tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117640291485836162024-03-21T16:59:45.066-05:00Waldo Oiseau's Travel JournalWaldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-52096109688813750302007-11-16T13:04:00.001-06:002008-05-12T23:06:23.140-05:00Rediscovering New Orleans, Nov 2007<a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-mon-coeur.html">Day 1: <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Daiquiris, Muffulettas, & Shopping</span></strong></a><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/day-2-trip-to-nola-also-requires-at.html">Day 2: <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Andre Agassi, Good Food, & Local Music</span></strong> </a><br /><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-day-3-to-come.html">Day 3: <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A Pound of Butta & Napoleon</span></strong><br /></a><br />The very first time I saw New Orleans, I was 12 years old and it was a hot and humid July. My parents were attending a week-long conference, so I was shuffled off to the day-camp that was provided.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs6aIbCNPecJjQ6ZlKTU1GKDq5e_Q8x0ftXToYHGpSJpFM178pLBLhJB1DFuhfYNcWLE7C9nyU4HwYPFJxqcS_fJzqlhCJ-p60jIJ0B_S53qmH4cJXUnEW6Zg2YYJEGEt908DPFVb58k/s1600-h/top-oap-photo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133521372002913570" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs6aIbCNPecJjQ6ZlKTU1GKDq5e_Q8x0ftXToYHGpSJpFM178pLBLhJB1DFuhfYNcWLE7C9nyU4HwYPFJxqcS_fJzqlhCJ-p60jIJ0B_S53qmH4cJXUnEW6Zg2YYJEGEt908DPFVb58k/s320/top-oap-photo.jpg" border="0" height="153" width="331" /></a>I saw the amazing <a href="http://www.auduboninstitute.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Facility_Zoo">Audubon Zoo</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audubon_Park,_New_Orleans">park</a> with its crazy live oaks, and was mesmerized by <a href="http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/">Oak Alley Plantation</a> with its canopy of oak trees swathed in Spanish moss.<br /><br />I ate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_beans_and_rice">Red Beans & Rice</a> with a dollop of Tabasco every day and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beignet">beignets</a> every other day.<br /><br />I remember riding on the <a href="http://www.neworleanspaddlewheels.com/about_creolequeen.html">paddlewheeler</a> along the Mississippi River, thinking of Huck Finn. One day we went to the shops at Jackson Brewery, where they had a whole floor dedicated to dining. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03no_UGI9pq5pHBZs2ahbtUNkxV9gYoWUP8s1Hfv9HSPqXj92h0dTnzYjEqWjnj0OwxTjW0Cs0T9Z2IUSOMiGLdG08M_jKGkvOGI2yZea4IvwgoQOpERApsMFRI_ZyVoo5tkpWPyP30k/s1600-h/creolequeen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133522342665522482" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 270px; height: 161px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03no_UGI9pq5pHBZs2ahbtUNkxV9gYoWUP8s1Hfv9HSPqXj92h0dTnzYjEqWjnj0OwxTjW0Cs0T9Z2IUSOMiGLdG08M_jKGkvOGI2yZea4IvwgoQOpERApsMFRI_ZyVoo5tkpWPyP30k/s320/creolequeen.jpg" border="0" height="184" width="294" /></a>I was both curious and revolted by some of the southern menu items, such as alligator. However, when my father ordered some raw oysters and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4eAtwt0WNyzcDp9h321DP3pbXMW8z61hyphenhyphenHywlgk_xzs8hlzMqSimkWJR4PDHHAsFie8vwvse_GdLoYreGys9Tp2j9eI4ZNwQziQwt-cDbO2OmaLRFPEdhLJvTCoe5AyBl7O8644DkqM/s1600-h/10903547.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133521294693502226" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 169px; height: 223px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4eAtwt0WNyzcDp9h321DP3pbXMW8z61hyphenhyphenHywlgk_xzs8hlzMqSimkWJR4PDHHAsFie8vwvse_GdLoYreGys9Tp2j9eI4ZNwQziQwt-cDbO2OmaLRFPEdhLJvTCoe5AyBl7O8644DkqM/s320/10903547.jpg" border="0" height="248" width="169" /></a>bit a real pearl (admitted small and rough-looking), that sealed the deal for me.<br /><br />I determined that this city was a magical place, more exotic and foreign than it was southern, a place where you might find gems in the most unexpected places. And, the crush hasn't really lessened over the years; I've visited New Orleans five more time since that first time.<br /><br />As a college student, I spent my fair share of time on <a href="http://www.pubclub.com/neworleans/pubclubbing.htm">Bourbon Street</a> on the lookout for flashers and cheap drinks. Even in the years after college, I still <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1ubuz4_5po4u_I95Lo5VoaKycm6RnYWP1HzhnPm0SptnU8T5Nt5Kgs-cTGxQhN2qwms-U26FY9PPPw-4XqaNWQl5oE6vdq1oPbG1h5pEdbYkLtSBj-9r0YtGYbQ4k0UaQbhxw8dGHDA/s1600-h/Old+image.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133524438609562946" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1ubuz4_5po4u_I95Lo5VoaKycm6RnYWP1HzhnPm0SptnU8T5Nt5Kgs-cTGxQhN2qwms-U26FY9PPPw-4XqaNWQl5oE6vdq1oPbG1h5pEdbYkLtSBj-9r0YtGYbQ4k0UaQbhxw8dGHDA/s320/Old+image.jpg" border="0" height="223" width="335" /></a>walked around with my frozen daiquiri and enjoyed a conga line as much as the next gal, but I also started developing more interest in good but affordable restaurants and spending quality time with friends.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><--- Um, yes, the second one is me. For the sake of this story, I am willing to share this with you!</span><br /><br /></span>It's been nearly five years since my last visit, and I was excited to see what New Orleans would be like. A lot has happened in the Crescent City, namely Hurricane Katrina, the renewal of corruption (they'd been doing better for a while), and an explosion in crime. Apparently, New Orleans has the highest murder rate in the nation right now. A lot has changed in my life, too. Nothing like a hurricane, mind you. But, I have grown up a bit. I'm more interested in people and the history of a place and while I like to get my drink on from time to time, I'm no longer a Bourbon Street party girl.<br /><br />Instead, interesting architecture, the sight of a tantalizing menu, and a shop window full of pretty things have a lot more impact on me these days. And seeing, really seeing the people who generously open up their city to me, well that's more meaningful to me these days.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133525739984653650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 367px; height: 286px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbFj5CwokezdgMMLZtElXlCo9VDCxfgu7m_3_yGRCn4NWFjAIVbTNNzuCozcQHza_D5cilevUzvw4cWoYfTHPDdBpaqhQER8ILXLRZQmpHJF0720kEzuXC3sodWkmVK9LD7oJBl9Nw1I/s320/87957080WeDTub_ph.jpg" border="0" height="257" width="339" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>It all starts here! </strong></span><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-mon-coeur.html"><em><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Day 1</strong></span></em></a></p></blockquote></span></span>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-58471478462180965892007-11-12T16:46:00.000-06:002007-11-16T13:57:02.211-06:00New Orleans Day 1 -- Daiquiris, Muffulettas, & Shopping<a href="http://www.expressjet.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ExpressJet</span></a> ROCKS. You can get a direct flight to Nola from KC for about $150 RT. Beautiful, sunny weather … okay, so it was hot … in November … in the morning.<br /><br />I still have a little party in me (I'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU9648ge9j74W-BhLW0A0BC3k2ANpevbWU-NrQ9hrj7s-2POVqml1ryWlYjCqeQ9kxUI9cXBxMCQGxChh6hlHfHms5G75vcR2-fTZJxgfKXiAId4LIeQsESU_XgaO_vOEXy6kVcSDJl0/s1600-h/daquiri.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130976124887453394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; HEIGHT: 181px" height="254" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU9648ge9j74W-BhLW0A0BC3k2ANpevbWU-NrQ9hrj7s-2POVqml1ryWlYjCqeQ9kxUI9cXBxMCQGxChh6hlHfHms5G75vcR2-fTZJxgfKXiAId4LIeQsESU_XgaO_vOEXy6kVcSDJl0/s400/daquiri.jpg" width="171" border="0" /></a>m not THAT old), so after we (me, and my friends, Kathryn and Sarah) dropped off our bags at the <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/msybr-renaissance-pere-marquette-hotel/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pere</span> Marquette</a>, we stopped in at one of the many <a href="http://www.mangodaiquiris.com/">Mango Mango</a> shops and grabbed a to-go daiquiri to cool us off as we walked to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Grocery">Central Grocery</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwkH8bte_wW6ba21RedHIQRjZSpE29TJeFb27lvOHp405NTIKvKOzi7zBrwsiUIT-TUvx6jXPDLS-yt9w66X-OEOsc_AafX_Qe2OMrVXrJiGkoim-x7KHTGigx-vn5uQdQWvraOj1gjg/s1600-h/muffuletta.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130976292391177954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" height="153" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwkH8bte_wW6ba21RedHIQRjZSpE29TJeFb27lvOHp405NTIKvKOzi7zBrwsiUIT-TUvx6jXPDLS-yt9w66X-OEOsc_AafX_Qe2OMrVXrJiGkoim-x7KHTGigx-vn5uQdQWvraOj1gjg/s320/muffuletta.jpg" width="247" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are a few requirements to be met when visiting New Orleans and one of them is to eat a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">muffuletta</span> from Central Grocery. Introduced to me by an old friend many years ago, I discovered that the <a href="http://www.gumbopages.com/food/samwiches/muff.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">muffuletta</span></a> is also best enjoyed with a Root Beer (I don't know what it is, but it's guaranteed delicious!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7V_8r1jw_1LJclyKyYmo7hucfewO7ImmklsZa121ULruv0QrnQFEmNNJWb5qFcK4rIYvqNcTarOEYdrrdv_gkwEZpbG48idxdn7OEboDrfsxz86MU3f1dhXrTtN6h0RU9EQtisDPddU/s1600-h/riverfront.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130976442715033330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7V_8r1jw_1LJclyKyYmo7hucfewO7ImmklsZa121ULruv0QrnQFEmNNJWb5qFcK4rIYvqNcTarOEYdrrdv_gkwEZpbG48idxdn7OEboDrfsxz86MU3f1dhXrTtN6h0RU9EQtisDPddU/s200/riverfront.jpg" border="0" /></a>We grabbed our sandwiches and drinks, and then headed across the street to sit by the river. You can watch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">paddlewheelers</span> go by, see the comings and goings of the Riverfront Streetcar, and throw menacing glances at the dirty pigeons waiting for you to drop something. Due to the high salt concentration of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">muffulettas</span>, we began swelling immediately, but managed to push through and do some shopping.<br /><br />Magazine Street claimed to offer "six miles of antiques, gifts, jewelry, and more." What more could three women with some spending cash desire? A car.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Cq2ED-6p1AOWZRtRjuvWmMrqhvNjvXrzuJe6PYZIbKcvRnJ-gAOsqnVeywC8NaftR-zThdigVQLRZLJnLuDjRQ8682Zo5S0uYLVog2cjBOgxo-9yr-_oIL9037MuZ-8fpMkEYb6aHNY/s1600-h/Magazine+Street+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130976687528169234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Cq2ED-6p1AOWZRtRjuvWmMrqhvNjvXrzuJe6PYZIbKcvRnJ-gAOsqnVeywC8NaftR-zThdigVQLRZLJnLuDjRQ8682Zo5S0uYLVog2cjBOgxo-9yr-_oIL9037MuZ-8fpMkEYb6aHNY/s320/Magazine+Street+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>I had requested a <a href="http://www.magazinestreet.com/">Magazine Street Merchants</a> booklet in advance and we identified shops we wanted to visit, because you will kill yourself trying to see six miles of shops, right?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hazelnutneworleans.com/">Hazelnut</a> was our first stop, as it is known for its New Orleans <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Toile</span>. I got a yard of blue <a href="http://www.hazelnutneworleans.com/toile.shtml">New Orleans <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Toile</span></a> and while I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, I figure I can come up with something more creative than the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">toile</span>-covered tissue box they were selling for $45. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrSb0A1TSXRTn21HqIHRcqw-9KW6QqyLjupBhF5ZNWDZI2jqapdLX2rBoFKN2cmH4vlproXk1TVlKplcA5HyLfG9G2OLrC81ByhywTM_FzU_kNcK1C1EHLPnvnPrwfUqJ3beBtHlddwg/s1600-h/Magazine+Street.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130980973905530738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrSb0A1TSXRTn21HqIHRcqw-9KW6QqyLjupBhF5ZNWDZI2jqapdLX2rBoFKN2cmH4vlproXk1TVlKplcA5HyLfG9G2OLrC81ByhywTM_FzU_kNcK1C1EHLPnvnPrwfUqJ3beBtHlddwg/s320/Magazine+Street.