New Orleans!!!

wow--we just got back from New Orleans today--we had so much fun! We went sans kids--a first for us--we really missed our kids but it was so nice to have a little break and reconnect--how sad that we haven't done it sooner!
This isn't the best picture to start with--a remnant from the hurricane, but I thought it was pretty cool. We saw hundreds of homes (without even trying) with these symbols--the 'X' means that it has been searched--the '0' below it means that none were found dead or alive inside (grim statistics....) and the other numbers and letters stand for search codes, dates and any hazards that may be inside the house. Most of the homes that we saw like this were on the outskirts of the French Quarter--they were beautiful homes--some of their neighbors have already renovated. Who knows what will happen--but it was really weird to see (and creepy...)

Of course we had to visit the famed 'above ground' cemeteries--they were creepy too! (acutally, most things about this city are creepy--I think that's what they try for...) These crpts are falling apart, some of the doors were loose and some didn't have doors at all--and were empty (thank goodness!) They have filmed a lot of vampire movies in here--and you can see why!
While here, we took a haunted ghost tour of the city--it was so fun! They say these stories are true and all (I'm not sure if I'm a believer yet--) so I decided to document--didn't catch any ectoplasms in my pictures--must have been an off day for the ghosts. This hotel--The Andrew Jackson--is haunted by the ghosts of some little boys (who died in a fire almost 250 years ago)--apparently you can hear running and giggling and some tourists return home to find pictures of themselves sleeping on their camera film (ewwww!) So, do what you will with that info--but I wouldn't reccomend staying there either way! :)

We even got to see a mini mardi gras parade--gotta love the stilt walkers!
And you can't go to the Bayou without touring the swamp. We came across almost 20 alligators! They were everywhere--and they would swim right up to our boat--very curious (and it didn't help that our guide threw marshmallows in the water--I guess they think they're eggs--does that seem strange to anyone? I just can't see PETA going for feeding spun sugar to wild animals..hmmm...)
It was really neat to see them so up close in the wild. In Florida we saw a lot of gators--but they were at a distance (and that was on purpose). And did you know that they can jump? Yes, out of the water--and one almost jumped into our boat--yes, he wanted a marshmallow. It was a heart pounding experience!

Here's a little gator--only two feet from me for the longest time, I could have pet him if I was out of my mind...but he is kinda cute--in the man-eating sense of the word--- :)

Jeremy--he's either trying to conjure up lost souls or practicing for his turn...
I got to tour some plantations too--which was great fun (and they lived nothing like Scarlett--apparently life on a plantation wasn't all romance and parties)--Jer didn't come on this one--he did have to work--that was the whole purpose of us going there--but we still managed to get everything done on our list.
The food in New Orleans is amazing! But you have to love creole food--jumbalaya and gumbo and all that--I do, so it was heaven for me. We had the best seafood at Mr. B's Bistro. We actually were here on our first anniversary, so it was very fun and nostalgic to come back. YUM!!

More pictures of the French Quarter--it is so beautiful--that is, if you can get past the smell, the pigeons, the garbage and the alcohol and cabaret's--it's really nice! :) The gray house above is supposed to be haunted too (there's a horrible story that goes with it--which I will spare you--very disturbing...)anyway, apparently Nicholas Cage owns it now--but he hasn't slept there yet. interesting....


Another ghost! oh, wait--false alarm. But it does make for a neat picture! This is a Catholic Cathedral built in the 1700's--I love how old things are here! The history is incredible.

Me at the Oak Alley Plantation (hence the alley of oaks behind me)--I love the greenery!!! I miss the greenery! I wish Utah was green!
Po-boys and seafood gumbo--we definetly had our fill. We found this little hole in the wall--Mother's--it was so great! Love it when we find places like that!

The Great Mississippi River!
It rained everyday--and it was so humid--but it was so nice and warm at night.

And finally, you can't go to New Orleans without having some beneits (how do you spell that??? sounds like "ben-yah's). wow--they are so great. kind of like square donuts covered in powdered sugar (just be careful not to cough, sneeze, laugh or exhale while eating or powdered sugar will fly everywhere!!!)

So, Jer--where are we going next year???