NOLA Road trip :)

What a fun weekend to have for a birthday!  So let’s start off with the drive. Melissa, me, and Mike on a 5 hour drive, keeping each other entertained and chatting, and also catching up on the latest in each of our lives. After dropping Mike off at his friends, we headed to our Hotel, The Wyndham Garden Hotel on Baronne Plaza.  Unfortunately there is no place to just temporarily Park since there is only ONE drive in and out of the below ground parking area (Which is $20 a day).  Lovely room though, flat screen TV about 30 channels, Needs some touch up work as far as water spots and odd stains.  Nice bathtub/shower room.  Didn't think to take pictures, but you can visit Here to see a picture of it.

So after a short break at the hotel, Melissa and I decided to wander the French Quarter and find dinner. We made it to Jackson Square and saw several places, a few of them rather full, or a little more upscale that what we were dressed for. So we found a place called Café Pontalba, the prices were reasonable and had a nice selection. The atmosphere was nice also, all the window/doors were open, but it DIDN'T help with the heat/humidity.  It was still miserably hot!  The sweet tea was really good, that or I was just hot enough to appreciate it being cold. We split a popcorn shrimp po-boy and if we hadn't of put the cocktail sauce on the sandwich it would have had NO flavor at all.  The shrimp tasted like Frozen shrimp, the bread was really really stiff. Absolutely no flavor without the cock tail sauce.  That’s just the one item, we didn't have anything else, so maybe some of the other entrees were better.  The waitress wasn't the friendliest, but she wasn't rude either.  The bathroom is what KILLED me. It was stupid really.  It is a CLOSET with ONE stall, and ONE toilet.  Why bother with a Stall if you only have the ONE toilet?! Seriously they should just take the Stall out and put a lock on the door itself and give a bit more leg room!  

So done with That place, we move on to wander the Quarter even more since we still had a bit more daylight left to burn.  We  paused by the Jackson Square Fence to look at some Artwork, Mostly video game characters, I did like the Jack Skellington from “Nightmare before Christmas” We barely stopped when the artist had hopped up to greet us and tell us he was willing to sell the small ones at 2 for $30.  We got a cactus saying “Free Hugs”  and the Jack Skellington I was admiring. I couldn't read the small signature, but I found him on the FB page. Artists Of Jackson Square. His name is Justin Courtney and he told me when I asked his name that day, that the “J.A.” in his signature didn't stand for “Jack Ass.”  You can find him at Art and Arsenic .

So wandering from there we found ourselves on Decatur Street, we were trying to make it to the French Market, but got there just a little to late. However we walked by Café Du Mond and since there was a line, and we just ate, decided to save them for later or breakfast.  However we did end up in the Hex:Old World Witchery while a small shop, it was packed with wonderful goodies any witch or pagan could possible want!  We even met a woman there who said she was a fae.  With reddish contacts and very outrageous personality, I could believe it! After this we made our way back to the hotel to crash for the night.

Day 2:

So after waking up we opted for breakfast. Before heading out we were slightly bummed that it was Raining, it was expected, but we’d hoped it would only rain at night.  Thankfully it was not a hard down pour, that would of kept us indoors for part of the day.   The first thought for breakfast was to go to the PJ’s Coffee in the Hotel Lobby, but once down stairs we changed our minds and opted for real food at the adjacent Restaurant “The Original City Diner”

Service was LACKING. Our waitress tried to be attentive, but seemed to be preoccupied, but not with other customers as there was only Us, a fellow behind us, and a couple a few booths in front of us.  She forgot our silverware, and had to be flagged down to refill coffee and bring us our check. The food was good, Though if you get an omelets, if it doesn't say it has cheese, request it.  Otherwise it’s a flat egg with meat rolled up inside it (IMO EVERY omelet should be Cheese first then other stuff added).  The Grits, However, were OMG, I am Drooling thinking about how Deliciously Evil they were. Creamy and smooth not clumpy or runny!  Just a little Salt and a little butter and it was just PERFECT!  Sorry dad, they even beat out yours!  We decided to come back the next morning for Grits again.  I think the secret is either heavy cream or buttermilk.  I Might have to test this theory out one day.

