The Big Easy

Post date: Aug 20, 2016 4:47:14 PM

Wet! It rained so hard on my way to New Orleans that I was wet. My gloves were so wet they were squishy when I made a fist, and water dripped from their seams. Water had also made its way into the vents of my riding jacket because I had neglected to zip them up. As a result, my shirt was soaked, and what the shirt didn't soak up went straight down into my pants. That's what I get! It also took me twice as long to ride there given the weather.

I drove through downtown New Orleans and checked out the lay of the land on my way to the JW Marriott in the French Quarter. I figured that I might only get down here once, so I wanted to stay in a swank hotel near the action. It was a great choice since New Orleans is very walkable.

After divesting myself of wet apparel in a favor of fresh synthetics, I headed towards the heart of the French Quarter. Along the way, I stopped at Jackson Square and had a photo opp.

I couldn't pass up the chance to savor some authentic Cajun food, so I Yelp'd around and located a local haunt called Coop's Place.

I ordered their taste plate that came assorted with a cup of seafood gumbo, shrimp creole, one piece of cajun fried chicken, red beans & rice with sausage, and rabbit & sausage jambalaya. The meal didn't disappoint, although it was their friend chicken that stole the show. The jambalaya was a close second.

One cannot visit NOLA without splurging on some beignets at Cafe du Monde. It's been a staple of the French Quarter for over 150 years. You might hate yourself afterwards, if you eat all of them.

Since I arrived in town after noon, I was a bit pressed for time. It was paramount that I take in the National World War II Museum, and although I wasn't able to devote ample time to touring its halls, the museum is a must see. The exhibits are laid out well and convey the happenings of the War in a fluid continuum. A special exhibit of Tom Lea's works during his tenure as a combat correspondent might bring you to tears.

It finally stopped raining, but I was out of water. My hotel was in striking distance, so I popped in for a refresher. I thought about the evening plans and decided to take nap. I was going to hang out on Bourbon Street later that night...

When I awoke, I looked at my hotel window over the French Quarter. I was still thinking about Cajun food and decided that I wanted some crawfish and beer. Yelp to rescue, I found this joint called Deanie's that served crawfish just about any way you could consider. I couldn't help but recall Forrest Gump's friend, Bubba, and the myriad ways he conjured up to prepare shrimp.

By the time I finished my smorgasbord of crawfish, darkness blanketed the city, and Bourbon Street was alive & poppin'.

There are plenty of vices in which to partake on this strip of endulgence, some may say. I'll leave it at that.