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Other shops we liked included <a href="http://www.scriptura.com/scriptura/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Scriptura</span></a>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Objets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Trouvés</span>, and <a href="http://www.abcneworleans.com/">Aux Belles <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Choses</span></a>. This last shop was full of wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">provençal</span> linens, including the <a href="http://www.abcneworleans.com/index.php?cPath=29&osCsid=316fcf151931dfcf1c590acc3029696d">French kitchen towels</a> I fell in love with when I was in Provence a few years ago. I picked up several of the Provence-style fabric napkins.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;">Here I demonstrate how to wait for the local bus. ---></span></div><br /><div align="left"><br />When we were finally burnt out on the Magazine Street shopping experience, we caught the local bus and headed back to the French Quarter. We were ready to relax for a bit and then head out for dinner. At the hotel, we had a slight fiasco with the lock system on our hotel room door … it wasn't working at all. "Engineers" finally had to break the door in order to get into the room and retrieve our luggage for us (many hours later). In the meantime, we were put in a new room and got to lounge a bit before heading out for the evening.<br /><br />Due to tiredness and lack of access to our luggage, we determined we wanted something easy and reliable for dinner the first night. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganM4R4maR2l5YxwxkqSx__YEcVYhs16m_Ex1MH-YtPWD8aN6Ol6v2aQKSlVp_icg6sbIgAR0PG8f3F0JaP9Mdx1Bz6qhQgpQr1E716OGeAQ9_pOwu1-jKJ-Z48mEEPuE-hmUNR-W_Ynw/s1600-h/Acme+Oyster+House.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130977194334310194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganM4R4maR2l5YxwxkqSx__YEcVYhs16m_Ex1MH-YtPWD8aN6Ol6v2aQKSlVp_icg6sbIgAR0PG8f3F0JaP9Mdx1Bz6qhQgpQr1E716OGeAQ9_pOwu1-jKJ-Z48mEEPuE-hmUNR-W_Ynw/s320/Acme+Oyster+House.jpg" border="0" /></a>What better place than <a href="http://www.acmeoyster.com/">Acme Oyster House</a> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Iberville</span> St. Inexpensive and reliable menu items of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">po</span>' boys, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">hushpuppies</span>, red beans & rice, and seafood gumbo, Acme's is a noisy and fun eatery.<br /><br />Post-dinner drinks were had at <a href="http://www.patobriens.com/">Pat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">O'Brien's</span></a> for its famous Hurricanes on "The Patio" by the flaming fountain. Okay, it sounds kitsch, but it's pretty great. The Patio is like a little oasis off Bourbon Street.<br /><br />We knew we didn't want souvenir mugs (thank you, Kathryn!), so we were told we could just <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoYYoctoJ3bZ4U2zEArNdtsyVSqmr9HUHoEU7mjjUgn3UVsNnJH9VNGXj-P3iwYj1YP_iUDKz3xeD_Fex1rJh5cv8ipRg4e0atQ8KPp78KFEPdutcUDE_Lfa_Y8pMsJFIV0pEZ2fFMo8/s1600-h/images+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130978581608746818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoYYoctoJ3bZ4U2zEArNdtsyVSqmr9HUHoEU7mjjUgn3UVsNnJH9VNGXj-P3iwYj1YP_iUDKz3xeD_Fex1rJh5cv8ipRg4e0atQ8KPp78KFEPdutcUDE_Lfa_Y8pMsJFIV0pEZ2fFMo8/s200/images+015.jpg" border="0" /></a>turn in our glasses at the bar on the way out and we'd get a cash refund of $3 per glass (knocking down the Hurricane price from $10 to $7). </div><br /><br /><br />Only after we left, did we realize what a great money-making scheme it would be to just go around collecting glasses off of peoples' tables … because the staff doesn't tell you can turn in your glasses usually! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Arrg</span>. We thought of all the money we could have recouped from the day's early shopping frenzy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_gR08TAQK0PPbM5mddsQ1jXMuD04pAUAUk5lrFGaECa79OhjDsj6XytxaGkkGsL5gaTmihsebdgJAmtXiPCo3FWg5K3P1sy8biU7KC0oZpPbncXjcxdvBXJDuyOHHDzv5S_xFsPWJs/s1600-h/images+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132076035947188418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_gR08TAQK0PPbM5mddsQ1jXMuD04pAUAUk5lrFGaECa79OhjDsj6XytxaGkkGsL5gaTmihsebdgJAmtXiPCo3FWg5K3P1sy8biU7KC0oZpPbncXjcxdvBXJDuyOHHDzv5S_xFsPWJs/s320/images+031.jpg" border="0" /></a>Since Sarah had never been to New Orleans, we naturally had to do the requisite walk down Bourbon. It was the same as ever with people being drunk, people fighting, people laughing, couples holding hands, people trying to touch you. I'd like to add something about seeing boobies, but weirdly enough, I only saw a few men flash for beads. Maybe with so many celebrities these days 'accidentally' flashing their melons (or lack thereof), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ginnys</span>, and more, the novelty of it all has worn off. It seems that gone are the days when you couldn't turn around on Bourbon without being slapped with a perky or low-slung set.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><--- Here Kathryn demonstrates the proper way to drink Huge A** Beer on Bourbon.</span><br /></span><br />The evening ended with beers at <a href="http://www.frommers.com/destinations/neworleans/N25427.html">Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop</a>, a rural shanty right out of 1700s France. Legend has it that Jean Lafitte's brothers operated, what else, a blacksmith's shop here. Who knows. I can, however, tell you some very factual things about the place: it's so dark you <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uHOU0878jnZXt8oOnPrOd-c69UvNVGh9uvrGs3RbdMgckJFCeC6t3us2h81niCFfBKauWKXydX2fiBtze9vEBYBEzdA2dwKHHAlk8ZZDQkkMeKJUECGtALNRc3jPVO9PJGjWe6BQHnw/s1600-h/IMG_0319.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132078887805472978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uHOU0878jnZXt8oOnPrOd-c69UvNVGh9uvrGs3RbdMgckJFCeC6t3us2h81niCFfBKauWKXydX2fiBtze9vEBYBEzdA2dwKHHAlk8ZZDQkkMeKJUECGtALNRc3jPVO9PJGjWe6BQHnw/s320/IMG_0319.jpg" border="0" /></a>practically need a flashlight (cool!) and no matter who's playing at the piano that night, he/she will make your ears bleed (but that's part of the fun).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130980741977296738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh9I3g56Wu7SoMIb3cqVDyIIS-FY8RXjiK7HK89din6E_Nwsq6izA5FUQ8Xo91jj8H-rSV14h3GDJoKBzPxAVU88Cr0-CIL24XwJe047kY88Yo3BMJ4Df_yQt-P4bfRkISqsGTbTSitk/s320/images+034.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Back to </span><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-nov-2007.html"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Main New Orleans Page</span></em></strong></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> / Or go to </span><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/day-2-trip-to-nola-also-requires-at.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>Day 2</em></strong></span></a></p><p></p>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-76403482145371659242007-11-11T13:21:00.000-06:002007-11-16T13:55:41.517-06:00New Orleans Day 2 -- Andre Agassi, Good Food, & Local Music<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7mq28wFWCdKtzUBohXEIVC1pqcO_QSbESrWgIa4oL_pY1UAL-MNP8A8P_4RgO7OohiEDDBXnyOh3tRJs8wDIHr0laUaMR0XPEgm4Ihyphenhyphenhc9kLWYjQjxD8I0grwvYHfN13Oz1NUY0sfGo/s1600-h/images+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132040121430659234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7mq28wFWCdKtzUBohXEIVC1pqcO_QSbESrWgIa4oL_pY1UAL-MNP8A8P_4RgO7OohiEDDBXnyOh3tRJs8wDIHr0laUaMR0XPEgm4Ihyphenhyphenhc9kLWYjQjxD8I0grwvYHfN13Oz1NUY0sfGo/s320/images+063.jpg" border="0" /></a>A trip to Nola always requires at least one stop in at <a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/">Café du Monde</a> for beignets and café au lait.<br /><br />The Café has been around for over 150 years, orginally serving just coffee. When competition started growing fierce, Café du Monde had to come up with something that would bring customers back time and again. And, that's when the beignet came in.<br /><br />French in origin, the beignet is basically a fritter that starts with a sweet batter that is cut into squares and deep-fried, and then topped with mounds upon mounds of powered sugar … much of which ends up on the ground. Excellent place to people-watch.<br /><br />Day 2 was "culture" and oh-my-god-there's-Andre-Agassi day. First I will show you the trunk … He was amazingly attractive … and here, he looks like he's talking to me, doesn't he? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLMpDKGc-sU3b4iXRYKYiopcG1AQlmyN92KLKYY9glgzzler4L047cNMZKDNbZJQczaCafxuqzKRR18HyHHVGBUMNh8z417pbwSW9tx_IkXmuGICs72K69C1vCGHdw8Jkpu7CjzJP4AA/s1600-h/IMG_0356.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132039047688835138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLMpDKGc-sU3b4iXRYKYiopcG1AQlmyN92KLKYY9glgzzler4L047cNMZKDNbZJQczaCafxuqzKRR18HyHHVGBUMNh8z417pbwSW9tx_IkXmuGICs72K69C1vCGHdw8Jkpu7CjzJP4AA/s200/IMG_0356.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivhE1LhqGoSMX68A5nscPO50toId0TZP36RIS_6izbt67XzWrnmqSdqud3uJPDhqppk75e87KtBGVjtyo-BhOKX2-PKRsGN9uf5Z0TChL5X1CTXPwbJnaGS29lBXfgcJn5QMWUAKYlVk/s1600-h/IMG_0355.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132039283912036434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivhE1LhqGoSMX68A5nscPO50toId0TZP36RIS_6izbt67XzWrnmqSdqud3uJPDhqppk75e87KtBGVjtyo-BhOKX2-PKRsGN9uf5Z0TChL5X1CTXPwbJnaGS29lBXfgcJn5QMWUAKYlVk/s200/IMG_0355.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, so we had some learnin' that day, too. We visited the <a href="http://www.hnoc.org/">Historic New Orleans Collection</a> and went through the exhibit "What's Cooking in New Orleans?" We learned that gumbo originated as a Bantu word, and that filé is made from sassafras leaves.<br /><br />We also toured the <a href="http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/1850ex.htm">1850 House</a>, located on St. Ann (next to Jackson Square). Many of the buildings around Jackson Square were developed and then rented out as retail and family townhouses by the Baroness Pontalba.<br /><br />You follow a short self-guided tour, getting an upclose look at period furnishings and a close idea of what life was like in the mid-1800s. You also see the big differences between the owners' and the hired <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWzJYiq1Pa_mPjI4jjPesYWiftl58Xat-d0pG2mdiY8JkzGJQosMt7l_m1fRbdOzYaBMVT4ZFFwyBDUonN1GdBUuFJQfnPBCJxKtAZh0jYSQI2jIFWbJKGsp20aUUB5k2rI9DN0SRln4/s1600-h/images+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132038674026680354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWzJYiq1Pa_mPjI4jjPesYWiftl58Xat-d0pG2mdiY8JkzGJQosMt7l_m1fRbdOzYaBMVT4ZFFwyBDUonN1GdBUuFJQfnPBCJxKtAZh0jYSQI2jIFWbJKGsp20aUUB5k2rI9DN0SRln4/s200/images+081.jpg" border="0" /></a>help/slaves' living areas.<br /><br />Based on a recommendation from a local, we found Café Amelie tucked in behind an iron archway at 912 Royal Street.<br /><br />This was a really wonderful little oasis hidden away. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcEbbwqrVO7X8QHzFhsbR67v0jxpuYPV_vinYrOPGzR6roBpLxsLSz-KZW2Zq8ZciGlZ6wizA3bu7-q6rL2ELjsxYte5HhZ4AqYC0KJ24OxWt6g9v8U8jzstRwP-0fwJ3XIvp_Dhq0iA/s1600-h/images+116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132037707659038658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcEbbwqrVO7X8QHzFhsbR67v0jxpuYPV_vinYrOPGzR6roBpLxsLSz-KZW2Zq8ZciGlZ6wizA3bu7-q6rL2ELjsxYte5HhZ4AqYC0KJ24OxWt6g9v8U8jzstRwP-0fwJ3XIvp_Dhq0iA/s200/images+116.jpg" border="0" /></a>With a trickling fountain and a nice lunch menu, Café Amelie was the perfect place to take a mid-day break, and I would highly recommend it for lunch. The menu offers a nice selection of seafood, salads, and a dab of champagne if you're in the mood.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbusEzCUIqp7xNBjcwVfotq5cQNKOA_7ZhzCwxS_0E42OQOaQesC7KB9sG3pMgffVJ03YFVO0hJxcxt4Xdv7PigztGZy9RXRKGE5ykLVnhlCvJTBDdSkFkQxNBipQLrIJn7aM2dpQLJ8/s1600-h/images+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132038837235437618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbusEzCUIqp7xNBjcwVfotq5cQNKOA_7ZhzCwxS_0E42OQOaQesC7KB9sG3pMgffVJ03YFVO0hJxcxt4Xdv7PigztGZy9RXRKGE5ykLVnhlCvJTBDdSkFkQxNBipQLrIJn7aM2dpQLJ8/s200/images+106.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Café Amelie is located in the very historic courtyard of the Princess of Manaco Carriage House & Courtyard. During the 1830s-1850s, a series of townhouses, a carriage house, and the courtyard were built off Royal Street. Here's a touch of <a href="http://www.princessofmonaco.com/history.html">interesting history</a> about the family that built and owned this courtyard.