I literally stumbled upon this link recently and had to share these photos – it’s a collection of 100 interesting views out of airplane windows. Can you recognize some of these regions without looking at the captions? Below are some of my favorite shots:
Cape Verde, Africa
New York (slightly biased to this view)
Cape Town, South Africa
Rio
If you’ve never been to New Orleans, you probably have a vision in your mind of live, boisterous jazz; females with semi-loose morals begging for colorful beaded necklaces; gawking men hanging from balconies in the French Quarter with said necklaces; and – essentially – debauchery galore.
You’d be right.
But you may not know about some of its other charms: incredible mansions, horse-drawn carriages, old-time trolleys, multi-level wrought-iron balconies overflowing with lush plant life, rich history and even a cemetery that looks romantic in the rain. New Orleans can offer a completely different experience if you’re aged 22, 42 or 102 – and there is certainly something for everyone. On a long weekend trip to this famed locale – my first ever – I was determined to experience it like I was ageless. That meant a fair share of jazz clubs, fried seafood, museums, mansions, shopping, iconic New Orleans concoctions (both liquid and solid), some…let’s say “bead-related activities,” and all around general soaking in of the culture.
The French Quarter is defined by hundreds of balconies that are truly charming and truly New Orleans
In doing research for this trip, TripAdvisor was again a go-to resource for finding moderately priced and conveniently located lodgings. James and I (and our traveling companions Mike and Laura) settled on the one-of-a-kind Le Pavillon Hotel just a few blocks outside the French Quarter. This iconic hotel – listed on the National Register of Historic Places – is over the top with massive crystal chandeliers, a rooftop cabana oasis, highly attentive service, and is certainly worth a try if you want that old-time Louisiana feel. And who wouldn’t want to be treated at 10pm every night with a complimentary peanut butter and jelly bar, ice cold milk and hot chocolate? Click here for the back story on that one!
Le Pavillon Hotel Lobby
I’m also lucky to know a few people who are originally from Louisiana, and were more than happy to offer up suggestions of “must do’s” in New Orleans. The lists were actually a mile long – and those were just the highlights of the city! You can’t really go wrong whether you focus on eating, drinking, sightseeing – or all three. A couple of my don’t miss suggestions:
Cafe au lait and fresh beignets (glorified donuts) at Cafe Du Monde. Here’s a tip – bypass the long line (can you say tourist trap?) – which is actually for take-out – and make your way into the cafe, where you can grab your own table and order from the overly simplified menu.
Beignets and Cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde
Order a Pimm’s Cup at Napoleon House. First, a little history about Napoleon House - this is a New Orleans landmark made famous when its first occupant, Nicholas Girod (mayor of New Orleans from 1812 to 1815) offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821 as a refuge during his exile. Famously, Napoleon never showed, but the name stuck. Honestly, it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but as soon as you step in – if you happen to go when it’s open – you can tell there’s something special about the place.
Napoleon House (credit - NOLA.com)
A Pimm’s Cup is a gin-based mixed beverage with 7-Up and a slice of cucumber – perfectly refreshing on a hot day in New Orleans. Explore the bar and make sure you try to get a table in the courtyard out back. And if you really want a treat – order a muffuletta sandwich, which is a New Orleans specialty made on Sicilian bread with a marinated olive spread.
I realize the tips above are both food-related, but I’m probably underplaying the role that food played on this trip. I’ll share some more highlights from New Orleans soon!
Oh my. I’ve been downright neglectful of my little blog, missing even the rare reader comment (one from a startup international travel magazine that wanted to use my missives, no less)! My apologies.
What have I been up to? Well, let’s just say I have a lot less spare time than I used to (demanding job, new puppy, and family stuff)…but I haven’t been completely out of the travel world. In fact, in the last year I’ve had some amazing travel adventures, and I can’t wait to tell you all about them! And remember that new Canon G12 I got about a year ago? Turns out it’s one of the best cameras on the planet (says moi!), and you’ll get to see some incredible photos that I shouldn’t even really take credit for (thanks, vivid setting!).
So get ready! Some good stuff’s in store, including luxury cave hotels, underground cities, incredible sights, some fun food finds, going off the beaten trail and even local jaunts with some helpful tips and pics.
Can You Guess Where This Is? You'll Find Out Soon!
Travel on.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
It has been so long since I updated this blog – sad! As Gilly would say….”sorry.”
I finally bought a new camera after months of research – a real, grown-up one beyond a point and shoot that is still compact enough to take on trips and carry around easily. I decided on the new Canon G12 – it acts like a digital SLR without all the bulk. It has some pretty neat features, which I tested out on a trip to Boston in November.
Boston Common in Vivid Color
College brochure material, no?
Fisheye fun
Life in Technicolor
"Old Fashioned" function gives images a dated treatment in 5 different grades
I’ve been having a lot of fun with the G12 and look forward to testing it in international waters…who knows when that will be?? No trips on the docket as of now, but stay tuned!
