Pack your bags, we're off to New Orleans!

Come along with me.... you don't need a thing.

Just sit back and I'll do the driving.

I should preface this by saying that I've never been to New Orleans.  But I've always wanted to go.

I didn't know how dirty of a city it would be.

I didn't know that Bourbon Street was lined with "Gentlemen's clubs" and hobos.

I thought that all the streets would have cute little cafes and men in seersucker suits tootin' their horns and kickin' up their feet.

I did. I really thought that.

So when we got to New Orleans, I was confused.  

There was alot of trash.

And unsavory characters.

But among the trash and unsavory characters, there was also the beauty that I was hoping to find.

It was in quiet places...

It was in architecture..

And in simple moments spent with this girl at the aquarium.

It was at Oak Alley Plantation

A place that was peaceful and beautiful, but also holds a history full of sadness.

The trees were over 300 years old

connecting past to present.

 When the tour was over,

we were offered mint juleps.

But since we had our little Southern Belle with us, we opted for ice cream

and a cruise around the Garden District on the St. Charles Streetcar

We ran right into Sandra Bullock's house.  She was moving in!

It's true.  Her mom was there helping her and the street was lined

with moving vans.

No sign of you know who... his name rhymes with Messy Mames.

Back to the hotel

to take in the scenery

and enjoy some R & R.

It was a great mini-roadtrip!