<br /><br />Much of the afternoon was spent dreaming about Andre Agassi's tush, whom we spotted as we were wandering down Royal Street looking for a fancy antique necklace Kathryn had remembered from the day before. Sarah was the master of secrecy as she snapped a few photos of Agassi's backside.<br /><br />Aside from this exciting event, we wandered the side streets of the French Quarter taking photographs of musicans and artists selling their wares, and stopping in at the many galleries, shops, and antique stores throughout.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisac-UYW7dzCc5dyupAtWGRoqSgES6VRvbTDcpusYbMJNGg0NVCmg1_pYzHrWzg_kbxeGJ8FB9fR5D3v0U6XQdBntVp6DnVD2tuj_6lkUQbhnYHDNqRXlgGmGvQf37XotLBX6R0BQvtKs/s1600-h/IMG_0337.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132038244529950706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="213" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisac-UYW7dzCc5dyupAtWGRoqSgES6VRvbTDcpusYbMJNGg0NVCmg1_pYzHrWzg_kbxeGJ8FB9fR5D3v0U6XQdBntVp6DnVD2tuj_6lkUQbhnYHDNqRXlgGmGvQf37XotLBX6R0BQvtKs/s200/IMG_0337.jpg" width="189" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydyMpt0CX_KT4xbCZzzDn3E5Y1VHODQ6y9BQKkZGGAd_pvFiTjy5bEL73wsmJqAmMyXWSaQMewS_kt9Jv-BStX9zTcOO6nbp3AcCwL1g9yoZrIxEaCl9QbP5-0942KKcQXM-B4xz_KIM/s1600-h/images+184.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132038536587726866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 114px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px" height="208" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydyMpt0CX_KT4xbCZzzDn3E5Y1VHODQ6y9BQKkZGGAd_pvFiTjy5bEL73wsmJqAmMyXWSaQMewS_kt9Jv-BStX9zTcOO6nbp3AcCwL1g9yoZrIxEaCl9QbP5-0942KKcQXM-B4xz_KIM/s200/images+184.jpg" width="107" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-e0WEW0zKhXd05d8GhOxDruYV36DjyILNCJN5zke_cNmQCSjTLP3cE8ykCQozSuSg7-MtoBaq4sjabOSxSz9a29RuElin9neAudiRlvVT9IxpouYyXsXl9vM4aFEGb8yjbo22JaREquc/s1600-h/images+166.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132038424918577154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px" height="205" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-e0WEW0zKhXd05d8GhOxDruYV36DjyILNCJN5zke_cNmQCSjTLP3cE8ykCQozSuSg7-MtoBaq4sjabOSxSz9a29RuElin9neAudiRlvVT9IxpouYyXsXl9vM4aFEGb8yjbo22JaREquc/s200/images+166.jpg" width="211" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132070418129965234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXXtFknhaI3bnlusHgsn5hTvdkGwvulFb8T-916xWFPDEMEj3o5SXOnc77SQvrNY1gBwI5Mqktd-EHaCBAkcP1jjKaEUQpCQnb6Gq_7FFOOeBPuzWL0wml3-FubBCQnTKHDQfb-zu9-Q/s400/images+141.jpg" border="0" /> As we headed into the evening, we were excited about our dinner reservations at <a href="http://www.frommers.com/destinations/neworleans/D41515.html">Irene's Cuisine</a>! New Orleans is full of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfye9qUItgMgUOBRxNNUA8cC8if3qDRV1xZLDEnfuz8H-lJyQ9GbHb1QKW1ynSsNVhYeu7JTVEg6dMd_Ddj_yCX2kFRf9fXfkjiQWntI0RoOOEzwDSIyEFa8fIhwwDneAiWCQda9K1Qw/s1600-h/images+141.jpg"></a>excellent restaurants that run the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE4okcMhiuj2RG6kHZUfouawjTqjR4qd2UUPJ_cgkq4WkCLiIoMoX0c8XdIbMKtbdB1hL3oWD7Xi0YQ3t7up1Gm7_7nnRzjLv_3wug8P1_BzoCveX52Ta1IqVkc5OSPWb4bauNPq76dk/s1600-h/images+206.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132037540155314098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE4okcMhiuj2RG6kHZUfouawjTqjR4qd2UUPJ_cgkq4WkCLiIoMoX0c8XdIbMKtbdB1hL3oWD7Xi0YQ3t7up1Gm7_7nnRzjLv_3wug8P1_BzoCveX52Ta1IqVkc5OSPWb4bauNPq76dk/s320/images+206.jpg" border="0" /></a>gamut from humble red beans and rice to haute cuisine. Whatever your budget or "scene" you're going for, you will certainly always find good service and good food.<br /><br />Irene's was one of those places where reviews varied. Some said it was much ado, while others said it was the one restaurant they dined at every time they were in Nola.<br /><br />With flickering candles and flowers on each small table, and walls plastered with framed photos, Irene's was just the kind of place I knew we'd love. Being the smart ladies we were, we had made reservations, so we didn't have to wait. (Irene's does, though, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWwvWKrdV3YGwvWnwMCKRPGDaP3tjsDLUFyxN7jzeYmQJXhh9cWBrdiLzYWBUofydSaown5-X7boWoJqnjbaQO4ljLVdvtePUfDUIwoXuY9jC15qvFPWSmhRdNPCkuEoDm0zcBnRemJA/s1600-h/images+213.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132037454255968162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWwvWKrdV3YGwvWnwMCKRPGDaP3tjsDLUFyxN7jzeYmQJXhh9cWBrdiLzYWBUofydSaown5-X7boWoJqnjbaQO4ljLVdvtePUfDUIwoXuY9jC15qvFPWSmhRdNPCkuEoDm0zcBnRemJA/s320/images+213.jpg" border="0" /></a>have a special waiting room. It's in the back and offers a piano player and drink menu.)<br /><br />We got a corner table in the front room and a warm, friendly, and knowledgeable waiter. I ended up ordering two appetizers for my entrée (crab gratin and deliciously stuffed ravioli), while Sarah ordered the crab cakes and Kathryn had a fish dish with whipped sweet potatoes. We shared a slice of simple cheescake for dessert, and even Kathryn who doesn't "do" cheesecake said it was good enough to almost make her a convert.<br /><br />After dinner, we were off to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faubourg_Marigny">Faubourg Marginy</a>, a section of neighborhoods that border the French Quarter. Full of cafes and more specifically, live music locales, this area was definitely more full of locals than tourists. Interestingly, Sarah had picked up an issue of <em>Travel + Leisure</em> at the airport because there was an article about New Orleans. Once we read the following, we thought, "Wow, we've got to check this place out!" …. <span style="color:#ff6666;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">[There are still places like The Spotted Cat, a bare-bones bar in the Marigny that could have been dropped in from 1933. There’s no PA, no amplification at all, and no spotlights per se—just a dim yellow bulb above the stage, a worn patch of floorboards beside the front door. The door stays open all night to the breeze, and passersby gather on the sidewalk to listen to the band. <em>Travel + Leisure</em>]</span><br /></span></span><br />We weren't disappointed! <a href="http://ilovethisworld.com/?p=395">The Spotted Cat</a> has just a small, carved wooden sign hanging out front and great music coming out the door. We nabbed a few seats (not easy), and settled in for a few hours. We heard two bands, one of which was <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=69628436">Washboard Chaz Blues</a>. Chaz sang vocals and played a washboard, and was accompanied by a guitarist and harmonica player. It was great way to end off the evening.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132037303932112786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFROmok37MSZ74wFZJilEGunxrnpe3HmpAQR1WCwJFZXodYP59M7m2ZJ0aqWB-lObk4rHcUSzaGKnGyGrK-5RAzc8D-MGFvd0JAW54IDfjvDWQSjDm_ohsbs5z4XA20hlLvrXWRru2rho/s320/images+257.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Back to </span><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-nov-2007.html"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Main New Orleans Page</span></em></strong></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> / Or go to <a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-day-3-to-come.html"><strong><em>Day 3</em></strong></a></span></p>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-79872972134042633332007-11-10T15:44:00.001-06:002008-05-12T23:24:51.604-05:00New Orleans Day 3 -- A Pound of Butta & Napoleon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qMWi3PiwnTF5c36kLklqvcP92bULITVIPv5ASzU_wsrZl6AmK0A35NYER7eMvz8Ma-T15Y5qyDqc2hz3srTq74d8corwj9GTCHty3wdzUwLp8TXoVKIQls9yKuHOTO3ODrtoZ7z4IqU/s1600-h/images+296.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133500081850027250" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qMWi3PiwnTF5c36kLklqvcP92bULITVIPv5ASzU_wsrZl6AmK0A35NYER7eMvz8Ma-T15Y5qyDqc2hz3srTq74d8corwj9GTCHty3wdzUwLp8TXoVKIQls9yKuHOTO3ODrtoZ7z4IqU/s320/images+296.jpg" border="0" /></a>On our last day in New Orleans, we welcomed another perfectly sunny and warm day.<br /><br />Kathryn had been talking, talking, and talking about the omeletes at <a href="http://www.atneworleans.com/body/camelliagrill.htm">Camillia Grill</a> in the Garden District. Since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcars_in_New_Orleans">St. Charles Streetcar</a> is still not running its full route, we hopped on the bus at Canal and rode it all the way down St. Charles Ave. to Carrollton. The Camillia Grill did not disappoint! All seating is classic lunch counter-style and you can expect a bit of a wait … but it's well worth it. Giant omelets made with lots of butter, french fries and shakes and waffles, and pie, to boot. The cooks and wait staff were friendly and efficient. This is a great diner-style breakfast stop well worth a short jaunt from the French Quarter, and you can hop the bus (or I image the St. Charles Streetcar which I'm sure will be up and running to Carrollton soon).<br /><br />To get to the restrooms, you have to walk through the kitchen prep area. We discovered that you can also sit back there at a large prep table specially designated for dining! I know it sounds strange, but it seemed pretty cool and would be worth doing especially if you have a large-ish party with you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdIJwYelHbagw13lq6kH7AD9-3Upj_-mtamIAWlpszc7e1r3G1BJgtts9rEH7c-I5G7TNDKz1Pkn9viBgqnHj-u6EKGj0_PV4BXEdIFVX74zZEMwd4hw6nBoZv3i-H8Eo0eyTgTUq4E/s1600-h/images+319.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499918641269970" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 354px; height: 338px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdIJwYelHbagw13lq6kH7AD9-3Upj_-mtamIAWlpszc7e1r3G1BJgtts9rEH7c-I5G7TNDKz1Pkn9viBgqnHj-u6EKGj0_PV4BXEdIFVX74zZEMwd4hw6nBoZv3i-H8Eo0eyTgTUq4E/s320/images+319.jpg" border="0" height="322" width="341" /></a>Upon rolling ourselves out of the Camillia Grill, we decided to walk down through the Garden District and look at the many great homes dating back to the 1800s.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd6oY6Qn8XHp35Qrlo3YC6xgXZ2gNGa5CUpuSduUW4mGzJ_9BxMgTYeWurPBvhqjvZn0-2d-DaG6gberlAdAQntH5XUqR0PWRbmEzL7Cnf3DKzaRnGn3_ljsVujDJ6Gx8gIlnKwFjx3s/s1600-h/images+348.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499987360746722" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 276px; height: 324px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd6oY6Qn8XHp35Qrlo3YC6xgXZ2gNGa5CUpuSduUW4mGzJ_9BxMgTYeWurPBvhqjvZn0-2d-DaG6gberlAdAQntH5XUqR0PWRbmEzL7Cnf3DKzaRnGn3_ljsVujDJ6Gx8gIlnKwFjx3s/s320/images+348.jpg" border="0" height="351" width="274" /></a><br />The Garden District itself dates to about 1806 and was laid out as a system of parks. The area was settled by the then-nouveau riche during the mid-1800s and offers some of the earliest Greek Revival architecture in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_JU7wKEqCnSuw5iPnrFjx0z5Pm9qgpwYUDutCH9oF6pANUp6BuQPFEDJCv5wkNzwe2vluLouIIftMR6PmsgmpK0czjHHoCgnndxEvArjWVnW5wvNNBCdNOrwNebZNUNsC8174QO2ktM/s1600-h/images+334.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499832741924034" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_JU7wKEqCnSuw5iPnrFjx0z5Pm9qgpwYUDutCH9oF6pANUp6BuQPFEDJCv5wkNzwe2vluLouIIftMR6PmsgmpK0czjHHoCgnndxEvArjWVnW5wvNNBCdNOrwNebZNUNsC8174QO2ktM/s320/images+334.jpg" border="0" height="270" width="355" /></a>New Orleans.<br /><br />Some of the most common styles also include Italianate and Queen Anne Victorian. Apparently, after the Louisiana Purchase, Americans came pouring into New Orleans looking to cash in on trade.<br /><br />Due to the friction with the current Creole residents, the snubbed Americans moved uptown and created their own neighborhood, the Garden District. A large number of the homes are still owned by descendents of the original owners, which I thought was quite interesting and unique considering how much Americans move around these days!<br /><br />We walked through part of Audubon Park to see the giant live oaks growing in crazy directions everywhere. These are really amazing and oddly beautiful trees, and the park is worth a casual stroll or picnic for any visitor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstn7ib3ZoOYsBxHBaQFviS8waEfunle1FIEyhr8pTIAVaPw5JZ_zk0jlvDwJ_FxN13mrgzjeNC1uR4tLXJn8CAjQ9Y-nyVMYJXiybIHW9-j9RWn9nb10823uMtEVT-VWb5YsRj6vc1zY/s1600-h/images+358.