Trip to New Orleans

People often use a picture of St. Louis Cathedral to represent New Orleans.
Our second night there, we were walking around in the Quarter, and I took the picture above. It, too, is a picture of St. Louis Cathedral, but it was taken from the back of the church. I think it is very powerful....

I am having to backtrack a little bit here....

In mid-February, Brad presented a lecture at a medical conference in New Orleans. Of course, not being able to resist, I insisted on going with him. :) We had a blast! We were there Wednesday through Sunday and had a wonderful time! Many thanks to Dede and Gigi for tag-teaming and babysitting the girls back in Augusta!

Brad and I did many things while we were in New Orleans. It was my good friend, Melissa's 30th birthday while we were there, so we were lucky enough to be there for her party and get to see her sisters, Stephanie and Mandy, as well ~ also wonderful friends; they might as well be our Family! Regretfully, I do not have pictures from that night, but I am hoping to get them from Steph or Missy. Anyway, we had fun visiting, eating at Jacques Imo's, and going out afterwards.

Our first night there, we met Melissa and Jeff out for a quick dinner and drinks at Superior Grille. Thursday, we had lunch at Commander's Palace (Brad's first time ever!), and to walk off our amazing meal, we walked around Uptown for quite a while. Of course we walked through the cemetery and visited some other landmarks Uptown. We ate at Acme that night ~ so yummy! On Friday, we had breakfast at Cafe du Monde and met the Wilson girls, Jeff, and baby Banks (SO PRECIOUS!!!) for lunch at Domilise's ~ the world's best poboys! Brad returned to the hotel to prepare for his lecture, and I shopped on Magazine with the girls. After that, I was able to attend Brad's lecture, which was really terrific! That night was the party and dinner at Jacques Imo's. On Saturday, we ate at Camillia Grille and walked around Uptown around the Carrollton area. Then we headed down for an afternoon Mardi Gras parade ~ again, Brad's very first one! We ran into an old friend of mine, Beau Bethune, during the parade, and we stopped for drinks along the way at The Columns.

The trip was over entirely too quickly. We piddled around in the Quarter on Sunday, ate a good lunch, and had to catch a plane that afternoon. We are already looking forward to our next trip, which hopefully won't be too far away!

La Fayette Cemetery No. 1
(I always love cemetery pictures ~ especially in New Orleans!)

Brad loved his first Mardi Gras!!
(Watch out, Beau! I am sure he will be calling about next year! :) )

I have always loved looking up into the trees at all of the beads during and after Mardi Gras ~ I just wish they showed up better in pictures!

Commander's Palace

The Columns

View of the parade from the porch at The Columns

At Camillia Grille ~ made from several of the notes left on the building, begging the historic restaurant to reopen, after Hurricane Katrina

Beau ~ I promised you that you'd make the blog! :)

A Streetcar

Audubon Park
I spent hours here when I lived in New Orleans, studying for my certification exam, reading, walking Stanley....

My first house ~ 7922 Willow Street

My second house ~ 1838-A Upperline Street

As always, we can't wait to go back!!