Yesterday’s list of events weren’t too exciting, we got up late knowing we had a late dinner planned at Tujagues where they had special Christmas dinners made for set prices. Thanks Uncle Bill for the Filet Mignon, it was great!! Our first venture was to go across town back to our infamous Cuban restaurant to recover my aunts Alice’s credit card that she notoriously lost. Then there was the Voodoo museum where the guy took our money so that we can tour his bottom floor house of voodoo history and artifacts. After hearing his stories naming all the animals that have free roam in his upstairs house, I’d give him money just to go up there and see those exotic pets.

To complete our Christmas Eve celebrations we attended a Catholic Mass. Not too bad, just as I remembered, a lot of quoting from the book plus standing up and sitting down. After the long winded mass we headed to our Christmas Eve dinner reservation for 5. What a night.

Today was just a lot of chilling around the town house. My sister and I got out for a while so I could scout the area for some more last minute pictures. We walked all the way over to a cemetery but after staying there for a short while we quickly retreated back into our “safe zone.” One because my sister had to find the bathroom and two it was kinda close to the scary parts of town. Retreating back, I wanted to grab a quick bite at the 24/7 place off Bourbon St called Clover Grill. This place was amazing, a smoke filled small little corner grill large enough to hold 15 people. The people were in great spirits (“happy too”), the cook was even singing the Rudolf the Reindeer song. As we were waiting for our food we got to witness an influenced by alcohol customer. After fainting twice there on the floor then people keeping him still on the floor while the ambulance arrived, people on the outside peered in like looking at a freak show at a zoo. He eventually was assisted by two other men and walked down the street to his house. Phew that was crazy…nonetheless the hamburger topped with chili and cheese complete with thin fries was a blissful snack before dinner. It was a great last out on the town meal of the trip.

Yesterday my family plus my aunt from the Maple Syrup State of Vermont all flew into the Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport. Getting a shuttle into the city, we drove across interwinding highways that divided cemeteries from one side of the road to the other. Passing the superdome, it was hard to imagine this place was once a refugee place for all the people who were displaced because of the flood. Every other building below us, I could see there was some type of repair going on, most yards were trashed with debris from repairs.

Getting to our townhouse where we’d spend the next five days, George made sure he diligently explained all the in’s and out’s of the place. He’s lived in N.A. for 15 years and I think from him staying here that long he has fulfilled being a house host and a travel guide. I think a few times we had to get him back on track so that we (“I”) could haul all the luggage up the spiraling 19th century staircase up to the third floor. Ughhh…..

Today was the site-seeing day, we walked down to bourbon street and laughed at the side stores that advertised Voodoo products, some places that gave old authentic Jazz performances and plenty of bars where you can find some nearby drunk on the side of the street holding a beer. We enjoyed some Cafe Au Lait and powdered beignets from the Cafe du Monde. It was packed with people by noon but we fought for a small circle table to claim as ours. The robotic like lines of workers held trays of drinks and donuts snacks, one by one, they would take the next order out to the waiting customers. This went on the whole time we were there.

Our day came to an end after we crossed the whole french quarter to have a surprise cuban meal, something we must always do on every trip, for mom. The meal was great although after narrowing down the ethnicity of the workers in the cuban restaurant, we found out the cooks were at least cubans. The clipper, as a news weather man back home terms it, came right smack through New Orleans that night and made our day come to a quick end. Making it two blocks in the torrential downpour, we called a taxi. Our indian friend took us in no time to a haven place of The Courtyards.

Overall so far, I think New Orleans is great and the people here are very friendly and courteous. I’m not sure if it’s so much as New Orleans dying for tourism but everywhere you look some smiling face is waiting to welcome you into their restaurant.