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499721072774322" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 321px; height: 284px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstn7ib3ZoOYsBxHBaQFviS8waEfunle1FIEyhr8pTIAVaPw5JZ_zk0jlvDwJ_FxN13mrgzjeNC1uR4tLXJn8CAjQ9Y-nyVMYJXiybIHW9-j9RWn9nb10823uMtEVT-VWb5YsRj6vc1zY/s320/images+358.jpg" border="0" height="252" width="293" /></a>Do not ask how, but we somehow found ourselves back at <a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/">Café du Monde</a> eating again.<br /><br />Beignets and iced café au lait this time around. I think we were already feeling nostalgic for New Orleans, knowing we would be leaving in a few hours.<br /><br />I took more photos of the French Quarter and we made a point of wandering some new streets.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa_XBsq4SMsO-LSG9XoihFRnzrvAkIrQQETezoimISkwvfhirvXKSlbLN5RkwwHW_x4aSpMtPUClMh-lTJgmL03hy5WsFgcEQ-9_hX92UfGV_iZeO0Sh7R11E6iuDoM0fPUm9riuFZhE/s1600-h/images+125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499622288526498" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 305px; height: 379px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa_XBsq4SMsO-LSG9XoihFRnzrvAkIrQQETezoimISkwvfhirvXKSlbLN5RkwwHW_x4aSpMtPUClMh-lTJgmL03hy5WsFgcEQ-9_hX92UfGV_iZeO0Sh7R11E6iuDoM0fPUm9riuFZhE/s320/images+125.jpg" border="0" height="335" width="257" /></a><br />That's definitely something many visitors don't realize about the French Quarter: it's big!<br /><br />You can always find a new street to explore, a hidden shop you never noticed, and great photo just waiting to be taken.<br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Dwelling markings from ---></span></div><div align="right"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Hurricane Katrina.</span></div><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVqJKHoHOiDGBCE7KMq-pDmTB6xE89YmRUIpERwK3dZPR5uft_fksx523_jowxVIqMRWL6TgANw4HSzyVwYrMPIYo-PDN2W-u81YmTf__tdUsdJnyu32lfHVsOgJEkTvVvUKqGeK0dIU/s1600-h/images+143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499446194867330" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 288px; height: 364px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVqJKHoHOiDGBCE7KMq-pDmTB6xE89YmRUIpERwK3dZPR5uft_fksx523_jowxVIqMRWL6TgANw4HSzyVwYrMPIYo-PDN2W-u81YmTf__tdUsdJnyu32lfHVsOgJEkTvVvUKqGeK0dIU/s320/images+143.jpg" border="0" height="351" width="272" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguelAH4MZJEMurPDc1iu3EK24s3r69Irmm4gaLsVYjjOOaB5K0Wwxdo-mdWSur8oIvE4F-z1HENSzL67nPHz1gpzH63K5Gkjm-VQZ-LZx9_sCGFdBcRdg5KpGxKORQyO825UhblP8sMKI/s1600-h/images+146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133499523504278674" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 334px; height: 363px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguelAH4MZJEMurPDc1iu3EK24s3r69Irmm4gaLsVYjjOOaB5K0Wwxdo-mdWSur8oIvE4F-z1HENSzL67nPHz1gpzH63K5Gkjm-VQZ-LZx9_sCGFdBcRdg5KpGxKORQyO825UhblP8sMKI/s320/images+146.jpg" border="0" height="345" width="310" /></a><br />Our weekend trip to New Orleans had the most perfect ending with a little nibble and a drink at <a href="http://www.napoleonhouse.com/">Napoleon House</a>. Naturally, I had to have some red beans and rice, Sarah had some gumbo, and Kathryn tried the "other" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtOkx-edFciDaJ0nxNPtjyElXusSyxpZUP8aqVE9uRZivQw_12Vp7DpjrYQEUYb7ZUiO-ca8MGBmhoT-GiDhALzlPrvtBbyUOOhQi4GOGVaQASAxXzjw_er-9VmhEJhEYHbCfqvwQJx8/s1600-h/images+374.jpg"></a>muffuletta (this one is served warm versus the cold version at <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/od/restaurants/p/CentralGrocery.htm">Central Grocery</a>). While I had a glass of wine, Sarah and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93D9DNdHEHL_GhLd3ZLKauCbr3e-CaOwzzjKHkfg6leC8lyWehw14qE1g93uEHcUk1lVsMY703ALIwsxSieF4a7H3w5NgFKhhPvL6RCrAbOr0abZ3DV97z0JqNzLEbgkGaxjU5fR4NeY/s1600-h/images+386.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133498879259184210" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93D9DNdHEHL_GhLd3ZLKauCbr3e-CaOwzzjKHkfg6leC8lyWehw14qE1g93uEHcUk1lVsMY703ALIwsxSieF4a7H3w5NgFKhhPvL6RCrAbOr0abZ3DV97z0JqNzLEbgkGaxjU5fR4NeY/s320/images+386.jpg" border="0" /></a>Kathryn had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimm">Pimm's Cups</a>, which is one of the things for which Napoleon House is famous.<br /><br />This is perhaps the most inviting, warmest establishments in all of the French Quarter. Its rough walls give it a sense of purpose and history -- which dates back 200 years.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp06KZCHs6fd1-1JqUHx8PKvZt_-nYbd44zV0AdoG17JHzchE8YmNkCtKnQj528UNQ4Ybb9hckcjdkBQoIngudtNN88cMprWYhfVYveNJ5VWJIUMnvPudZx8Abzj8-fvX7I2QLHVD1ag/s1600-h/images+381.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133498806244740162" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 281px; height: 238px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp06KZCHs6fd1-1JqUHx8PKvZt_-nYbd44zV0AdoG17JHzchE8YmNkCtKnQj528UNQ4Ybb9hckcjdkBQoIngudtNN88cMprWYhfVYveNJ5VWJIUMnvPudZx8Abzj8-fvX7I2QLHVD1ag/s320/images+381.jpg" border="0" height="251" width="283" /></a><br />New Orleans is much more than just a place to party. It's a wonderful place for friends and lovers, with excellent cuisine, good drinks, and plenty of parks, museums, and shopping.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Perhaps the single best thing you can do for New Orleans and its great citizens is to visit this special city. This was the first trip on which I really paid attention to the people who call Nola home. </span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgIUEc-lpiphyiiOmzUs1UccQJ6jwT0lkrDe0Ak_8mp4f1X4cmB5OKAu4wAGPVzXzdz_TuxjZ99ntKEAxeZIumIqzjY5TN_HM-UFnsCpGR5he3NZ3SGvIo3AxrL0oc1NHzeIakF-VZdU/s1600-h/IMG_0329.jpg"><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133498720345394226" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgIUEc-lpiphyiiOmzUs1UccQJ6jwT0lkrDe0Ak_8mp4f1X4cmB5OKAu4wAGPVzXzdz_TuxjZ99ntKEAxeZIumIqzjY5TN_HM-UFnsCpGR5he3NZ3SGvIo3AxrL0oc1NHzeIakF-VZdU/s320/IMG_0329.jpg" border="0" /></span></strong></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">They work hard every day, with a smile and a kind word, always on the ready to make recommendations and answer questions. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">New Orleans relies on tourist dollars and since Hurricane Katrina, tourism is drastically down. The city derives a huge percent of its revenue for rebuilding, schools, infrastructure, social services and more, from what you spend at hotels, restaurants, and shops. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Come for a visit, pick up some local artwork, try a southern Creole dish you've never had, chat with shopowners, and listen to local musicians play in the clubs. You won't regret it!</span></strong><br /></span><br /><strong>*** P.S. *** </strong>Before heading on this trip, I was seriously considering taking a city tour that included stops to still-devasted areas, but I changed my mind. I recognize that while my tour ticket price ($60!!) supported the tour company (good), I doubted the residents of these areas would appreciate me coming through gawking at much of what appears to be slow or failing efforts by the government to rebuild.<br /><br />Instead, I randomly came across the <a href="http://www.kidcameraproject.org/index.html"><strong>New Orleans Kid Camera Project</strong></a>, which is a program that puts cameras in to the hands of the city's children. The Project blossomed out of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with the premise that art can help! I found many of these childrens' photographs very special and moving -- they're of everyday life and are frank and some are quite poignant. I chose to send what I would have spent on a tour ticket to this ongoing Project instead. And, <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">I'm getting an </span><a href="https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=17928"><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">8"x10" print</span></strong></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> out of it</span>, too!!<br /><br />If you are interested in making a worthwhile donation to a fantastic little organization that is helping the kids of New Orleans, I'd like to recommend the New Orleans Kid Camera Project. For a <a href="https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=17928">$50 donation</a> (you can also donate in any amount), you can select from one of four 8"x10" photographs. Currently, these are the only images available (I asked!), but they hope to have others in the future. Even if you don't make a donation, check out some of the incredible images taken by these kids. At the <a href="http://www.kidcameraproject.org/index.html">home page</a>, click on 'Group Galleries' to see the many archives.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133498612971211810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IWW4G42rmuJxjCs-_0wJRfcErF1sWUlfrX_Y7zdQRR7Bm-bZG2eY2yzWk9s4-ms99C6Y8DNQARjhwUWW8mFPnXOX7JJ9egBflppe8U_kEfsM6yWgxSMLTEGGygcz1IvaLDScD3F7mXw/s400/IMG_0342.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><strong>We say goodbye for now!</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ></span></strong> </div><div align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Back to </span><a href="http://littlebirdtravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-orleans-nov-2007.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>Main New Orleans Page</em></strong></span></a></span></div><br /><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-56010858351957615892007-05-29T22:18:00.000-05:002007-06-01T11:44:05.153-05:00ASPEN: The Prettiest Place Your Heart Loves<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/253/522244765_80237a0b5e_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/253/522244765_80237a0b5e_b.jpg" border="0" /></a>Following our short and fun stay in Denver, on Friday, we were off for Aspen. We were going to stay with some dear friends of mine who have been going to Aspen for over 30 years.<br /><br />I've been to Aspen before, and have very fond memories of the town, so was beside myself with excitement to go back and to show off this little town to Owen, hoping he'd come to love it as much as I did.<br /><br />On your very first visit to Aspen, the only way to arrive is via the scenic and sometimes death-defying Independence Pass. <em><span style="font-size:85%;">[If you want to know what it's like to drive in France's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Luberon</span>, look no further than certain stretches of CO-82.]</span><br /></em><br />From Denver, just take I-70 west and at about the mid-way point to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Glenwood</span> Springs, you swing south and head for the Pass.<br /><br />Naturally, you must make a stop at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Silverthorne</span>--outlet store heaven. These stores boast a great number of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">outdoorwear</span> shops.<br /><br />I dropped a nice chunk of money on cycling shorts. There is something quite wrong with spending <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rlz3Gk9RsbI/AAAAAAAAAFY/TtCwmtgyfDg/s1600-h/0370_021.jpg"></a>a lot of money on an article of clothing that will make you much less attractive when you wear it. Yet, you plan on wearing it in order to become more attractive-looking in the long run. Ah, the ironies of life! <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/522231300_4eb1860f02_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px" height="330" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/522231300_4eb1860f02_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="266" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/522230618_f271c021b1_b.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">St. Mary Catholic Church on Main Street (left)</span></em><br /><br /><p>So, as you ponder the complicated nature of workout <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">paraphernalia</span>, you'll turn south on CO-82 and begin the trek over Independence Pass and on to Aspen. This is the point at which you'll realize you've never seen a sky so blue.<br /><br />We arrived to Aspen in the early evening, parked the car (cuz you do not need a car in this town!) and wandered around just as the sun was setting. Everything was quiet and peaceful, with lilacs in bloom everywhere.