new orleans trip report 4/4-4/8

our party of 8 spent 4 nites at the le pavillon hotel. ages were 80,75, two 52s, two 41s, 22 and 17.

loved the hotel- definitely had old world charm- reminded us of paris-the lobby had crystal chandeliers, high ceilings, antique furntiure and a beautiful old bar.

the rooms were clean, comfortable with good beds and good showers and good a/c.

on sat- went to the botanical gardens in city park-they were having a spring festival and it was a beautiful day- so we enjoyed being outside with the plants and trees and locals.

drove to the french quarter for lunch at acme- excellent oysters (especially the grilled ones)- everything else was mediocre.

it was pirate fest weekend - so royal street was closed to cars and we enjoyed walking around amidst the wenches and pirates in costume- ARRGH was the word of the day.

walked around the quarter and ended up at the french market which was fun for our kids. walked back to our car parked on the exact other side of the quarter(iberville and burgundy)through gov. nicholls and then iberville and saw how peaceful and relaxed the quarter can be without the hubbub of bourbon, royal and the pirates.

then went to julia street for art gallery walk- it was the first saturday nite of the month and only a few blocks from our hotel and ended up at herbsaint for an excellent dinner.everyone enjoyed herbsaint thoroughly.

the elders went to bed and then the rest of us ended up on frenchmen street to hear some jazz and blues.

sunday- had jazz brunch at mr b%26#39;s- we liked the jazz combo better than the brunch.

then did a walking tour of the garden district- beautiful homes followed by a driving tour of katrina damage.

we were in the lower 9th ward around desire street and could not believe that katrina was 3 and a half years ago. one part of desire street was still so rundown and devastated that it was blocked off to traffic. we were incredulous as to how many homes were dilapidated and boarded up.

also went to lakeside and saw how the locals were doing there - much more construction than in the 9th ward.

had dinner at emeril%26#39;s delmonico- very good but not as good as herbsaint.

monday- went to tulane for a tour of the law school for our 22 year old and later a tour of the undergrad campus for our 17 year old. a lovely school where the kids seem happy to be at schhol there.

in between we took the streetcar down st charles and had lunch at slice a local pizza place- it was pretty good and everything was fresh.

after the tours we ended up on magazine street - walked around, browsed and had some cocktails.

dinner was at clancys- my mom (75 and a world traveller) said that the crawfish pie was the best thing she ever ate anywhere. my mom and dad went back to clancys 2 nites later after everyone else went home and she had the crawfish pie again.

i was glad they had a tv so i could get scores of the ncaa finals - unc beating michigan st.

tuesday- our last day started at the hotel for an excellent buffet breakfast in a lovely turn of the century dining room.

we then went to the wwii museum which was excellent- some of us could have spent much more than the 2 hours we did spend.

then we drove to the agiers ferry and took the ferry across the river had lunch there ( it was very good) and walked around algiers point. we took the ferry back and walked around some of the french quarter again and ended up at the hotel monteleone%26#39;s carousel bar- quite cool .

dinner was at vincents uptown on st charles - we all really enjoyed it and the price was much more reasonable than herbsaint, delmonico or clancys.

we had a great trip- glad to spend some money in new orleans and look forward to return- perhaps often if we have a tulane law student or tulane undergrad.

new orleans trip report 4/4-4/8

Enjoyed your trip report. Good luck with your college kids! I have one undergrad...I feel your pain.

new orleans trip report 4/4-4/8

Great report. Thanks for posting.