DAY 4 - Since the van for the Honey Island Swamp tour was going to pick us up at 9:30 am, we were in need of a quick breakfast. Luckily, a quaint little diner called Gregory%26#39;s %26amp; Pete%26#39;s Restaurant (rolls right off the tongue, doesn%26#39;t it?) was a 1/2 a block from the hotel. This was a one person waitress kind of place (I say that because there was just one person working as a waitress in this place). But what impressed me the most was the good-natured attitude of this one waitress. You could see she was working hard going from table to table, which was no easy chore. Yet, she was gracious %26amp; positively warm in her entire approach. She alone would make me want to stop in there again sometime - because it sure wasn%26#39;t the grits! (Though the pancakes were quite tasty.)
';Super'; Mario from the swamp tour was actually early in picking us up at the hotel. Since we were his first pick-ups, we were able to chat it up with him a bit about things since Katrina. He, himself, was a native of Peru %26amp; had lived in NO for the last 20 years. After picking up 4 others, we were on our way to Slidell. Though we didn%26#39;t venture through the 9th Ward, we did see some areas that had suffered severe water damage, some of which had been well on its way to being rebuilt.
We were welcomed at the Honey Island Swamp Tour with, ';Welcome to the Honey Island Swamp Tour, if you need to go to the bathroom, you better go now.'; Sounded less like a suggestion %26amp; more like an order, so we promptly got in line for the bathroom. The cost of the tickets were $45 per (includes hotel pick-up), but I had printed out a $6 coupon from an online NO guide book (I forget which one %26amp; am too lazy to double check right now, sorry), which brought the cost down to $78 for the two of us. She paid for the tickets %26amp; I paid for the bottled water %26amp; trail mix. A fair deal to me!
There were 24 of us on the aluminum boat (you%26#39;ll find out why they use only aluminum boats a little later), but it certainly didn%26#39;t feel swamped (no eye rolls, please). Our boat pilot was a northern transplant into the south by the name of Captain Jack. Now Captain Jack is one of those kind of guys that you wouldn%26#39;t mind sharing a Captain Morgan with. Down-to-earth, easy going. He even claimed a person friendship with Brett Favre.
The tour was quite fun as you got to see not only nature (lots of snakes, turtles, various birds), but how some people live along the river %26amp; inlets. We were fortunate enough to see one alligator fairly up close. They are just coming now out of hibernation (the alligators, not the people who live on the river), so not as many around overall for a couple of weeks yet. As for the aluminum boat, this was our stern advice given to us if we were ever to buy a boat to use in the swamp waters of Louisiana, as fiberglass boats tend to shatter when hitting logs %26amp; such. Now, the odds of me ever buying a boat to use in the swamp waters of Louisiana are pretty much zilch, but at least I know that if I do, it most better be one made out of aluminum.
After being dropped off in the French Quarter, we decided on grabbing lunch at cute little place called Eat. Now, if you aren%26#39;t familiar with where Eat is located, it%26#39;s right next to the bar called Drink. Across the street is the store called Shop. Kitty corner is the strip club called....err, never mind...
Eat is actually byob. Personally, this is a concept I simply love. Unfortunately, due to the liquids we both had the day before, neither one of us was in the mood just yet to take advantage of this opportunity.
We had a light lunch, saving just enough room for a little gelato down on St Peter%26#39;s. As the temperature warmed up, we be-bopped in %26amp; out of various cute stores along Royal %26amp; some side streets. Eventually, we arrived at the Southern Candymakers near the French Market %26amp; bought a few samples. We then had a cocktail as we sat %26amp; relaxed listening to some live music at the Market Cafe.
After going back to the hotel to clean up, we ventured out for dinner. I had come across the name of a newer place called Rambla (Spanish tapas) within the International Hotel on Camp St, just outside the Quarter. What a cool place! Super cool interior %26amp; decor. Great service. And very good food. If this was in our home city, we%26#39;d definitely become regulars. Across the lobby of the hotel, we took a peek at their ultra cool lounge called Lola. Now, we aren%26#39;t really lounge people per say, but I could see hanging out in this spot on occasion. A good date place.
It was now time to try out the Carousel Bar in the historic Monteleone Hotel. As soon we sat down, we could see that this was going to be an interesting place. Strangers were making conversation across the bar. Two 70-something women were exclaiming their fondness of black Russians (I am assuming they meant the drinks).
As we paid our bill %26amp; started to depart, we were asked a couple of questions by a couple next to us. They had just arrived to town %26amp; wanted a few suggestions. So we did the neighborly thing %26amp; bought another round of drinks so we could stay %26amp; chat. They ended up asking us up to their sweet suite for to-go cups of mandarin vodka. We marched down Bourbon to show off Lafitte%26#39;s to them (what%26#39;s one more hurricane, right?).
They had heard about a cool Tuesday night dig outside the Quarter off of Carrollton called the Maple Leaf. We cabbed it over %26amp; found a jam-packed place that was probably about 98% locals. A pool of water greeted us inside of the front door, but no one appeared too concerned, so why should we? A rockin%26#39; 8-piece brass band was playing to the dancing crowd. The four of us found ourselves on a 6-foot-long, 8-inch-wide bench. How it didn%26#39;t break, I have no idea! The Maple Leaf also had a nice outdoor patio out back that was great to grab some fresh air.
It was now approaching 1:30 am %26amp; we were all in the need of food, which turned out to not be an easy task at that time of morning on a Tuesday night in the Quarter. Some of the city%26#39;s finest in blue finally directed us to a place that I%26#39;m guessing is called Albini%26#39;s, a block or so off of Bourbon. The burgers were most excellent, but I%26#39;m sure a leather shoe probably would have been tasty at that point in time.
Alas, as we neared 3:00 am, it was time to head back to the hotel one final time. After 4 full days, our tummies were bursting. Our livers were saturated. Our wallets a little more depleted. But our hearts %26amp; minds were now full with memories that will last us a lifetime.
Sorry if these reports were too long-winded...but at least now we have a written journal of our entire trip!
28 different stops in 4 days! Day 4 report
Thanks for your report! It%26#39;s great you made it to the Maple Leaf - it%26#39;s pretty popular among the college set too! And next time stop at Jacques-Imo%26#39;s next door for an amazing dinner!
28 different stops in 4 days! Day 4 report
Great report!
Great report, sounds like you had an amazing time. Don%26#39;t worry about it being too long, we love that!! The more details the better :)
Awesome TR! Thanks so much for all the great detail! :)
Trip reports are never too long, and yours was great. Thanks! Thirteen days left but who%26#39;s counting?
We really liked the Maple Leaf- Sunday night venue- Walter Wolfman Washington- he was great, and you described the place exactly.
So if EAT is BYOB, is DRINK BYOF???
Glad you had a great time!
Honey Island Swamp tour is great.
And, a Tuesday night gig by The Rebirth Brass Band at The Maple Leaf cannot be beat.
Your version of ';28 Days'; is comparable to the ';12 Days of Christmas';. These installments kept me waiting for more! Excellent TR.
It was actually 28 STOPS...I so wish it was DAYS! A month in New Orleans...how could would that be!?!
But thanks!!