<br /><br />Aspen is a town you can walk from end to end on foot, with little paved footpaths around every corner. The Roaring Fork River runs through town, giving you ample opportunity to feel very zen in it's river roar! :) <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBHik9RsfI/AAAAAAAAAF4/ZI_VTZYoGls/s1600-h/images+209.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071131839780991474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="275" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBHik9RsfI/AAAAAAAAAF4/ZI_VTZYoGls/s320/images+209.jpg" width="197" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aspen was originally called Ute City and was a happen' silver mining spot in the 1800s. Several buildings, including the <a href="http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com/">Wheeler Opera House</a>, still remain from this time period. By the way, you can see shows and movies in the beautifully restored Opera House. <span style="font-size:85%;">[We saw '</span><a href="http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/film.php?filmID=99"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hot Fuzz</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">' on Saturday night.]</span><br /><br />This town offers <em>everything</em> -- laid back days walking local trails, hiking and biking the mountains, indulging in amazing arts and lecture programs such as those offered at the <a href="http://www.aspeninstitute.org/site/c.huLWJeMRKpH/b.612069/k.D5C2/History.htm">Aspen Institute</a> and <a href="http://www.aspenmusicfestival.com">Aspen Music Festival</a>, and of course ... <a href="http://aspen.ski.com/">skiing</a>!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/203/522247013_a77ac5957a_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px" height="181" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/203/522247013_a77ac5957a_b.jpg" border="0" /></a>We spent a great evening catching up with my friends, having a late dinner, drinking wine, and chatting about all manner of things. We went to bed sleepy and happy with the sound of the river to lull us to sleep.</p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>On Saturday morning, Owen and I headed off for a hiking adventure to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroon_Bells">Maroon Bells</a>. I'd been telling him about Maroon Bells and was excited for him to see one of the most photographed spots in Colorado!<br /><br />Snow-capped peaks sit high above Maroon Lake which was created by glaciers long ago. It's an amazing alpine spot, with a variety of aspens, evergreens, and wildflowers.<br /><br />I mentioned how you can ride the local bus up to Maroon Lake. You put your bike on the front of the bus and then ride you bike back down to town. Owen found that concept entirely <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">appalling</span>, as he is an avid cyclist, and, um, likes to <em>exercise</em>. Me, the avid couch potato, found it entirely brilliant.<br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/522239038_3782ff289b_b.jpg"></a><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/522239038_3782ff289b_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 322px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px" height="293" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/522239038_3782ff289b_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As it is still the early season, however, there are no buses and you can just drive your car to Maroon Bells. I thought I had gotten off the hook until Owen spotted <a href="http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/MaroonBells/MaroonBells.htm">a trail</a> that disappeared up into the aspens.<br /><br />So, that's how I ended taking a hike, through some snow, no less, to Crater Lake, which sits a few miles above Maroon Lake. <em><span style="font-size:85%;">[I was rather smitten with myself until a family with two hiking <strong>toddlers</strong> showed up.]</span></em></div><br /><div>I'll admit, it was well worth the extra bit of sweat to reach Crater Lake. You're that much closer to the Peaks which are beautiful, dangerous, and awe-inspiring. And, come on, how many alpine lakes do you get to see? Not to mention being a great photo op ... <a href="www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600288435037/show/"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>see the slideshow</strong></span></a>!<br /><br />We headed back to Aspen for lunch and a "training session" on a tandem mountain bike. We survived and no one fell. My friends, James and Betteanne, with whom we stayed, have been tandem cycling for over 15 years. It's actually beautiful to see them ride together. They're at such ease, holding a steady pace through all kinds of terrain. As a couple, it would be a wonderful passion to share.<br /><br />With the weather being perfect, we dined outdoors at <a href="http://www.mezzalunaaspen.com/index.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mezzaluna</span> Aspen</a>, which offers up Italian dishes and a nice selection of wines in a warm and unpretentious atmosphere.<br /><br />Sunday was another perfect-weather day. Owen went off on a mountain biking trek up Smuggler Mountain. It's a long tale, but involves something about getting lost, meeting a German, dragging his bike through some snow, and now having a good story tell. What more could a guy want?<br /><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/523412856_8162e97394_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/523412856_8162e97394_b.jpg" border="0" /></a>My day involved a nap and a beautiful leisurely walk with Betteanne. It was a great opportunity for Betteanne and I to catch up and talk about life, relationships, and just anything else that came to mind.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/235/523435465_7359ece948_b.jpg" border="0" />Aren't these the conversations that connect us to one another? And, it's always interesting and comforting when you know that even if there are friends you don't talk to every day, you know you can pick up right where you left off.<br /><br />You know they are there for you, and proud of what you are making of your life. And you ... you're so happy to have them as a part of your life.</div></div><br /><div><div><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>Thank you, Betteanne & James, for spending your holiday weekend with us in my very favorite little town ... a place you introduced me to so long ago.</strong></em></span><br /><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/523413714_50e6dac979_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/523413714_50e6dac979_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/248/522239472_ead9d70cea_b.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">View of Aspen Mountain (left); Crater Lake (above)<br /><br /><br /></span></em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-60354022007742145392007-05-28T19:28:00.000-05:002007-05-30T23:28:12.001-05:00Denver: To Stem or Not to StemLong holiday weekends are the perfect <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">occasions</span> to hop on a plane and catch up with old friends. When you can get airline tickets for $59 each way ... well, that makes the trip pretty much mandatory, right? God bless Southwest Airlines.<br /><br /><div><div>Owen and I arrived to Denver's sunny evening skies last Thursday, with a whole weekend stretched out before us! The friendly people at Hertz tried to "upgrade" us. That is code for "Let's give them the car we can't get anyone else to take." And, <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rl5NPU9RsdI/AAAAAAAAAFo/LYsOi57GQa4/s1600-h/pfcl600x400.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070575156184854994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rl5NPU9RsdI/AAAAAAAAAFo/LYsOi57GQa4/s200/pfcl600x400.jpg" border="0" /></a>that car would be the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HHR</span>, a truly revolting mini-windshield ugly car. We actually drove it around the lot, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">reparked</span> it, and went inside to <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">decline</span> the complimentary upgrade. The staff person said, "Oh, yeah, most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">people</span> don't like that car." <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">hhmmm</span>. We ended up with a Mazda 5, which had nice, BIG windows .. which is just what you need when you are driving around Beautiful Colorado!<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;">This is not "the" HHR we were given--just someone else's hideous HHR I found on the internet. What was Chevy thinking?</span></em><br /><br />We headed out Highlands Ranch, a far south suburb of Denver to see my old college friend, Trish, and her family. I can still remember E-470 and Highlands Ranch from my younger years growing up in Denver. They seemed so far away from everything. Now, there's housing everywhere, outdoor shopping centers and asphalt cover the plains. It really gives you a sense of how fast <a href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5072070,00.html">Denver is growing</a>.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rl5La09RscI/AAAAAAAAAFg/KwLug3vCazk/s1600-h/img47l.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070573154730095042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" height="161" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rl5La09RscI/AAAAAAAAAFg/KwLug3vCazk/s320/img47l.jpg" width="252" border="0" /></a><br />There's always something lovely about seeing friends you haven't seen for a few years. When we arrived, Trish and her family were waiting and armed with plates of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gouda</span> and brie, and fruit and wine! Being the old-school gal I am, I opted for a stemmed glass when offered "stemmed or not." My god, I now know in need to do away with my own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mish</span>-mash collection of wine glasses and, at the very least, get one matching set .... stemmed or not!</div><div></div><br /><div>The next day, we were off to Aspen!</div></div>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-2685415498410115982007-04-20T12:27:00.000-05:002007-05-02T12:33:04.107-05:00Photolog: BARCELONA<p>Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, sits on the Mediterranean just an hour or so from France. The city, I soon discovered, is a <em>major</em> tourist destination ... and for good reason.</p><p>Full of museums showcasing everything from <a href="http://www.museupicasso.bcn.es/eng/museum/index_museu.htm">Picasso</a> to Catalonian <a href="http://www.en.mhcat.net/">history</a> and <a href="http://www.mnac.es/index.jsp?lan=003">art</a> to <a href="http://pastisseria.com/">chocolate</a>, Barcelona boasts several World Heritage Sites as well as reknowned architectural works of Antoni Gaudi.</p><p><strong>Click on the following links</strong> for photos and descriptions from my trip to Barcelona!</p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099234539/detail/"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">City Scenes, Barcelona</span> </strong></a></p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099234539/"><img height="375" alt="Montjuïc's Fountain" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/465256683_10c9e66ec7.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099646082/detail/"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">La Boqueria, Barcelona</span></strong></a> </p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/466366010/"><img height="375" alt="Fish, La Boqueria, Barcelona" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/466366010_0570e20801.jpg" width="500" /></a> </p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099257615/detail/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Poble Espanyol, Barcelona</span></a></strong> </p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/464172400/"><img height="399" alt="Glassblower, Poble Espanyol" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/464172400_6671062d4c.jpg" width="500" /></a> </p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099639882/detail/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Cooking Class, Barcelona</span></a></strong> </p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/466366504/"><img height="284" alt="Cook & Taste class, Barcelona" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/466366504_580a7fdc0f.jpg" width="500" /></a> </p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099304095/detail/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Park Güell, Barcelona</span></a></strong></p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/466374659/"><img height="375" alt="Leaf, Park Güell, Barcelona" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/466374659_4b78bd988f.