Chris and I just got back from a trip to Louisiana where we went to our friend's wedding, and I have so many pictures to share with you! So many, in fact, that I am going to have to do my blog about the trip in three installments: first, about the two days we spent in New Orleans before the wedding, then a post about the Abita Mystery House in Abita Springs, where the wedding was held, and finally the wedding itself.
But before I start, I want say a very special THANK YOU to my mom and dad, who gifted us their frequent flyer miles and made this trip possible. It meant so much to us to be at the wedding, and we owe it all to you!
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Speaking of flying: for some reason on our way to New Orleans we had a layover in Washington D.C. (yes, we had to fly to the East Coast to go to the South, go figure). It had been a long, turbulent flight (that was the day that the huge tornado hit the South, so our plane was weaving through some wild weather) so the first thing I did was get a giant Stella Artois beer in the airport restaurant. Then we discovered the "America" gift shop. Only in Washington D.C., I tell you! I thought this was so surreal- a gift shop selling American political souvenirs, and blasting patriotic country music. I would have run away screaming if these were still the Bush years, but since we now have a "hip" president with the good sense to name his oldest daughter after me, I took a surreal delight in the political swag. (-:
I never go anywhere without my White House lip balm.
What says "patriot" like a snow globe? Note the snow globe featuring the First Dog, Bo.
And don't forget the fashionable First Lady! Immortalized forever in mints.
Okay, so, New Orleans. Holy moley. We were hoping to have a nice few days in The Big Easy, but we didn't realize that we were going to fall totally in love with the city.
French Quarter Mardi Gras costume supply shop:
We stayed on Magazine Street, in the aptly named Garden District, and every building there was painted like a party:
(These red doors are for you, Mom!)
These balconies just tugged at my heartstrings... I wanted to climb up to them and move right in.
We really loved this Irish bar, Tracy's, which had gourmet salads and sweet potato fries (yeah, at a BAR- welcome to New Orleans!)..... and beer, of course!
At Jim Russell's Rare Record Store on Magazine Street, a dusty, crazy, stocked-to-the-ceilings temple to rare vinyl, where the employees actually still smoke while they work like something out of a movie (this hasn't happened in California record stores in decades!), and where I found an amazing original Shirelles record:
Our lodgings, the St. Vincent's Guest House, which used to be a home for orphans and unwed mothers:
Chris hangs out with the orphans:
The lobby:
My mom still worries about me. (-;
Checking out the view from the third floor balcony:
The very best part of St. Vincent's was the restaurant. The food was dirt cheap, so I wasn't expecting much, but then my plate of biscuits and debris gravy arrived and I inhaled it in about one minute flat, because it was so damn tasty. The chef actually came out from the kitchen to talk to me because he heard from our waitress that I had eaten it so fast! Come to find out, after decades of West Coast rabbit food, I was starving. We started talking New Orleans food with this cool guy... and there is a lot to talk about, since this is probably the most exciting food city in America. Because of its unique history, NOLA cuisine combines French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean infuences, and the people are proud of their food like nowhere else in America. Apparently not a single chef in New Orleans measures their ingredients- the cooking is all done by taste. You either have the skills to pay the bills or you can do something else for a living!
Naturally the subject of beignets came up (the famous French donuts that are served at the tourist destination Cafe du Monde, among other places). "Do you like beignets?" he asked. (yes!) "Do you like chocolate beignets?" (um, hell yes.) He ducked into the kitchen and made us two fresh, chocolate beignets that I will never forget as long as I live.
There are no pictures of the beignets, because they were down the hatch so fast, but we tried to take some other food pictures.
Fried Catfish Po'Boys, French Quarter:
Fried biscuits, shrimp/cheese grits, home fries, and Hollandaise sandwich:
We also ate gumbo, shepherd's pie, bubble and squeak, Pimms cocktails, crab bisque, fried turnovers, bread pudding with rum sauce... among other things. I am telling you, bring your appetite if you go to NOLA!
We fell head-over-heels in love with the city, and we are already plotting our return. There is a lot to it that didn't make it into photos.... the kind, easy-going attitude of the natives, the expressive, funky clothing styles that you see out in the streets, the non-stop music, the mild weather (okay, I guess we hit it lucky on that last count). I have never been in a city in the U.S. that was so inspiring or so relaxing! If you have a chance to go, take it, take it now. (-:
More about the incredible venue where the wedding was held coming up in my next post!
I love this Sasha! I feel as if I was there with you!!! Can't wait for next installment!
Posted by: Sandra Witt | 05/04/2011 at 12:09 PM
Waaaahhhh! I wanna go back!!!! Also, that is an original copy of "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas that I'm holding there in the record store.
Posted by: Chris | 05/04/2011 at 12:24 PM
Awe youlucky little things you. It looks amazingly fun and fancy
Posted by: *winter | 05/04/2011 at 12:32 PM
I love you guys! I'm so glad you had fun, and a little bit jealous...uhh actually totally jealous!
Posted by: HollyB | 05/04/2011 at 01:24 PM
You both deserve this experience so much1 I am thrilled that it was so amazing.The pictures and discriptions are so lovely and fun!!! Love you both!!! Leonna
Posted by: Leonna Sapphire | 05/04/2011 at 04:33 PM
wooohooo!!! Glad you lucked out with St. Vincents. Now I need to go back to try their chocolate dipped deep fried lumps of dough. xooxoxox
Posted by: Tomi | 05/04/2011 at 07:29 PM
lovein this post and um, ok, I am now SO HUNGRY!! I wannna stay there when I go! That's it, this fall, I'm making it a goal to get there! meet me in nola!!
xo m
Posted by: Mindy Sue B. | 05/04/2011 at 09:31 PM
New Orleans is, hands down, the most magical city I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. I'm so happy that you got to experience it! It's my opinion that NOLA epitomizes everything about the deep south - steamy nights, good food and voodoo.
Posted by: Rachel C. | 05/05/2011 at 08:53 AM
oh sasha this was such a joy to read and gaze upon! darin and i have been to new orleans a few times and even talk about moving there for a year or so; it's just too damn enchanting. did you try the muffalettas at the central grocery? even the vegetarian version is to die for. MAN I WANT TO TRAVEL AGAIN! loved this. thank you.
Posted by: heather | 05/05/2011 at 02:07 PM
Wow it looks like you had a lot of fun. My husband, the kids and I will have to go down there while we are still in Shreveport. :) I love the pictures you took. The balconies did look really homey. :)
Posted by: Dessa ONeale | 05/05/2011 at 03:29 PM