As my profile states, I love extraordinary, experiential,
change your life travel and I crave memorable experiences that are uniquely
mine. What this usually means is taking
a trip to somewhere I’ve never been and experiencing a culture that is new to
me – new people, new foods, new customs, etc.
I typically return from these experiences changed and hopeful … and just
a little bit tired. 😏 So, I am also a big believer in returning to my favorite places year after
year. I like to dig a bit deeper each time I come back and see a familiar face
with fresh eyes and new discoveries. For me, there are
two places that fit this description and are dear to my heart – Maine and
New Orleans. I am lucky enough to visit both of these places each year and each
time is as memorable as the first. And
each time I visit I walk away with a deeper understanding of the place.
We try to visit New Orleans in the spring or the fall when the humidity is a bit less of a concern. We just returned from our most recent
trip to the Crescent City. We stayed in
a fantastic Airbnb near the corner of Esplanade and Royal. I think this may have been the best location
we have stayed in yet! We were close to
the shopping and restaurants in the Quarter, and also very close to the late
night entertainment of Frenchman St. People who know me are often surprised when I
tell them how much I enjoy New Orleans as I am not much of a partier – but Nola
is so much more than that. In fact, I barely cross Bourbon Street when I am
there. But what I do love is the people, the music, the art, the architecture, the vibe –
and of course the food!
We have our regular haunts that we visit while in town like Coop’s for jambalaya and fried
chicken, Tujague’s for gumbo and a Pimm’s cup, Port of Call for a burger, or the Red Truck Art Gallery. But we also try to get further afield to experience some new spots too – like Miss
Linda’s Yakamein, Stein’s Market & Deli on Magazine Street, or Pho Tau Bay
near Tulane. As for entertainment, it
goes without saying that the live music scene in New Orleans can’t be beat. We’ve been lucky enough to catch
Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffin, and the Rebirth Brass Brand live. We get just as excited to see some of our
lesser known favorites too – like Corey Henry, Lynn Drury, and Chris
Christy. They are all unbelievably talented, and it feels so special to see them
perform live because you can’t believe more people don’t know how incredible
they are.
It’s hard to describe how New Orleans captured a piece of my
heart, but it’s the whole package... I love the grittiness of the city. I love the
old world feel of the architecture. I love how Nola seems to support all things
quirky and creative. I love the unparalleled talent in their kitchens and their
music venues. They embrace life and celebrate each moment with gusto – whether
it is tossing actual heads of cabbage in a St. Patrick’s Day parade, a second
line celebrating life and death, or one of a million music or food festivals. It
is a come as you are kind of place. And that ethos overflows into the streets and
permeates their people and how they welcome visitors. You always feel welcome – and I just feel
like I “fit” there.
Even though I just returned… I can’t wait to go back.
No comments:
Post a Comment