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099286983/detail/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">La Sagrada Família, Barcelona</span></a></strong></p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/464178741/"><img height="375" alt="La Sagrada Família, Barcelona" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/464178741_5612011b2c.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099319197/detail/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Montserrat, Spain</span></a></strong></p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/464441250/"><img height="375" alt="Montserrat" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/201/464441250_875f5b2493.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157600099307443/detail/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Collioure, France</span></a></strong></p><p><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/465198208/"><img height="375" alt="Collioure, France" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/465198208_a24565f913.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#990000;"><em>Or see them all as one </em></span></strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/collections/72157600099337053/"><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#990000;"><em>large collection</em></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#990000;"><em> here!</em></span></strong></p><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-22473761433177880912007-02-19T11:31:00.000-06:002007-05-03T16:09:35.278-05:00A Weekend in Rocheport, MissouriThis past weekend, we headed to Rocheport, Mo., a very small, rustic town two hours east of Kansas City.<br /><br /><div><div>Despite the bitter wind, we prevailed, stopping in at <a href="http://www.missouriwine.com/">Les Bourgeois Vineyards</a> for lunch. This winery is located just outside of Rocheport and primarily focuses on blended wines, utilizing Missouri grapes as well as imported grapes. (or something like that!)<br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpNE1L5vBI/AAAAAAAAACo/uFTAzA4qTgQ/s1600-h/missouriwine2b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060441876695989266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpNE1L5vBI/AAAAAAAAACo/uFTAzA4qTgQ/s320/missouriwine2b.jpg" border="0" /></a>I am not a fan of Missouri wine. I'm sure many wine enthusiasts would beg to differ, and considering that I <em>really</em> like wine, yet know so little about it, I would fail in any argument about the finer points on what makes wine good, etc. However ... any winery that produces a wine called "Riverboat Red" ... well, need I say more? I think not. </p><p><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_079.jpg"></a>All this said, Les Bourgeois <a href="http://www.missouriwine.com/BlufftopBistro.asp">Blufftop Bistro</a> was a very pretty space. Sitting on a bluff overlooking a valley of sorts, the restaurant has a post and beam construction and offers nearly floor to ceiling windows throughout. I'd heard great things about the lunch menu, so I was excited to see for myself what was offered on the menu. </p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpI9FL5u5I/AAAAAAAAABo/7yV4sRv5Yj4/s1600-h/FDV_thm_bottle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060437345505491858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpI9FL5u5I/AAAAAAAAABo/7yV4sRv5Yj4/s320/FDV_thm_bottle.jpg" border="0" /></a>We started with Bruschetta w/prosciutto, a mild melted cheese, and a really, really fabulous apple-pear-cranberry chutney. For my main entree, I had the Quiche of the Day (tasty chunks of ham and cheese) with the Soup of the Day (cauliflower & scallops--tasted a lot like lobster bisque!). Owen had a Panini filled with roasted red peppers, sauteed onions, artichokes, portabella mushrooms, and a pesto coulis spread, along with the butternut squash soup. Hours later, he was still talking about how the panini was the best and most perfectly made panini he'd had in a very long time.</p><p>We each had a glass of wine: Fleur du Vin and the Collector's Series Syrah. Owen liked them both, I didn't really care for either of them. I think I just have a mental block against Missouri wine. It probably doesn't help that when I think of Missouri wine, I think of the few annual trips with friends many years back to Hermann, Mo., for Oktoberfest. It's one of those you go, you see, you get sh*tfaced, and drink many bottles of really bad wine, with names like "Pink Lady" weekends. For example, here is a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87825032@N00/276733170/in/set-72157594340483971/">perfect example of what it's like</a> (snagged from flickr!). Can you say <em>CLASSY</em>? See that little slope there? I've seen many a high-heeled lady roll down that baby.</p><p><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_094.jpg"></a><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/482794247_b5fb3e5b6e.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/482794247_b5fb3e5b6e.jpg" border="0" /></a>Following lunch, we headed into Rocheport. It's a really, really small town. Like, five blocks by five blocks. Like five <em>small</em> blocks by five <em>small</em> blocks. Okay, maybe I'm making it sound too big, because I definitely do not want to give you that impression! So, it's actually five <em>very</em> small blocks by five <em>very</em> small blocks. We spent the first minute and 30 seconds canvassing all the streets, eager to see what cool shops we could visit. Once that was done, we settled on checking out the "main drag" Central Street. Here you will find the post office, the General Store, Granny's Antiques, and Abigail's Restaurant. </p><p>Hhmm, which one to visit, decisions, decisions. While the post office seemed <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_082_1.jpg"></a>fascinating (wow, they, like, sell stamps here and deliver mail), we chose to be adventurous and stop in at Granny's Antiques. Filled with a nice mix of antique tables, sideboards, and knick-knacks of all kinds, Granny's cutest and most desirable item, sadly, was not something we could purchase: Ginger, a miniature dachshund, who greeted guests at the door, ready to play ball. Diane, the shopowner, filled us in on which additional stores we could expect to find open, encouraging us to make another trip to Rocheport when the town is in full swing. She also showed us a stack of large photographs of the Katy Trail, claiming that many people stay in Rocheport and spend the day riding the portion of the Katy around Rocheport -- supposedly it's some of the most scenic miles of the 225-mile long stretch that crosses nearly half of Missouri! </p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpJ7VL5u6I/AAAAAAAAABw/8o2TfudE4Ns/s1600-h/907.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060438414952348578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpJ7VL5u6I/AAAAAAAAABw/8o2TfudE4Ns/s320/907.gif" border="0" /></a>As Diane was the first person we met in Rocheport, she really put the town's hospitality on display with her warm welcome. I think it didn't hurt that we were there in the off-season, allowing for plenty of time to chat up the store owners and local residents of the area. </p></div><div><div>As we were leaving the store, we told Diane that we had dinner reservations for the restaurant a few doors down, Abigail's. She said that after dinner, we should definitely stop in at the General Store, because a few of the Rocheport men were going to be playing music. We thought, "Ah, how quaint." Little did we know! </div><div><br />We left Granny's and again drove around the tiny town. </div><br /><div><em>"What do you want to do now?"<br />"I don't know. What do you want to do?"<br />"Hey, let's look at the town map again. Maybe we missed something."</em> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpKMVL5u7I/AAAAAAAAAB4/hmYwOYczFVE/s1600-h/saundersint.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060438707010124722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpKMVL5u7I/AAAAAAAAAB4/hmYwOYczFVE/s320/saundersint.jpg" border="0" /></a>We stopped in at two more antiques stores. Richard Saunders, Inc. is located in a nearly 200-year old building, and you can walk all throughout the first floor and look at really lovely antiques and more. The only thing that made the experience less enjoyable was that I could not afford the $3,000 dining room table ... the fact that a giant dining room table will not fit in our dining room is, of course, beside the point. </div><div><br />The last place we stopped in was White Horse Antiques. Apparently, Rocheport is the <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=416,height=336,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_089_1.jpg"></a>home of "store pets," as there seems to be at least one resident pet at each place. At White Horse, there was a big, burly cat and a very large dog. The best part, is that he will "lead" you from the main house to the little garage in back which contains more antiques. You open the back door of the house, and follow him to the garage. He'll stop every few feet and turn around to make sure you are following him. Reason enough <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_087.jpg"></a>to check out White Horse Antiques. <em>But</em> don't buy anything there, because frankly, they're crazy if they think they can sell an old ratty teddy bear for $85. I can't believe I threw out all my crummy stuffed animals ... I'd be rich by now. (Not only do I know nothing about wine, I also know nothing about antiques aside from mid-century Heywood Wakefield, so for all I know, this bear is a priceless gem. There. I'm trying to be nice.) </div><div></div><br /><div>After leaving White Horse, I had the oddest feeling of deja vu. Hadn't I just gone through this not more than 30 minutes earlier? ----- <em>"What do you want to do now?"<br />"I don't know. What do you want to do?"<br />"Hey, let's look at the town map again. Maybe we missed something."</em> We scrutinized the town map again, willing there to be one more place we could stop in to. Keep in mind, we hit a quaint tourist town in the off season! Thankfully, it was 4:00p on the dot and we could check in to the B&B.</div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpKj1L5u8I/AAAAAAAAACA/XA24DEqvKRM/s1600-h/schoolhouse_bed_breakfast_inn_rocheport_katy_trail_SHCommonRoom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060439110737050562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpKj1L5u8I/AAAAAAAAACA/XA24DEqvKRM/s320/schoolhouse_bed_breakfast_inn_rocheport_katy_trail_SHCommonRoom.jpg" border="0" /></a>The School House Bed & Breakfast is considered one of best B&Bs in Missouri and for good reason. Located in an old brick schoolhouse, the School House B&B is really charming, really comfortable, and there are no scary porcelain dolls anywhere to be found. Trust me, I checked out all of the guest rooms to verify! </div><div></div><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpLMVL5u9I/AAAAAAAAACI/VPKu3MFLkWM/s1600-h/schoolhouse_bed_breakfast_inn_rocheport_katy_trail_hallway.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060439806521752530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpLMVL5u9I/AAAAAAAAACI/VPKu3MFLkWM/s320/schoolhouse_bed_breakfast_inn_rocheport_katy_trail_hallway.jpg" border="0" /></a>Check-in was a breeze. We were warmly greeted <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_105.jpg"></a>with homemade chocolate chip cookies and a toasty little electric fire in our room "The Schoolmaster," named as such because there is still an old chalkboard on one of the walls. The tall plantation <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_095.jpg"></a>bed gently called my name and within 20 minutes we were napping away. </p><div>The only thing that gave us motivation to wake up was our reservations at Abigail's Restaurant, which was briefly mentioned in <em><a href="http://www.budgettravelonline.