N'awlins

N'awlins 

7/13 and 7/14

New Orleans is a relatively short drive for us at this point, but it was a tough one.  4.5 hours seemed to take forever.  The kids were antsy and whiny the whole way.  We got to New Orleans around 3.  We planned on staying at the Ritz, as Tracy was concerned for safety at the RV park, which is a few blocks off Bourbon Street.  I gladly agreed as I looked forward to sleeping in a nice hotel.  I dropped Tracy and the kids off at the Ritz to check us in.  Driving the RV in downtown New Orleans wasn't easy, as the streets are super narrow.  I took the RV to the RV park to park overnight.  I walked Tucker a few hundred yards, and then a cabbie drove by and picked me up.  He took us to the Ritz, and when I got into the room everyone had calmed down quite a bit.  FYI The Ritz is pet friendly for a fee, which they didn't charge us.  It was Tucker's first time in a Ritz, and he was pretty comfortable.  We showered up and planned to walk around New Orleans.  

The Ritz is only 2 blocks off Bourbon Street so we walked over.  As soon as we made the turn onto Bourbon Street we encountered a young kid, probably 10 years old, walking onto Bourbon Street with two 5 gallon buckets and drumsticks.  I asked him where he was going to play and he said he'd do a special show for us right there.  He sat down and started to play.  The kids were nervous, and I was impressed by his skills.  He played for a little bit, we tipped him $5, took a few pictures and left.  As soon as we started walking I noticed a stripper walking around in front of the Penthouse Club.  I was worried Arden and Davis would see and we'd have to field those questions, but Tracy said they didn't say anything to her and they didn't ask me so I guess we can explain that another day.  

We planned on eating at Oceana, which was recommended to us by three different people at the Ritz.  They all told us to turn left off Bourbon Street, and it would be right there.  We couldn't find it so I google mapped it.  It was actually a right turn off Bourbon so we doubled back and made our way there.  Oceana is a tourist trap restaurant, and the people were super friendly.  We all commented on how friendly the hostess and waiter was.  By far the most friendly people on our trip.  We ordered, and ate some Alligator.  Well, all except Arden she wasn't having it.  The waiter recommended we walk around on Royal Street, which is one block over from Bourbon Street, but because it was Sunday most of it was closed.  Royal Street is clearly more family appropriate, so we were bummed it was all closed.  We decided to walk to the famous Cafe Du Monde for beignets.  On the way we saw a violinist and guitar players perched on a street corner and walked up to listen.  They noticed Arden's Taylor Swift guitar pick earrings that she picked up in Nashville, and played a Taylor Swift song for her.  We walked down to Cafe Du Monde, and sat on the patio and ordered some beignets.  The kids destroyed them.  Something about a donut with powdered sugar.  Right as we finished up we heard the crack of loud thunder right above our head.  We decided to leave, and caught a pedi cab back to the Ritz.  

Dinner at Oceana

Fried alligator

Beignets are good 

We put the kids to bed, and they fell asleep quickly.  Tracy and I watched TV and went to bed early too.  

In the morning I woke up and walked Tucker, while Tracy and the kids got ready.    The kids slept pretty late not coming to wake us until after 7:30.  While I was walking, we went past a restaurant called Ruby's that was one block away.  We walked down there for breakfast, and it was awesome.  I'm not much of a foody, considering Chili's pretty good food, but eggs benedict with pulled pork instead of ham was amazing.  On homemade biscuits too.  After breakfast we walked back, checked out, and got a cab to the RV park to  retrieve the RV.  You should have seen the cabbies face when we opened the door and Tucker got in, walked to the back and sat on the chair. He said this was his first ride with a golden retriever.  He drove us the mile or so back to the RV, and we left for Dallas.  We decided to skip Austin as it would save us some drive time, and allow us to be in Dallas/Ft. Worth longer.  It proved to be a great decision.