Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Tuesday Travel Snapshot.....Happy Mardi Gras



Since it is Mardi Gras time I thought I would share some pictures from last year's Mardi Gras when Hubby and I were in New Orleans  before our Anniversary cruise.  I never had experienced anything quite like Mardi Gras.  Over the top costumes, partying, parades, and great food are a big part of the experience.  We came home with bags of beads as souvenirs along with some awesome parade throws.




Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Happy New Year 2016! Out With The Old-In With The New

Happy New Year!! I'm a little sad to see 2015 go.  After all, it was one heck of a year and I got to cross my number one item off my bucket list.  The highlight of my year was getting to meet Bono, getting him to sign my arm, and getting that signature tattooed as a permanent reminder of June 28th 2015 in Chicago.

My actual Bono signature
It was nearly impossible to top that one and quite frankly I'm not sure I ever will! Even though that was the highlight of my year I got to see U2 twice in Chicago with my daughter and the look on her face and seeing her loving my favorite band like I do made it the perfect experience.
I've never been so proud!  Sharing my favorite band with Megan
In February the hubby and I celebrated our 25 anniversary with a Caribbean cruise with a short stay in New Orleans during Mardi Gras before! Wow!  That was an experience!  A week of fun in the sun and going on excursions at our ports made for a trip to remember.  We had some great family fun this year taking the ATVs up north and getting down and dirty on the trails.  Even though I had to endure a bee sting on my face after one flew into my helmet and my lip swelled up to 3 times it's size!  This year saw our daughter getting her drivers license and her first job at our home town library.  I  spent lots of quality time with close friends doing lunches, shopping, and just talking the hours away.  They were my saving grace in a year that was busy and stressfilled.
Relaxing on our cruise
My favorite guy!  25 years

Yes, 2015 was a great year, looking ahead to 2016 I see a few big changes coming.  Megan will be graduating High School in June and will be going away to college in the fall. I'm not sure how I will handle her being gone.  I always thought I would be ok, but the sooner it gets to that time the more apprehensive I get.  Like most parents facing this I worry about all the things parents worry about. The pressures of college, paying for college, will she find friends, will she get homesick?

Yes, it will be an interesting year, but I am also so super excited because after 5 years I will finally be going back to Paris.  I will be going with a family member and she and I don't have a date set yet, but I am thinking early fall.  I've begin my research on places to stay and have been concentrating in the 5th or 6th Arrondissement. I will be writing about my Paris journey along the way.  Plus, rumor has it U2 will be touring again at the end of next year so......

I hope your 2016 is filled with everything that makes you happy!  I am so grateful for the life that I have!! Cheers!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday Travel Snapshot- Cafe Du Monde New Orleans

This Tuesday travel snapshot takes me once again to the fluffy fried sugary deliciousness of beignets at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.  I know it's touristy, but you cannot visit New Orleans without trying one of these.  While your at it have a chicory coffee too

Saturday, March 21, 2015

New Orleans And Mardi Gras

IMG_0119Everyone must experience Mardi Gras at least once in their lives!  We spent two days in New Orleans the Thursday and Friday before Fat Tuesday.  Hubby and I were to set sail from there on the Saturday before and since we had never been to New Orleans, thought it would be fun to spend a couple of days checking out all the Mardi Gras festivities beforehand.
The first must do was chicory coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde.  Then Thursday night we found a spot on St. Charles Street to catch our first parades.  It was a cold night and the parades ran late, but we caught lots of throws and had fun.  We ended up standing by a couple who were from outside New Orleans  and were more than happy to give us lots of history on the parades.
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We spent all day Friday exploring the French Quarter and observing all the craziness of Bourbon Street.

 IMG_0129 IMG_0124 I must say carrying all those beads around our neck was hard work. Of course I had a couple hurricanes to get me in the spirit.IMG_0065
IMG_0195We spent the afternoon roaming up and down Bourbon Street. Taking in the impromptu parades, catching beads and other sorted paraphernalia. Hubby proudly caught a decorated bra which is now displayed in his man-cave.  Yes, there was some bare chested women and even some less than fully clothed men and I really would  say Bourbon Street is not for young children, but honestly we had a blast and decided we would love to come back some day! I cannot forget to mention the food!  New Orleans has some of the best eating in the country. We had a couple of great meals. I had a fabulous Po Boy on Bourbon Street.
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It was a great start to a fabulous vacation and even though there are still reminders of Hurricane Katrina around the city the spirit of New Orleans is alive and thriving in the people of this city.  I am looking forward to returning someday!