USA 2009 – New Orleans Days 4, 5 and 6

Day 4, the girls headed out early because they wanted to go to the Mardi Gras museum. Pat and I headed out a bit later as I was still recovering from the 4am wake up. We headed into the French Quarter looked at a couple of galleries and grabbed a coffee.

Since we are celebrating our Thanks Giving on Saturday, we had thought that we’d find a homeless shelter to do some volunteering here in NOLA, so Pat and I then headed out to Bridge House a place we’d been recommended by Kat (our tour guide from day 3) which was a good walk for us. When we got there the volunteer coordinator told us that they had more than enough volunteers. She suggested an alternative dinner being organised by the Sheriffs Department at the Convention Centre so we also wandered over there, but no one at the centre seemed to know any details so our big idea turned into a bit of a fizzer.

By the time we’d done all of this we’d caught up with the girls and we found a Cajun Restaurant to grab some lunch at called Mulates where I had my first Po-Boy, Pat and Helene had some gumbo and Michelle had a big plate of seafood.

After lunch we headed up towards the “Garden District” and wandered around the neighbourhood looking at a few shops. We came across a great second hand clothing sale where everything was going for $5. Michelle found a dress which she is thinking about modifying for January and a pair of matching shoes.

Pat was getting a bit tired of the shopping so we split up agreeing to meet later for dinner.

We ate at Muriels where my choice was the most popular a double cut pork chop, wood Grilled and topped with a Louisiana sugar cane apple glaze, served with pecan glazed sweet potatoes and Southern style greens. They also had some Australian wines on the menu so were were all very happy.

Day 5 we headed out to the French Marketplace for a late breakfast at a place called called “The World Renowned N’awlins Cafe and Spice Shop”. In a word “awful” food was average and the service was terrible. The women serving got 2 of our 4 orders wrong and was completely disinterested in serving.

After breakfast we decided that we’d book a Mississippi River cruise for later in the day, and then Michelle and I split from Helene and Pat and went for a short wander to the Warehouse district before meeting back at the Steamboat for the afternoon cruise.

Once the cruise was under way, Helene, Pat and I enjoyed a couple of cocktails and we all sat back for the trip.

On the steamboat we decided to take the traditional self picture. A young lady sitting next to us asked us if we wanted her to take our photo, we explained to her that we always take our own and convinced her to bonehead in ours.

We got to talking her name was Camille originally from France, she is currently living and working in Pittsburgh as an au-pair. She was holidaying in NOLA with her dad Laurent who had come from France to visit her.

They were a great pair, and we all ended up going out for drinks and dinner after the cruise.

After dinner we bade our farewells, Michelle and Helene went to the grocery store to get fixings for Thanksgiving and Pat and I stumbled our way back to base.

End day 5.

Day 6 our last day in NOLA, and the pace of the holiday has beaten us all. The girls headed out for a big seafood lunch, and Pat and I spent our day lounging around, and watching the NFL. Michelle and Helene cooked us all up a tasty Thanksgiving dinner and Pat and Helene headed out to see some music at the Hi Ho Lounge while Michelle and I tidied and packed ready for our 8.30 departure for the airport.