Would you like a peanut? Days 2 NAWLINS

Thelma is tempted to begin this blog with a commentary of the amazing healthy choices at the hotel breakfast (oatmeal and fruit!) but since we will be telling you about numerous NAWLINS cuisine, she will spare you the details.

The day began with a 3 hour bus tour of: The French Quarter, The Garden District, Lakeview (Katrina damage area), and St. Louis Cemetary. A charming native tour guide highlighted some of New Orlean's premiere tourist attractions, while also, in his words, keeping it real and showing us "his hood."We learned many random, plus historical facts. For example, the French Quarter is mostly made up of Spanish built-homes. Also, Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor moss. And, it was used in the first Ford T model....until they were recalled due to BUGS. ewwww.

A tour highlight for Louise were the beautiful historical homes of the Garden District, where she would like to live...preferably beside of Sandra Bullock's new home. Louise is now taking offers for millionare husbands. Thelma, on the other hand, was captivated by the destruction of Katrina on Lakeview homes. Different strokes, people...

Here is a picture from the St. Louis cemetary, where Jefferson Davis was buried. That is, until Richmond (yes, we did a little cheer in the bus) took him to be placed in what is now "Hollywood Cemetary."



Per Jay Franck's recommedation, we went to "Mothers" to try an authentic PoBoy, which we learned really is just a fancy name for a sandwhich. We chose to split the catfish PoBoy which we quickly devoured. Thanks, Jay!

Another mindblowing aspect (besides the food) of New Orleans is the ability to drink alcohol on the streets...and people DO...ALL day long. Our second day in New Orleans could not have been prettier. Maybe if you look closely in the picture below you will find Huck Finn, sailing down the Mississippi River behind us. Sorry, teacher moment...

Jordan Gravely, and also every consierge and tour guide in New Orleans, suggested Cafe Du Monde to try their famous beignets, a doughnut funnel cake mix dumped with powdered sugar. "One-bite Thelma" called them "interesting" but she did at least try. "Many-bites Louise" LOVED them.

Okay, we know. Enough food pictures. But really, we are eating our way through this city. For dinner, we ate at Oliviers, a Creale restaraunt in the French Quarter. We, you guessed it, shared our dinner, which consisted of a Gumbo sampler and Shrimp Creole. Highly recommend!

The highlight thus far of the trip was Fritzels, a European Jazz Club located at the end of Bourbon Street (really, the end...past all of the bumpin & grindin clubs). We were entertained by a very impressive Jazz Quartet as well as 4 Argentian men, 3 of them psychiatrists. They introduced themselves with an endearing question, "Would you like a peanut?" Not knowing how to turn away, Thelma said "sure!" and then we both continued to try to understand these very friendly men, one of which did not speak ANY English, except for the words "I don't understand." Many beers and misunderstood words later, we come to find out that they believe the entire United States to be like New Orleans, for this was their first night ever on American soil. We just shook our Martinsvillian heads.

This story continues, but not here...


Hasta Manana.

Here is a video treat from the evening.