New Orleans had more suprises in store for us over the next few days. We followed every guide book’s suggestion and went to Cafe du Monde for their breakfast of beignets (SUPER sugary donuty things) and strong syrupy chicory coffee. While we hate following guide books religiously, we definitely agree this is something you HAVE to do! Once we were sufficiently high on sugar we went to explore the French Market and did a walking tour of the French Quarter by ourselves. The energy of the city obviously began to rub off on us as before days end, I had a new tattoo, Andy had consumed a number of hand grenades and we saw the most fantastic drag show.
Cafe du Monde has been around since 1862 and is open 24 hours a day!
The beignets are covered in a thick layer of icing sugar which is nearly impossible not to spill all over yourself as you bite into the hot, freshly fried donut.
Strangely, Joan of Arc lives in the park by the French Market.
New Orleans is know for its Cajun amd Creolo cuisine and had some pretty weird snacks including alligator sausage(which was NOT up our vegan alley)!
From the French Market we went on a little walking tour of the city admiring and taking (lots) of photos of the beautiful houses and apartments.
Our tour had the soundtrack of a big brass band that was playing in the nearby Jackson Square.
Vampires. ghouls and haunted apartments are all part of the charm of the French Quarter.
The steamboat Natchez is now a (really expensive) tourist boat but was once the only way passenger traveled up and down the Mississippi! This and the streetcar that still runs in town gives a wonderful glimpse into how the city once ran.
Its not an exaggeration that EVERY bar or restaurant you walk past has a band playing. Not just lame covers by mediocre musicians, but really great music that threatens to lure you into every bar you walk past. Which I guess is the idea…
I have longed wish that I had got a little commemorative tattoo in every country I have visited but I have never had the chance as we are always too busy. This time around, and with the need and desire to commemorate not only this trip but my Roller Derby World Cup experience, myself and my friend Ash got these neat skulls with a Fleur de Lis top hat and our derby numbers in them. While we were getting them done, there was another camera crew at the shop filming an episode for some show call the Fat and the Furious. So if you ever watch that show, who knows, you may spot us in the background!
Andy, Mark and Teri hitting some Hand Grenades while they waited for us to get our tats done and getting themselves all excited for the drag show we were going to later that night.
Our pile of dollar bills to give to the performers who were sometimes shockingly beautiful. While the guys were intially hesitant, they really got into the spirit of it and by the end both Andy and Mark were loving the drag queens! But really, how could you not?! look at them…