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/03/09/AR2006030901261.html">Coolest Small Towns in the U.S.A</a></em>. </div><br /><div>Dining at Abigail's is nearly reason enough to drive to Rocheport, Mo. Run by a husband and wife team, and named after their daughter, Abigail, this small, eclectically decorated restaurant is a truly delicious dining experience. The daily menu is written out on a large board and is placed table side so that you have a bit of time to peruse the menu. There are several fish entrees, but with a sprinkling of pork and beef filet dishes as well. I went for the lobster ravioli, while Owen selected the Salmon en Papilotte (salmon in parchment). Dinner entrees include bread and salad. Our salad was mixed greens with toasted almonds, strawberries, and a wine-based cream dressing. The ravioli was filled with large chucks of lobster and a bit of creamy white cheese, and the salmon was really unbelievable! It was marinated in brown sugar and crystallized ginger then wrapped and cooked in parchment paper, allowing all the flavor to seep into the fish. Taking a bite of the salmon you received a satisfying sweet flavor with a mild <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_139.jpg"></a><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_139_1.jpg"></a>spicy tingle at the end that only ginger can deliver. </div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpMFlL5u_I/AAAAAAAAACY/cRabYONZxa4/s1600-h/abigailsexterior7.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060440790069263346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpMFlL5u_I/AAAAAAAAACY/cRabYONZxa4/s320/abigailsexterior7.gif" border="0" /></a>The wine selection was great, as it offered a nice variety in different price ranges. Dessert was pecan pie with a twist. Abigail's offers a Pecan Toffee Chocolate Chip pie. I don't think I need bother describing the glory that was this dessert, as this photo says it all. Guess how much all of this cost? $60 ... that's with tip included. </div><br /><div></div><div>We decided to follow up dinner with a stop in to the General Store to listen to the music, as recommended by Diane. I peeked through the glass-plate windows, fully expecting there to be a small smattering of locals, sitting around drinking Budweiser. Quite the contrary, as the place was standing room only, filled with locals and visitors alike. </div><div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpOulL5vCI/AAAAAAAAACw/tN_AaBLaoo8/s1600-h/l_b84ec957ea8e4c69fb9a9bdeb6962b20.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060443693467155490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RjpOulL5vCI/AAAAAAAAACw/tN_AaBLaoo8/s320/l_b84ec957ea8e4c69fb9a9bdeb6962b20.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/rocheport_general_store.jpg"></a>band, made up of 4-5 community members was really good, incorporating a lot of the steel guitar sound and great vocal arrangements. Everyone was friendly, ready to have a good time, or already in the midst of a good time, with wine and beer flowing all around. After a glass or two of wine, your toes start tapping along with the music!</div><div><br />We'll definitely be back to Rocheport ... when it's warm and sunny! Understandably, the busy season runs from late spring through fall, and <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/482793975_1470675463.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/482793975_1470675463.jpg" border="0" /></a>we're eager to check out the different vibe of the town at that time. We'll try out some portion of the <a href="http://www.bikekatytrail.com/">Katy Trail</a>, unless I can talk Owen out of it. <em>Just kidding!!</em> I'm in, I'm in!</div><br /><div>I'm already thinking about the soft bed and warm welcome of the School House, seeing if Ginger is decked out in a summer doggy-shirt, and wondering what will be on the menu at Abigail's.<a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_159_1.jpg"></a> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_159.jpg"></a><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_159a_1.jpg"></a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/482784224_06d3d13d0d.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/picture_159a.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-33326677825419671822007-01-02T12:00:00.000-06:002007-06-01T12:27:04.315-05:00Seattle, Washington<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBWcU9RsgI/AAAAAAAAAGA/C_jW-Yytw_w/s1600-h/Olympia+Christmas+2006+193.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071148225081225730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBWcU9RsgI/AAAAAAAAAGA/C_jW-Yytw_w/s320/Olympia+Christmas+2006+193.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div>The day after Christmas Day, we headed to Seattle for the day. Since we only had one day, we stuck to touristy spots, which were a lot of fun, nonetheless! Naturally, one must stop in at the Public Market. I believe it's also mandatory to have your photo taken in front of the Pike Place Market sign!<br /></div><div><div><div><br />BTW, this is me in my very snazzy, new holiday hat. I had seen this hat at Hot Toddy in downtown Olympia the day before and instantly loved it, but for a hat, it was pretty pricey. It was the last gift handed out on Christmas Day, and it was "To Cathy, From Santa." No one knew how it mysteriously appeared under the tree and despite my prying attempts, no one would fess up. Needless to say, I came to the only reasonable conclusion that, indeed, Santa does exist. I'm 32, so apparently you are never too old to believe in the old man. (I'm still conducting handwriting analysis, though. Beware.) </div><br /><div><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/342658718_25fd9f6eb5.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/342658718_25fd9f6eb5.jpg" border="0" /></a>So, what does one do at a Public Market? Eat and shop, naturally. You can stop in at the very first Starbucks. Actually, it was nice to see many other coffee/roasteries in both Seattle and Olympia. Competition always makes for a better cup o' joe, right? </div><div><br />The Public Market and adjacent area are filled with a wide variety<a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/olympia_christmas_2006_188.jpg"></a> of shops, as well as great bakeries such as <a href="http://www.lepanier.com/">Le Panier</a>. A must have purchase--if you're a tea drinker--is <a href="http://www.insiderpages.com/b/4242385094">Market Spice Tea</a>. It's been at Pike Place for almost 100 years, and their signature tea, aptly named Original Market Spice Flavor, is a naturally sweet and spicy mix of citrus and cinnamon.<br /><br />We took a stroll through the fish market. What can I say? It's a fish market. It smelled. That's pretty much it.<a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/olympia_christmas_2006_182.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/342658779_abb9fe46ee.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/342658779_abb9fe46ee.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>One shop where we stocked up, was <a href="http://www.sottovoce.com/">Sotto Voce</a>. The locally-owned company offers a wide and ecclectic selection of olive oils, and balsamic and white wine vinegars. My favorite olive oil is the Olio Dorato, infused with dried lemons, sun-dried tomatoes, and cinnamon sticks. We also purchased the Aceto Balsamico, which is marinated with garlic cloves, crushed red peppers, and whole chilis. Spicy and oh so good!<br /></div><br /><div>One other shop that I really liked was <a href="http://www.milagrosseattle.com/">Milagros Seattle</a>, a Mexican folk art store. Very inspirational if you're interested in getting crafty with the Saints!<br /><br />After the Market experience, Owen forced me to walk in the rain,<a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/olympia_christmas_2006_206.jpg"></a> up a REALLY big hill, to see a library of all things. Okay ... so the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Central_Library">Seattle Central Library</a> turned out to be worth it. This building is amazing.<br /><br />During the summer, they have nearly 10,000 visitors a day. Their mission statement really and truly says, "Our mission is to become the best public library in the world."<br /><br />Once you see this place, you believe it. It's all very functional ... a<a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/olympia_christmas_2006_212.jpg"></a>s in, you can actually find your way around. The colors are amazing, bright, dark, perfect. Every floor is different in terms of <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/342658566_c190d4d01f.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/342658566_c190d4d01f.jpg" border="0" /></a>coloring, style, and feel. All throughout there is plenty of space and free WiFi is offered. There also are over 400 computer stations with a selections of programs people can use. There were people in there that basically looked homeless, but damn if they didn't have a laptop! I thought that was the most interesting aspect, the concept of a Library for All People.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinebennett/sets/72157594455315145/">[More Seattle Photos]</a><br /><br />As my jaunty Christmas cap took another beating in the rain, we headed to <a href="http://tomdouglas.com/serious/index.html">Serious Pie</a> <a href="http://tomdouglas.com/serious/index.html"></a>for lunch and picked up some great sourdough bread to bring back with us from <a href="http://tomdouglas.com/bakery/index.html">Dahlia Bakery</a>.<br /><br />Based on a recommendation from friends, Serious Pie turned out to be just what we needed to tide us over for the rest of the afternoon, which included a ferry ride from the Seattle Pier and a stop at REI.<br /><br />The atmosphere in the restaurant was warm and cozy, with wood-burning stoves behind glassed walls where the meals are prepared. We shared a yukon gold potato, rosemary, and olive oil pizza. The crust was amazing. For starters, I had a bowl of soup, but not just any soup... A warm broth with lots of olive oil, white beans, kale still firm but soft, and toasted bread pieces soaking in it all.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>HAPPY NEW YEAR ... May it be filled with warm soups, fun trips, and lots of opportunities to laugh at yourself <span style="color:#cc33cc;">... but in a good way</span>.<br /></div></em></strong></span><br /><div align="center"></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 373px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="446" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/342659148_12feeac000.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-83561368792023816972007-01-01T11:00:00.000-06:002007-06-01T12:34:05.239-05:00Olympia, Washington<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/344244470_0ffd377918_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 322px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 428px" height="409" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/344244470_0ffd377918_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000000;">So, it was my very first trip to the Northwest U.S. ... and it rained <em>every</em> day. ... <em>all</em> day. ... Which is exactly what I expected, so it was <em>perfect</em>!<br /><br />E</span>verything is unbelievably green, green, and greener. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBXkE9RshI/AAAAAAAAAGI/__YD2IV8pgA/s1600-h/Olympia+Christmas+2006+141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071149457736839698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 308px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" height="206" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBXkE9RshI/AAAAAAAAAGI/__YD2IV8pgA/s320/Olympia+Christmas+2006+141.jpg" width="281" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">It's always an adventure to see where your sweetheart grew up, to see his/her childhood home, neighborhood, and community. I think it helps you better understand when they cry in the middle of the night, longing for "home." JUST KIDDING.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Anyhow, during our Christmas holiday in Washington state, I met many wonderful family and friends, had an opportunity to explore the quaintness of Olympia, the state capital (did you know that?), share in some traditions, and see Seattle, at long last. It was a city I'd always wanted to visit, even if just for a day.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Everyone I met was so kind, generous, and warmhearted. I know the holiday season can be a tricky one, especially when you are the guest! I felt very included and that meant so much to me! Thank you!<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/342657561_b2f2188bb4_o.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/342657561_b2f2188bb4_o.jpg" border="0" /></a>Saturday was a Foody Day, which is, naturally, my favorite kind of day! We started off at Wagner's European Bakery & Cafe, which offers German/European style baked goods and coffee.