The Road Trip :: New Orleans

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I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. When we got to Baton Rouge, LA we were faced with a small decision.  We could head East for a stop in New Orleans (NOLA) or we could head West towards our final destination of Houston.

I still hadn't received confirmation on whether or not the apartment I wanted would be available - or rather if my finances had been approved.  This was making me mental.  I was a little stress ball.

Since there was really no point in rushing to Houston without a solid place to land we figured we should enjoy ourselves and spend a day in New Orleans.

Enjoy ourselves we did.

We got in fairly late in the evening and immediately bunkered down in our hotel.  This was mostly because I was driving and I had to pee really, really badly.  So I flew into the first hotel parking lot I could find and raced to the bathrooms.  No lie.

We woke up first thing in the morning with one thing on our minds.  Beignets and Coffee at Cafe du Monde.  We hauled butt into the middle of the city and sat down at the first available spot we could find on the terrace.

Here's the thing....I had really been dreaming of beignets at Cafe du Monde for a really long time and...my beignet experience just wasn't what I imagined.  Don't get me wrong.  The beignets were a treat.  The coffee was delish.  The people watching had potential for greatness.  But...yes there's a but...

We were hustled right to our table.  A very efficient Oriental waitress immediately brought beignets and coffee to our table.  We had to pay right then.  No one asked us if we wanted another.

So we wolfed down our beignets and chugged our coffee and left.

Like I said, it wasn't what I expected however; I'd go back again to wolf down beignets and chug some coffee!

Next stop?  Signing up for a Double Decker Bus Ride.  You know the dorky red ones that allow hop on hop off?

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  If you're in a city for a day take the hop on hop off.  You get to see so much more than you would on foot, it's a pay once mode of transportation (often times overseas you can use a credit card for the ticket which eliminates some need for foreign currency) and you get to learn a little history through headphones or a tour guide.

The only bummer about NOLA is that you can't go through The French Quarter - the streets are just too narrow.  You get to see lots of other places / neighborhoods though....you even get to see Mardi Gras World where they build floats.  I know you've been dying to go to Mardi Gras World (I really shouldn't joke.  Some people probably are really excited about Mardi Gras World...)

Following our Bus Tour we did do a bit of walking on foot.  We needed food.  Badly.  The hanger (you know...hunger induced anger) was quickly becoming an issue.

We settled on the Palace Cafe.  Hallelujah.  It was gooood.  We started with a crabmeat cheesecake appetizer and then both dug into Poutine Po-Boys.  It was scrumdiliumptious. For realsies.

A little more wandering around and we ended up back in the parking garage picking up our car.  The ride to Houston was our crappiest drive of the trip.  Pouring rain, lots of accidents and darkness...not ideal...

Sidenote:  I really wish that I had added Eat a Beignet at Cafe du Monde to my 30x30 list.

Disclaimer.  90% of the photos were taken from the bus....don't judge the crookedness....

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The Road Trip :: Mississippi

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Post Graceland we decided to go due South through Mississippi. We also decided that since we had bee-lined it for Graceland that we earned ourselves some 'back roads time'.

We took Route 1 from Northern Mississippi all the way to Southern Mississippi.  This region is known as the Mississippi Delta.  From here on out I'm going to write The Delta - only to save my little fingers the strain of M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i.  (For the record I practiced for hours in the Hilo YWCA yard after school how to spell that state perfectly.)

Our first night was spent in Clarksdale.  For the record, I don't recommend an overnight in Clarksdale...sorry lovely folks of Clarksdale.

Personally, the highlight of The Delta was Vicksburg.

Vicksburg was full of historic buildings, it sat right on the Mighty Mississippi and most importantly, there was good food to be had.

We dined at Walnut Hill which was an incredibly well preserved older home.  The menu was a little limited but, I always love a place that knows what they make and make it well.  Can we say, 'Fried Green Tomatoes'?  Why yes....yes we can.

The Delta was miles and miles of cotton fields.  I am ashamed to admit that at first I couldn't figure out what their crop was.  I KNOW.  duh.

I kept seeing white stuff and I kept thinking in my head...'so messy'...

We kept commenting on the crops.  I think Canadiaunt and I looked at each other at the exact same time and exclaimed, 'COTTON'!!!!

I ended up becoming fascinated with the cotton and wanted to stop at EVERY SINGLE field I found.  Then, I happened upon a field that still had the plants in them.  (To be fair, Canadiaunt spotted and I whipped the shitty to go back.)

All in all?  Mississippi was a lovely drive.

Of course there's more!

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The Road Trip :: GRACELAND

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The reason we powered through Kentucky was that we were eager to get to Memphis, Tennessee. After visiting Fallingwater in Pennsylvania I started thinking of other famous homes. Then it dawned on me....

GRACELAND!!!!

I've always found Elvis amazing - seeing his home made his life seem more real.

They've preserved the site beautifully and the attention to detail was amazing.

My favorite parts:

  • Seeing the tiki bar in the Jungle Room. Such class.
  • Elvis in an aloha shirt for Blue Hawaii and realizing I have a dress with the identical print!
  • Peacock stained glass in the formal living room.
  • The pool room beautifully covered in material.
  • TCB. Taking care of business in a FLASH!
  • The mirrored ceiling in the television room - with a FLASH on the wall of course!
  • The jet Lisa Marie with a full size bed that required a belt

I won't go on and on about our time there. Instead I'll share TONS of photos!

Please...enjoy more! There were too many for me to pick a favorite!

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The Road Trip :: Kentucky

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We sort of blew through Kentucky. We lallygagged through Pennsylvania and felt like we needed to make a little bit of time up.

Our only real stop was in Lexington where we took a walk through the Arboretum.  It was nice to get out of the car and stretch our legs!  We also made a stop in town to take pictures of older homes...you know me!  I love peeking in unsuspecting strangers windows!

Lexington was really pretty.  It was majorly a college town but, that didn't detract at all from it's gracefulness.

As we pulled into town there were people in blue everywhere.  When I say people in blue I mean a lot of people in a lot of blue.  Turns out the University of Kentucky had a basketball game going on.  These people had team spirit!

The Arboretum was clearly a well loved place.  Lots of joggers, lots of kids playing.  We loved it too.  It was right in the middle of town but very quiet.

Lexington had some kick butt older homes.  I mean truly kick butt!

Best part of our drive through Kentucky?  The hot pink sunset for sure!

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The Road Trip :: Pennsylvania - Home of Fallingwater

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I've never given much thought to Pennsylvania.  I knew it was home to Pittsburgh and that's just about it.  Oh okay and I know that Amish people live in Pennsylvania and I also have heard the term 'Pennsylvania Dutch' ten million times. Let me be the one to tell you:  Pennsylvania is Beautiful.

Yesterday we drove the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway.  We ooohed and aaahed the whole way.

Rockers on front porches.  Old stone buildings in pristine condition.  Cherry Cider.

Fallingwater.

Apparently, and I honestly didn't know this - my Canadiaunt is a HUGE Frank Lloyd Wright fan and has always dreamed of visiting Fallingwater his iconic masterpiece.

We figured why not make a pitstop - why not indeed?

It was amazing.  So far ahead of its time.  Still so relevant.  A true work of art.

More photos of our drive through Pennsylvania can be browsed through here:

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