Walking in New Orleans

Friday August 15th, 2008. As Carolyn and I set off Friday afternoon to fly Southwest to New Orleans, everything fell into place. Right on cue, Wife objected that we were starting out far too late and Husband, with an air of bewilderment, began to suggest that we could have left much later. As a team we quickly negotiated a strategy, and eased quickly through parking and security at BWI. (Hint: park on the 5th level of hourly parking, eat the $10 a day you can't get reimbursed for, and take a brisk walk directly across the ramp to Terminal A security, saving about half an hour). Turns out we were a little early and the flight was late, so we sampled a flight of local and white wines in the wine bar Vino Volo. Friday night we took a quick look around the French Quarter and retired.

Saturday 8/16. Had some work to do Saturday, but just as I finished it started raining, then a little harder and even harder. I took refuge in the Doubletree lobby and recognized the lounge where I once argued with Keith and Bob about whether I should be able to pour my own beer if the bartender was busy. After a cup of soup and some incredible spiced pickles, I put that argument to rest by sending a picture from my cell phone.


Dodging the rain drops I made it to the "Everything You Need" store for an umbrella and to Royal Blend Coffee & Tea House to meet Carolyn and a tour guide. Observing the old Spanish architecture in the French Quarter along the way, we made our way to the New Orleans Parish Saint Louis Cemetary No. 1. We learned all about why tombs are above ground, the use of tombs for multiple bodies, who owns and maintains tombs, and the history of specific sites. A scene from Easy Rider was filmed here so of course no else can now. Homer Plessy of Plessy vs. Ferguson is entombed here, as is Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, for whom people leave gifts and rum -- which never seams to sit out too long. Concluded the store at a Priestess Miriam's voodoo temple, where Ben concluded that voodoo is the superstition of the very poor about the power of stuff.



Returning to the hotel to dry off and get ready to go out, Ben observed aloud, and then to housekeeping, that our lovely view from the 34th floor was despoiled by dirty windows and is there anychance they could be cleaned? Saturday evening we had drinks at the Napoleon House, dined alfresco at Cafe Amelie, and made friends out on Bourbon Street. When we got home we found on our voice mail had an apology for the condition of the windows from the housekeeping manager, who hoped it hadn't ruined our stay.

Sunday, August 17. Before I had to go to work in the exhibit hall at the New Orleans Convention Center, Carolyn and I set of in search of brunch - one of my top four favorite meals. We found a gift for our friend Brenda Sherer on her birthday but no place open that we'd planned. Three years after Katrina, the guidebooks and local business are still trying to get in synch. We knew the Harrah's casino would have brunch, and sure enough they did, but we paid a lot for a pretty poor experience. But, I don't expect much from casino's and New Orleans is still trying to balance supply and demand, labor and customers. Please let me know when it all comes together again; then they can train business owners in PG County.



After a long day in the convention center, I had a snack with Virginia colleagues at Mulate's original cajun restaurant. Then the American Public Works Association (APWA) gathered for a get aquainted party at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, where I reunited with Carolyn and old colleagues, and made some new friends. It was a bit crowded but I really enjoyed the sea otters and mermaids (right). With no plan whatsover, we set off with our Pennsylvania friends, Pat and Sherri (above), and ended up having drinks in the lounge adjacent to Arnaud's. When we got home we found on our voice mail another apology for the condition of the windows from the housekeeping manager, who hoped it hadn't ruined our stay.

Monday August 18. Carolyn headed off for San Francisco, while I prepared for a meeting and a presentation. I had oysters as a snack at Swizzle Sticks. The transportation committee had dinner at Olivier's, where I ate creole rabbit and humble pie with Denise Saunders. Afterward Jon, Joe, Denise and I had beignets at Cafe du Monde, which Carolyn had visited earlier on her walkabouts. Later in the evening I met Tim Haynes and the Seskatchewan contingent at the Presidents reseption and the Canadian's reception, where we laughed at, and were amazed by, Olympic diving. When I got back to the hotel I found a letter of apology for the condition of the windows.

Tuesday August 17. More meetings blah blah, packed up the exhibit, and took in one more session. During lunch a got a new pair of sunglasses and lunch at Bon Tons. Had dinner with my own local chapter and more old colleagues at the Court of Two Sisters. Then off to see the wizard, stopping in for mere seconds at Bourbon Streets institutions both venerable an seedy: Jean Laffite's Old Absinthe Bar, Pat O'Brien's, Tropical Island for a Handgrenade, and anyplace else that struck me as entertaining. After listening to jazz at Fritzels, and live piano at Laffite's Blacksmith Shop, I closed the evening with a self-guided architectural tour of Bourbon, Esplanade, and Royal Streets.

Wednesday August 18. By the time I left for the airport on Wednesday, the hotel windows were still dirty but I had a $75 gift card, and that looked good to me!

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