Have been wanting to go to New Orleans for a while, mainly to eat :) but to also check out the city, since you always here so many fun things about it. Since we got invited to a wedding there this year, it worked out perfectly! We took a red eye Thursday night/Friday am, but no time for rest, I wanted to head straight to Cafe Du Monde for coffee & beignets :) as we walked the French Quarter people were out celebrating half way to St. Patrick's Day, so we knew right away what a fun place this was going to be...
the line seemed pretty long, but it actually moved pretty fast...people are in and out pretty quick since the menu is small/basic, beignets and a few beverage choices and they have you pay as soon as they bring out your order, they don't rush you out or anything but you're pretty much there for a quick snack
our first order of beignets and cafe au lait...wasn't sure what to expect...was thinking they would be soft and fluffy, but it's pretty much funnel cake which I love, so good with me! Plus they are doused with powered sugar. The coffee was good, didn't have to add anything extra to it.
we enjoyed it! we went everyday for the 3 days we were there :)
later that night dinner rehearsal was in a balcony suite of the Royal Sonestra Hotel
was a nice surprise as I was expecting it to be in a restaurant...this way we had the perfect view
and got the Mardi Gras experience...they gave out beads and we saw boobs :) thought that was only a Mardi Gras thing, but there were lots of people out on the street flashing for some beads :) I didn't make anyone flash I just threw them down to whoever had their hand out
as we walked back to our hotel, got caught up in the great street music
this band was really good...people dancing in the street, kids tapping with their home-made tap shoes
one of the things Jay wanted to do is ride on the Mississippi River
so we did on the the Natchez, Mississippi's last steam boat...
most exciting part was seeing the big red paddle wheel :)
Jay in awe
was a night wedding...ceremony was perfect
with the beautiful new bride...Mrs. Sarah Vlasic
after the ceremony, the couple led a parade downtown to the reception in a carriage
followed by a band, wedding party and all of us guests...how fun was it to get to parade down Bourbon Street!
so much fun!
the happy new couple...they had cute centerpieces with different New Orleans streets, food stations all around from carving stations to jambalaya, gumbo, pasta bar, hard shell chocolate fondue, plus good music including their favorite Little Wayne :)
we had another whole day to just explore and walk around...love the old streets, mansions, buildings
caught another random parade
stopped at Acme Oyster House for lunch, was a very good recommended from friends...char grilled oysters!
and of course on our last visit to Cafe du Monde, order a bunch to go as well as my coffee in a souvenir mug :)
It was the perfect amount of time, not too short or too long to be away from the kids. We got to be tourists during the day, wedding guest at night. Thanks to Auntie for allowing this to happen. She played single mom for the 3 day weekend :) Such a fun city...the food, people, history, so much culture...no wonder Sarah & Charlie fell in love with it!
