Today is a snow day today in Indiana (lots of icy, sleety roads and sidewalks!), so it seems like a good day to share our Christmas “down South” in New Orleans!
It started off inauspiciously with a freakishly similar ice storm as we (meaning *I*) drove to Nashville, and Wes was battling illness before we boarded, and our luggage was delayed but on Christmas Eve, we were ever so happy to check into the Hotel St. Pierre just a few blocks from Bourbon Street! We loved our suite in a historic home on the property!
We celebrated Christmas and our fourth (!!) wedding anniversary with a glorious lunch at Chemin à la Mer with complimentary champagne, delicious lunches and of course, raw oysters!
After that, we had no definite plans for our NOLA adventure, just a wish list, and we knocked a LOT off the list! We admired the Christmas lights around the city, and reveled in what I think of as “everyday French Quarter” – people who live in the Quarter celebrating the holiday, few crowds, cool temperatures and good food everywhere. Even Bourbon Street in the morning was completely DESERTED! We loved it. 🙂
We took a locally-led city tour, including St. Louis Cemetery Number Four, a carriage ride through the French Quarter, visited the Voodoo Museum, went inside St. Louis Cathedral and wandered Jackson Square, did some shopping, ate more raw oysters, downed a Hand Grenade and visited Cafe Du Monde – several times! – for our beignet fix!
On our last full day, we visited the national World War II Museum, which truly knocked our socks off! The exhibits were so well-done and accessible and thought-provoking. I would definitely go back and spend more time when we visit again. A sad and solemn time in our history, but every exhibit was so moving and informative…
And that was our whirlwind tour of New Orleans! I had been twice before for conferences, but really got to *enjoy* the city this time, and it was the first time Wes had visited, and he truly fell in love with it too. Everyone was so warm and friendly and truly happy to have us visit. We’ll definitely be back, Big Easy!
stubbornsunshine.com 