Spring Breaking, Phase One

Our vacation finally arrived after months of anticipation.  Now, I can't believe it's over (sad face), but we enjoyed every minute, and it provided some much needed rest and relaxation.  


Our cruise left from New Orleans, so we drove there on Saturday morning to have a little mini-vacation before we set sail.  Little did we know how much time we would actually spend in New Orleans because our ship was delayed until late Sunday night. Kent has visited NOLA several times, but this was my first time.  We had so much fun on Saturday and Sunday that we couldn't really believe that our trip hadn't actually started yet.  So, here are the highlights from our fun weekend in New Orleans.  


We began by heading down to the Garden District, which was so beautiful, peaceful, and unique.  I couldn't believe that people actually lived there all the time in their regular lives.  Exhibits A, B, and C:

Then, we turned the corner and walked straight into a St. Patrick's Day Parade...on March 12.  Unbeknownst to us, this is a big event, and there were tons of people there specifically to participate in that.  So, we wove our way through people throwing beads and heads of lettuce, and grown men dancing drunkenly down the streets wearing kilts (isn't that Scotland?).  All part of the experience...

We ducked into a bakery/sweet shop on the parade route called Sucre.  It was like walking into Heaven.  Everything was sparkly and pastel and pretty.  For months I been wanting to try French Macarons because they are so pretty and look absolutely delicious.  I've never seen them in real life, only on other blogs.  Sucre had shelves of them in every color and flavor.  Joy!  I picked chocolate, lemon, and strawberry, but wish I'd bought them out because they were as wonderful as I'd imagined.  

We love it here!

Saturday night we ate a wonderful dinner at a new place called Mojito's Rum Bar and Grill.  I now understand the crazy obsession with food in New Orleans--everything tasted like perfection. I look like I'm about to slip into a food coma in this picture.  Success!

The next morning we paid a visit to Cafe Du Monde for the obligatory breakfast of fried dough and chicory coffee.   I was not disappointed.  Side note of interest:  celebrity sighting of former Florida football coach Urban Meyer having breakfast with his daughter. 

 Fatty, sugary delight.  

 Shot outside Jackson Square on Sunday morning. 

Ship delay?  No problem.  We rode the streetcar back to the Garden District to walk around and see things without the parade craziness.  We had another great meal at a taqueria and just hung out for the afternoon.

We went to a casino for about an hour, where I met the cruel temptress Blackjack.  Walked about a million miles, ate more (oops!), and finally boarded the ship that night.

More to come....

P.S.  Sorry for the weird formatting on this post.  Blogger hates me...the feeling is mutual.  Any tips?