We went back to the hotel and after some discussing and web surfing decided to go to the Aquarium since it would be an indoor activity and also.   It was BOGO for military with ID.  So next time maybe we’ll take the Trolley down, since we walked the WHOLE way down (8 blocks give or take) to the Aquarium. Nice walk just not so fun in the rain.  We also had to stop at PayLess to get new Shoes & socks for Melissa since hers were retaining water. So after wandering the wonderful Audubon Aquarium we were ready for lunch. 

So a ferry ride across the river we went to the “Dry Dock Café.”  While waiting for the Ferry a couple asked about what was on the other side of the river, and Melissa told them about the Café and that it was a good place to go.  They were also thinking about lunch, so they followed us there for lunch. I got a Delicious Cup of Gumbo and Melissa got a yummy Fried Shrimp PO-boy sandwich. We also split a Black Forest Cake Dessert, it was moist and scrumptious. Service was a little slow, but it was a little busy. At least the lady was pleasant and chatty when she did come around.  The couple we suggested the Dry Dock Café to said they enjoyed it and that it was definitely a non-touristy place.

So after lunch our game plan was to go back to the hotel and grab a nap, so we could stay up late and go down Bourbon Street to find a place called “The Dungeon” a bar that apparently looks like a Cave on the inside.  So after a nice hour and a half (or so) Nap. We did a Quick Skype call to Melissa’s Husband and her boys, then headed out to find dinner.  After wandering all the way down to Decatur street Again we hadn't found anything of real interest that didn't have a LONG line out the doors, or a price that was reasonable, or obviously had a dress code to dine in. I was looking across the street and saw a menu, but no sign. I pointed it out and we walked across to take a look.  We Found ourselves going inside a little bar/restaurant called Mojo Lounge. We decided to split our dinners so we could both try each others food.  I got Three Cheese Tortellini with grilled chicken and Melissa got a Prosciutto & Fresh Mozzarella Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.   We also got a small garden salad before our food was delivered, that was very good!  It wasn't just Iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots it was Kale, spinach, and Dandelion leaves with tomatoes and Ranch Dressing.  It was a very nice salad.  We ate a few bites each before waiting on our Entrees Which felt like Forever!  We were both kinda wondering if it was going to be worth it, but we were not disappointed.  Both meals were delicious! I just wish i'd of gotten some pictures of this!!

So we wandered back up Bourbon trying to go a little slow since we had about an hour till 9p.  We paused looking into the window of a place called “The Swamp” and got a laugh out of the guy entertaining/karaoke the crowd.  I turned to keep going and had to stop since a bouncer for the club was standing there with arms open motioning for a hug.  What the hell!  I give him a Hug and laugh, Melissa was laughing and we were just going to keep going, except my hugger had me turn and the other bouncer took my other arm and I heard Melissa laugh “Guess we are going in anyways!”   So, we went upstairs where it wasn't as loud, and had 3 for 1 drinks.  You get 3 for 1 even if all you want is 1 (1 beer cost $6 mind you).  When asked what to do about the other two, the bartender said “We don’t care, throw ‘em away.” To me that is a waste of money/revenue.  That’s just me though. So with half a beer drunk we toss the other two (I hate beer, that’s why I didn't drink one) we head out, I ask if she wants to wait for The Dungeon, but at this point she says no, she had a drink and was ready to go back to the hotel. So off we go. I guess I forgot to mention that somewhere in our wandering after eating at Mojo’s I tripped and did a LOVELY number to my knee/shin.  Both of which are Bruised and the first two nights were REALLY painful. Advil Helped thankfully.

So, Sunday we get up a little early and go back to “The Original City Diner” for Grits, I got bacon and Melissa got Ham, both of which were good too. Once our server got into his grove he was great, but took him 15 minutes to get going, I will say this, it was getting packed because it was loaded with NOLA Saints fans.   So we got done and headed to Krystals to get 2 Steamer packs of Krystal Burgers (that’s 24 of their sliders per box) one for us as trip food and the other for her mom.  Since apparently Krystal’s doesn’t have any other locations near us.  We go to Meterie,La  to pick up Mike, but since we were a little early and had time, we were going to just ride around and see if we found anywhere neat to shop.  Well, in our pursuit we saw a pizza place called Theo's Neighborhood Pizza.  WOW!  That was the best Pizza.  We werent’ all that hungry but thought it might be a nice pace to stop, and we were NOT disappointed. It looked and tasted homemade!  Best stuff Ever!!

After that it was a 5 hour trip home snacking on Cold Krystal Burgers :)