Trip Report March 7th to 11th - sorry a bit long.

Our friends invited us on vacation to Las Vegas. Our research was showing poor airline schedule so we offered up NOLA. We had not been back since 9/11/02 (was a great day to fly) and they had never been – so we started to research.

Our last trip we stayed at Dalfene Orleans and had a great time – but the location is good, but not great. We then found Place D’ Armes, Ok all the great reviews on TA pointed us there based on the location (outstanding) and the charm. We then booked for Saturday March 7th to March 11th.

We arrived and called United when we got our bags. The cab was there in 5 minutes, but the cab was dirty, and not in very good shape. Others I did see looked fine, I guess it is the luck of the draw. When we arrived, we had one room ready so we had a place to change. We first stopped at Margaretville, it’s the first stop every trip we take that has one. We moved on to walking around the shop and show our friends around.

Lunch was at Oceana Grill – good reviews and we had a restaurant.com coupon. What a great way to save. We had never had barbeque shrimp (always though it was real bbq) and OMG is was great! We also had very good Jambalaya; it was our best meal of our trip. Dinner was at Napoleon house. The Pimms cups were good but the food was fair at best. After diner we were off to the Bloody Mary tour. This was good, but not as good as I hoped from the reviews, I guess I expected more. After this we were off to Bourbon Street. It was fun but we did not really go into many bars as we were up 22 hours by the time we left and we were beat tired.

Sunday we were up early for Café Du Monde and it was better than I remembered. We had scheduled a swamp tour with Cajun Experience. The bus picked us up on time and the bus was clean. When we got to the boat we were swarmed by nat’s. This was a major distraction on the boat. For the next 3 days we spent scratching the welts we got on our feet, hands and heads. This is not the tours fault – we just had bad luck. We did really like the tour and we did see a lot of alligators and snakes. Much better than our Everglades tour in September of last year.

Lunch was at Coops. We did not have to wait long to sit and the burgers were just outstanding. After that our friends wanted a carriage ride. Our guide stopped at the Crescent City Brewer for a beer on the ride. The tour was enjoyable and if full of history (same history we got with the Bloody Mary Tour). After this we went back to Crescent City Brewery for some bread pudding which our wives enjoyed very much. We then did more shopping through out the FC and drank along the way. Diner that night was at Pat O’Brian’s. This was for the hurricane and we were only eating appetizers. We ventured off to Bourbon Street for our crazy night and we did not disappoint. We saw the show at OZ and then I ended up riding the bull at Bourbon Cowboy and actually hurt myself. For the rest of the trip I am now limping and scratching nat bites.

Monday was Café again then we planned to do Mardi Gras world and St. Charles. It took 45 minutes to find a place that sold or had any all day passes for the Street Cars. The RTA or the City needs to do a MUCH better job in providing this service!!!!! After that was settled we got on the Riverfront Street Car and the operator told us where to get off – walk a block up and turn left. Did not know there was a shuttle bus right in the area. MORE signs people. The convention center must be two miles long if not longer. The tour was good, but we missed taking the ferry to Algers. The old location is now for private parties.

We took there shuttle bus to the Canal Street Car to the St. Charles Street Car. We got off at 3rd street and did the walking tour of the Garden District. Most cities have areas similar to this, but not as impressive. We had lunch and parasols. This is the most discussing place I have ever seen and was very surprised our wife’s wanted to go in. Holy Cow the BEST bread on a Po-Boy I have ever had. We had the roast beef and shrimp an oyster Po-Boys. This was our second best meal. We will return in 2015 for the bathroom remodeling (sign on door LOL).

