is a very cool market next door to the jazz club. Very bohemian feel to this area. We like it.
We enter The Spotted Cat and watch the band play. A full brass section accompanies a very hippy looking female vocalist. She sounds perfect. Like her voice was coming from a gramophone... if that makes sense.
Anyway, enough for one day. A short cab home.
Day 2
Jeff hears from a local at the poker table about the Friday arvo Nola Brewery tour. This happens every week and is for the first 200 people there. An hour of free beer sampling and a wander around the brewery. Sounds like a great idea to us.
The beers range from blonde to black. All are very nice, especially for the price Hehe.
An interesting character is performing magic tricks. I am impressed and lend him the use of my drivers license to see it fly around is body. He's an extra in films he proudly tells me.
We meet a dog who is keen for a pat and happens to have a decent owner as well. There names are Little Wayne Gretsky and Jordan, respectivelty. We get to chatting with Jordan who has been living in New Orleans for the last 3 or 4 years. He works in the film industry (which is actually a big industry in New Orleans) as a camera lead, most recently on a show called "Parolees & Pitbulls". Synopsis: Mistreated Pitbulls are rescued from irresponsible owners and paired with recently released felons, where both go through a rehabilitation process together. This is where he met Little Wayne and decided to keep him.
The food is great, and so cheap. All food items are 75c each. We sit outside until it's too cold and everyone says their goodbyes. Jordan gives us a lift back into town.
We head to a well known night spot called Kermit's Speakeasy. We are way too early for any bands or anything though. We take control of the jukebox and play some tunes we hope the crowd will like. Then we head to a karaoke joint.
By the time we get there we (Jeff) runs out of legs. The place is quiet as well. It's still too early. We head home for an early night instead.
Day 3
Jeff wakes up well rested and Courtney fills him in on her not so solid sleep, listening to the neighbours in the street having a game of "who can scream the loudest" at 3am. Our host apologies later and informs us there's a bit of 3 way love triangle going on next door. It was most entertaining. Guuuurl. Jeanette then informs us she is bar tending at a friends gallery opening later that night, the drinks are free and that we should come along. Broken sleep now forgotten.
We scoff down the daily breakfast provided by our host which is granola, juicy strawberries, yoghurt and home made iced coffee. It's the bomb. After brekky we take the scenic into town and hop on to a steam boat for a tour of the Mississippi. We cruise past a sugar factory and the 9th Ward, which was one of the suburbs that was most severely devastated from Katrina being so close to the levy that broke.
After the tour Jeff tries his luck at poker again and Courtney makes a win at the Mac counter as the make-up here is half the price of that in Aus. Excitement plus, am I right girls?!
Another successful night at the tables, we head to Bourbon street to see what the night life is like. It's insane. It's a Saturday night, the street is closed off, beads are being thrown everywhere. I know, I don't get it either. We have a couple of drinks and head to the gallery opening.
We avail of the free drinks, chat with our host and check out the art which is a whole heap of photos. Some we like, some we don't get. We thank Jeanette for her hospitality as we probably won't see her again due to our early flight. She informs us that she'll be there till midnight so if we want a lift to come back then. If not, she's left us a pecan pie she bought for us at the farmers market that morning. What a champion.
We head back to Frenchmen street seeing as we enjoyed the jazz so much the other night and try a different joint. It's called D.B.A and they have a fine selection of beers from around the world, starring Coopers Pale Ale and Sparkling from Australia. Not bad New Orleans, not bad. The band is even better. Lots of people with instruments and a comedian at the mid. It was fun.
We make another appearance at the spotted cat then head back to the gallery. Sadly, we've just missed Jeanette but that means the bar is now without a tender. Jeff to the rescue. His only customers are a flamboyant New Orlenean who thought we were the funniest people going round and a guy from Philadelphia who totally gets the Australian sense of humour.... then proceeds to ask 'is that sarcasm?' at the end of every sentence. Yes, it's sarcasm, Mate.
Realising we've got about 3 hours until we have to be up for our flight, we close up the bar and sarcasm school and head home. To pack.