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">We then walked over to the state Capital, wandered up and down it's marble halls and explored the surrounding grounds dotted with various memorials.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Shortly thereafter, we headed to the <a href="http://www.bayviewthriftway.com/">Bayview Market</a> for fresh clam chowder.<br /><br />Now, you might <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=300,height=225,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/deli05.jpg"></a>think it odd to go to a grocery store in search of great chowder, but this was fantastic. And the <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/342657467_6a400b8760.jpg"></a>views from the dining area were beautiful--Marina, Puget <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=300,height=225,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/housewares01.jpg"></a>Sound, and the Olympic Mountains off in the distance. The entire store has a "boutique" feel to it and is loaded with great wines and cookware.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rjt0BlL5vDI/AAAAAAAAAC4/C45lIO5_Ioc/s1600-h/housewares01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060766176791608370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rjt0BlL5vDI/AAAAAAAAAC4/C45lIO5_Ioc/s320/housewares01.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you're a lucky girl, someone might sneak back the next day and buy you the wooden-handled spatulas you were eyeing!</span><span style="font-size:0;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#0099ca;"><strong><em>[Thank you, Owen.]</em></strong></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:0;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">After visiting with family friends, we headed out for the evening's events. If you're looking for an excellent pan-Asian meal, look no further than locally-owned Chopsticks Noodle House in downtown Olympia. I had a great Bento box meal and the Phad Thai was de-lish! Their Garden Fresh Spring Rolls were the largest I'd ever encountered and probably the best, too.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">An annual event with Owen's family involves attending a Harlequin Production at the State Theater, which is a lovely <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rjt0zlL5vEI/AAAAAAAAADA/lGEWFZDH6Rk/s1600-h/img_8854.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060767035785067586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/Rjt0zlL5vEI/AAAAAAAAADA/lGEWFZDH6Rk/s320/img_8854.jpg" border="0" /></a>renovative downtown building. This year's show, <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=533,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/stardust2.jpg"></a>"<span class="BodyHeadline"><em>The Twelfth Night of Stardust,"</em> follows a long-running storyline centered around a 1940s song and dance club called the Stardust. The singing and acting were superb, and the story about love, confusion, and crossed identities was entertaining.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">I almost forgot! We also hit the <a href="http://www.farmers-market.org/">Olympia Farmers Market</a> that day. It's the largest local farmers market in the state, and all products, whether they be produce, soaps, jams, and more, are from Olympia.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Sunday was spent browsing downtown Olympia's wonderful boutiques, such as <a href="http://www.archibaldsisters.com/">Archibald Sisters</a>, Hot Toddy, Hoopla!, and Compass Rose. Sadly, it doesn't seem that anyone in Olympia has heard of the <em>INTERNET </em>or of <em>WEBSITES</em>. One great link I can give, however, is for Dancing Goats coffee, by <a href="http://www.batdorf.com/">Batdorf & Bronson Roasters</a>. </a>You should get yourself some!<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Christmas Day was filled with great food, gift-giving, and fun conversation at Beth's house (Owen's mother). There was lots of lounging involved, and I thoroughly enjoyed looking through old photos. While I have in my possession certain boyfriend's childhood photos that could be used for blackmail (think "too-tight lederhosen" and "cut off short-jean shorts"), in fear of retaliation, I won't post them here. </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Merry Christmas!!<br /></span></em></strong></div></span><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/342658364_f43f2e1162_o.jpg" border="0" />Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511764029148583616.post-10001147311791736612006-12-04T12:21:00.000-06:002007-06-01T13:15:48.278-05:00CHICAGO: Winter Weekend<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBeJ09RspI/AAAAAAAAAHI/AzDMO4BKlXk/s1600-h/40024783.P1040004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071156703346668178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 367px" height="336" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBeJ09RspI/AAAAAAAAAHI/AzDMO4BKlXk/s320/40024783.P1040004.jpg" width="251" border="0" /></a>We popped up to Chicago for for a lovely weekend trip ... although a bit frigid there at the beginning of December! Wait, it's freezing here in Kansas City, too. But, missed home. It's hard being away two weekends back to back.<br /><br />Great to see old friends, and their little kids. Yes, I have to admit, small children <em>can</em> be entertaining. There. I've admitted it.<br /><br />Really, though, it was a lot of fun to spend time with one of my best friends from childhood and be able to see what a wonderful mother she is. It's amazing to see how we change and grow over time. We're the <em>adults</em> now!<br /><br />I came in on Thursday, and Owen arrived after work on Friday. We met up on Friday evening at the <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/chicago_017.jpg"></a>little studio apartment we rented through Craig's List.<br /><br />If you are ever traveling, definitely check out Craig's List or any of the numerous owner-rented properties for the city you are visiting. (I stayed in a great apartment in Brooklyn last year using one of the owner-rental sites. Worked out REALLY well.)<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBZ_E9RsjI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ei_GoR-sB1s/s1600-h/art.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071152120616563250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" height="179" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBZ_E9RsjI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ei_GoR-sB1s/s320/art.jpg" width="242" border="0" /></a>Our little home away from home was located on Dearborn in the <a href="http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/gold-coast-feature.htm">Gold Coast</a> area directly North of downtown Chicago. Very cute place, oh-so reasonable, and great location, as it was just two blocks from the Red Line, and also near Wells Street which has many restaurants, etc.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.3rdcoastcafe.com/">3rd Coast Cafe & Wine Bar</a> is located on the first floor of the building, and it was great to be able to pop <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=266,height=204,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/thirdcoast_1.jpg"></a>down there for breakfast or late-night glasses of wine (along with their $3 late night plates; we had not one, but two orders of bruchetta--lovely mix of tomatoes, red onions, basil, and blue cheese).<br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBa_09RskI/AAAAAAAAAGg/XJO76AuDSfc/s1600-h/2531_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071153233013092930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBa_09RskI/AAAAAAAAAGg/XJO76AuDSfc/s320/2531_2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p>On Friday night, we had dinner at <a href="http://www.topogigiochicago.com/">Topo Gigio</a>'s on Wells St. One definitely needs reservations for many of the restaurants on Wells, so we just sat at the "bar." </p><p><em><span style="color:#006633;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Here you see a photo of the nice, warm, pretty inside of the restaurant ... It is NOT where we sat.</span> </strong></span></em></p><p>The bar area is <del><strong>basically</strong></del> an alley that has been covered and heated (not really). It offers a full-<a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/chicago_020.jpg"></a>service bar, as well as menu and wine list.<br /><br />Aside from the condensation occasionally dripping on me and having to wear my coat, it was great and there was something oddly romantic about eating Italian food and drinking wine in a dark alley! At least that's what I kept telling myself!</p><p>The Eggplant alla Parmigiana was enormous and Owen put himself into a slight coma as a result. I had the <span style="font-family:Arial;">Linguine delle Cinque Terre (pasta with shrimp pesto sauce).</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBbVU9RslI/AAAAAAAAAGo/TQ4N9lfZ8c0/s1600-h/etc_Disposable.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071153602380280402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBbVU9RslI/AAAAAAAAAGo/TQ4N9lfZ8c0/s320/etc_Disposable.jpg" border="0" /></a>Second City is always an easy, guaranteed good time, so we headed off to see "<a href="http://centerstage.net/theatre/articles/disposable-nation.html">Disposable Nation</a>" at Second City e.t.c. <span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/etc_disposable.jpg"></a></span></span></p><blockquote dir="ltr"><p><span style="color:#990000;"><em>“Disposable Nation” takes a look at what – and who – is disposable in America today. Whether it’s deporting those pesky illegal immigrants, ravaging Mother Earth, isolating stem cells, kicking Pluto out of the solar system, or even our mistreatment of that most oppressed minority of all – smokers – The Second City disposes of them all with razor-sharp wit and an irreverent satirical viewpoint.</em></span></p></blockquote><p dir="ltr"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBgFU9RsrI/AAAAAAAAAHY/UfesZ2aL468/s1600-h/babel.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071158825060512434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px" height="234" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBgFU9RsrI/AAAAAAAAAHY/UfesZ2aL468/s320/babel.gif" width="294" border="0" /></a>We rounded out the weekend with hanging out, dinner at a so-so Middle Eastern restaurant, and seeing the movie "<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/babel/">Babel</a>"--which some reviews appropriately called "pretentious." For the most part, I feel like I've seen other similar (and better) movies that focus on cultural and political misunderstandings between people. "Babel" follows several story lines, all of which are connected. The only one that really stood out to me is the one of Chieko, a deaf Japanese teenager whose mother recently committed suicide. The life and pulse of Tokyo is seen, and there are a few amazing moments when you see the world from her point of view ... soundless. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBb8k9RsmI/AAAAAAAAAGw/JCjU0uvxFsI/s1600-h/CRC_051_320x400_web-large.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071154276690145890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LQsarWj8nns/RmBb8k9RsmI/AAAAAAAAAGw/JCjU0uvxFsI/s320/CRC_051_320x400_web-large.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>We enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon coffee & tea break at the <a href="http://waldooiseau.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/ritz_carlton.jpg"></a>Greenhouse, Ritz-Carlton. So often I never think of the restaurants/cocktail areas at hotels! The Greenhouse is a beautiful area with many lounge-y chairs and sofas, and lots of natural light coming in. If you're ever out shopping on Michigan Ave., this is a great place to sit and relax for a bit. </p><p>On Sunday afternoon, just before we headed off to the airport, we determined that Sunday really is the day for satisfying Indian buffet cravings. So, we dined at <a href="http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/44302,0,7639170.venue">India House Restaurant</a>. I almost took a photo of the buffet, simply because it was so beautiful. Just imagine every color of curry, thick creamy sauces, and more. Maybe a little on the pricey side for a buffet, but the atmosphere was great, and the mango ice cream was YUM. (India House, 59 W Grand) </p><p><strong>Perfect ending to the weekend!<br /></strong><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Waldo Oiseauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772923967048834037noreply@blogger.com0