Diner was at Merials. I did not plan on a “fancy” meal so I was unprepared with a list of choices and we did not ask the front desk. We all agreed the food was not bad – just not worth the price. My fears came thru with the barbeque shrimp. It was just grilled with a dipping sauce. We then ventured to Frenchman street to get a better feel of NOLA without Bourbon St. I am so glad we did. We stared at the Spotted Cat and enjoyed two bands. By the way, what would 6 people be doing in a bathroom….I wonder? Then we went to Café Negril and enjoyed a great band. Jazz/blues band with a Caribbean influence hence the name. I guess we were luck as a singer named Big Chief was there and was enticed to sing, boy was just great! It was time to go back and we forgot our cell phone. Luckily a cab drove up shortly.

Tuesday for Café again (hotel has a very limited breakfast) then off on our Plantation tour with Louisiana Tour company. We were picked up on time in a nice bus. Then it went down from there. At one hotel we had to wait for some guests for close to 10 minutes. We got to the downtown area and we had to pay on the bus (which we knew) it just took so long. We chose this tour because we picked the Laura Plantation tour with a stop at Oak Plantation for a quick picture. I liked Laura and the tour was enjoyable, but I did not know it was so small (Creole style) The Oak is the “gone with the wind” style. The ride back was terrible, other members were being dropped of for there swamp tours or city tours. This wasted at least 45 minutes. 5 total hours and only 1:30 tour.

Lunch was at Acme oyster house. This was good and was worth the visit. We tried crawfish for the first time and it was very good and I will get them again. For lunch we had more Po-Boys and combo plates. This was our third best meal of our week.

Since we had such a late lunch we looked of a dessert or appetizer diner again. We chose Court of two sisters (2nd fancy meal and I expected none). With the $15 minimum order per person it ended up being an appetizer AND dessert diner, oh well. The bananas fosters was very good but pricy – 4 drinks, one app and 2 desserts was over $60. We were then off to Bourbon street, this time for music. Started at Bourbon Rocks and I fell for the two for one again (7 years later) The Abita was $6.50 each when the beer sells for $3.50 at a normal bar (hence two for one).

Off to Bourbon Blue’s. We enjoyed the music however the Blues turned into Motown so we walked down and walked into Sing Sing. More good music but we left early to the hotel to share in some birthday beer we shipped down and rest up for the trip back. Our friends bought me a case of personalize bottled beer for my 40th last September.

Wednesday we slept in for the first day. We ate at Stanley’s; the food was good but again was over priced. We walked down to the French Market and we passed two places that had normal priced food, oh well. The hotel called in a cab for us and we were surprised with a van. Good trip to the airport and had no issues checking in. The flights were good except for the temperature drop. NOLA 80 degrees, Memphis was 40 degrees and then Milwaukee was 20. Then one last surprise to the trip. We got to our car and it was FULL of pigeon feathers!!!!! It looked like someone shot a dozen birds on our car.

In all, it was another great trip to NOLA and I hope it is not another 7 years until we return again.

Trip Report March 7th to 11th - sorry a bit long.

Thanks for your report! I agree with Muriel%26#39;s, which I think is overrated. It%26#39;s good, but not great, and there%26#39;s a lot of great in New Orleans!

If you like BBQ shrimp, next time try Mr. B%26#39;s Bistro!

With all these good reviews of Oceana, I%26#39;m going to have to give it another try!

Trip Report March 7th to 11th - sorry a bit long.

Nice trip report, sounds like you had fun! Thanks for the tips! Can%26#39;t wait to post my own trip report next month!

Mimi

Thanks for the great trip report. Sounds like you had a great time and enjoyed some good food.

I was getting really hungry... until I got to the part about the pigeon feathers. What happened?

Nice TR! I love reading about NO.Was hoping to go over Easter break, but no such luck this year, so reading TR%26#39;s are my travel for now. Glad you had a great time.

Absolutely brilliant trip report thankyou.7 weeks till we go xxxx

Great report, thank you. And txs for the laugh about the pigeon feathers. I%26#39;m sure it wasn%26#39;t funny for you at the time, but made me smile this morning.

21 sleeps until I%26#39;m finally in NO to experience everything myself!!!