"When the Saints Go Marching In" Day 1 New Orleans

Due to Leah & Albert's memory foam mattress, our day started a little later than expected. We departed Panama around 8:30 am, actually looking forward to our six hour drive to the city of jazz. I-10 provided many hours of easy riding, literally, and interesting pit stops (what is a vittle?) As we drove into the city, we both had a moment of confusion due to the skyscrapers that neither of us pictured to be in New Orleans, but we continued on, a bit fearful of the mysterious city ahead. Driving into the city was also a bit discombobulating, for it looked like a combination of Miama, LA, and Martinsville....weird hybrid birthchild.

Since Louise is traveling with Thelma, she often has to remind Thelma "we need to eat, like now...." After looking over friends and familys restaurant recommendations, we decided to eat our way through New Orleans, but in the words of Thelma "share something" from each stop. Off to "Snug Harbor" on Frenchman Street we went. This policy did not rule on the first stop, however. Thelma kept to the mantra and ate a delicious bown of spicy (SPICY!) Gumbo; however, Louise (remember, she's with Thelma...) was CRAVING some meat. So, with that in mind, she chose a hamburger. A very, very large one at that which she devoured. There's always tomorrow for authentic cuisine.

After dinner, we walked down Decatur Street and stumbled upon a wonderful band playing traditional jazz and also, a very nice drunken man that asked us to dance. Due to the Samantha rule, Thelma said YES! And then persuaded Louise that when a man, even a drunken man, asks you to dance, we should always say yes. Life's a dance...

Oh the Hurricanes, we had to try the New Orleans signature cocktail.

YUMMY!

Our bellboy at the hotel was quite helpful and full of advice. He said, "Please be careful...you better take taxis home at night, after dark." We decided to actually listen and play it safe on our first night. So, we took a stroll down Bourbon St. before the craziness ensued...oh wait, it's Bourbon St, a combination of Hollywood Boulevard and a drunken Cirque De Soleil. Even in broad daylight, crazy. Catcalls, drag queen ken dolls, and drunken falls...where ARE we? Thelma's blushed face hasn't quite returned to normal.

We make no promises to our sweet bellboy about tomorrow....