We're just back from a 3 day visit (my first) to New Orleans. The main purpose of the trip was to check out Tulane University for our son, although halfway through the visit he decided he didn't want to miss the big U.S.C. admitted student reception after all and he took an earlier plane back to Los Angeles, leaving us in New Orleans with the realization he most likely was not going to attend Tulane despite the very generous scholarship that had made it a winner in my wallet heart.
New Orleans was so different from L.A. Our hotel was charming and old world, the food surprising in content and aspect and not all that bad (crawfish, andouille sausage, collar green and jambalaya are all words I learned on the trip.) I was fascinated by all these white tourists letting loose, dancing terribly off beat in the streets and walking around nursing alcohol rather than the usual starbuck. I guess people will travel great distances to Vegas and New Orleans for the privilege of becoming ambulatory drunk.
I don't really drink and walk, but I should have considering my extremely poor choice of shoes. Closed-toe danskin clogs are a terrible, terrible choice in 87 degree, humid Louisiana.
After my son ditched us, we decided it was time to explore the bayou, what else did we have to lose? I loved it. It was at once spooky and stunning, Big Fish and O Brother Where art Thou suffused into one. We pet baby alligators and took a boat driven by a massive 14 year old named ZZ. The fact that he carried a knife the size of a baguette was supposed to reassure me but somehow failed to. I though it was funny that he spent the whole trip enquiring about what life in the Los Angeles jungle was like. To him, that was exotic.
On the way back, our plane was delayed because of the weather (note to self: never, ever fly into or out of Dallas airport in April EVER again) and once we did take off, eventually, five hours later, the turbulence were so awful that one member of the family saw a week-long constipation abruptly turn to its violent opposite, and had absolutely no choice but to climb over the flight attendants's joined hands (in prayer, I kid you not) and spend the most vicious minutes of the turbulence hanging on for dear life in a bathroom that no doubt had to be condemned after that.
Voila, this was my trip. Now I'm safely back home ready to let les bon temps rouler at last.
O M G !!!
Posted by: Feng Shui By Fishgirl | April 25, 2011 at 05:23 PM
How wonderful it is to see your phtographs- i love your show and tell! It all somewhat sounded romantic to me minus the plane ride( it is not fun at all).
it is funny that your son went back to LA, but in away you never know when things become clear in your head and i guess he got his answer when he landed, i am glad though because you guys got to have an impromptu sejourne.
oui, les bon temps roule bieintot!
now i want you travel more because your travel logs are hilarious!
Posted by: nadia | April 25, 2011 at 05:30 PM
hey corrine congrats on getting this far in the college process - grueling - now all that is left is to make the decision by May 1, right! do you have a break of a year or two before the next child?
Posted by: marnie | April 25, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Corine, you're such a crack up!
Glad you all made it back, one way or another.
Posted by: Angie Muresan | April 25, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Merveilleux! Wonderful pictures and indeed a stunning place it is (the bayou)... it tends conjure memories of the Everglades for me, and yet there is something even stronger and more menacing about it... thanks for the post!
Posted by: dorm furniture | April 26, 2011 at 04:08 PM
are you kidding, the food was "not bad"? you need to go back and try again! new orleans food is one of the great glories of american culture. (as i go back for another plate of Paul Prudhomme bread pudding).
welcome home!
Posted by: mlleparadis | April 27, 2011 at 08:12 AM
oh, corine you are so funny! I wish my english was better to understand all your jokes :)
Posted by: alicia | April 28, 2011 at 03:45 PM
Your pictures are amazing.
My son has a few more years before he has to pick a college but I am already learning from your experiences!
Posted by: Nikella | May 01, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Your pics are lovely, these look so good! Thank you, it's been very interestingly.
Posted by: femme | July 07, 2011 at 04:13 AM