Adventures for Anyone

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

There's a Museum for Everything!

I'm taking a little time today to talk about museums. We've all been to the nearest large city's history museum. We've all been dragged to notable museums all over the place to learn about the history of the country, our revolution, the civil war, and whatever dinosaurs may have been wandering around thousands of years ago. When I was young, we did the Philadelphia Freedom Hall thing and the Washington D.C. Smithsonian thing and the Natural History Museum in Chicago and so on.

As a child, I wasn't too fond of museums, unless it was The Henry Ford with its Rouge Tour and Greenfield Village, or The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Point blank, there were cool things to do there.

As an adult, I've discovered something; there's a museum for everything. And, the more offbeat the better. I've visited prisons, military monuments and museums, forts, out of the way art museums, mines, trains, planes, and all sorts of things. I still love The Henry Ford and The Museum of Science and Industry, but there's so much more out there. So, don't say you don't like museums. Maybe you just haven't found the right one yet.

I love Russian stuff, except war. The Hillwood Museum and Estate in Washington D.C. is an out of the way hidden gem. There are tons of items on display that probably shouldn't have ever left Russia, but there they are in all their glory for us to see. Loved it.

I've also spent time looking at all the evidence of aliens at the UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. If you don't think that's interesting, you haven't been there. The famous cemeteries of New Orleans; that's a museum. Not joking. New Orleans does have a VooDoo Museum as well.

No matter what you're interested in or curious about, there's a museum about it. There's a museum down in the Grand Canyon, celebrating the Havasupai who live there. Someone parked a bunch of old military ships and submarines under a bridge in Fall River, Massachusetts and Battleship Cove was born. Fall River is also home to the Lizzie Borden House. Creepy but very cool. Also creepy is the Mutter Museum in Philly. You have to see that one to appreciate it. And, lest I forget, there's more than one museum on top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's beautiful White Mountains. There's also a historic cog railway to take you up to the top where the museums are.

London Bridge is a living museum in Lake Havasu, Arizona. There are any number of Native American Museums around the country. There are farm museums, old civilization museums like Sturbridge Village and Plimouth Plantation. There are all kinds of museums. In Connecticut, where I live, we have a number of trolley museums, The Barnum Museum of the Circus, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Mystic Seaport, and so many other specialty museums. Lake Compounce is a living museum with roller coasters to ride. All you have to do is look.

Most sports have a hall of fame and museum. Basketball is in Springfield, MA. Baseball is in Coopertown, NY. Football is in Canton, OH. Hockey is in Toronto, Canada. Indy Car Racing is in Indianapolis, IN. NASCAR is in Charlotte, NC. If music is more your thing, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, OH, as is The Christmas Story House; also a museum.

The Clark is an art school and museum, tied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and you can't really even find it if you don't know where it is. They have Monets. Not joking. And all of the Dutch Masters. You can visit various Frank Lloyd Wright locations around the country; all museums. Homes from the Vanderbilts to Mark Twain to JFK and beyond are all museums to tour. There's a Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, MA. Lots of fun. Provincetown, MA has a pirate museum. The Hemingway House in Key West, FL is a museum with six toed cats. There's something for everyone.

Tower on a mountain top? Hubleing Museum, CT. Steamtown in Scranton, PA? Museum. Coal mines, observatories, The Alamo, Alcatraz? All museums. Mount St. Helen's has a museum. Fairbanks, AK has a gold mining museum. Sault Ste. Marie has a museum of the locks. Mackinac Island, MI? Living museum. You can't even drive a car there. You want to see what being Dutch was like? Go to Holland, MI. King Kamehameha's Palace is a museum in Hawaii. They're everywhere, and there are so many kinds.

Bowling Green, KY? The National Corvette Museum, complete with sinkhole. Surprise! Broadway in Nashville? It's all basically a museum, and there's a lot of little museums in the neighborhood. Don't forget the Grand Ole Opry, the original building. That's a museum too.

Pretty much every town and every county has a museum. If you happen to be in a town, and wonder what went on there or why the town was ever created, there's probably a museum to explain that. It's something that we use as a fallback plan for rainy days while traveling, but it's interesting. I went to visit my son in Lima, OH. It poured. We went to the county museum and learned about why the town exists. It was interesting, and I don't know how someone got a train engine in the little museum.

So, don't rule out the museum. If you're interested in something like the history of nuclear testing and atomic bombs; there's a museum for that in Las Vegas, NV. I promise you, there's a museum for everything; even the witch hunts in Salem, MA. There are museums about everything. Shipwrecks, magic, earthquakes, paddle wheel boats, American Girl Dolls, and so on and so on.

So, if you're planning a vacation this summer, remember that it can't be sunny and beautiful out all the time, so museums are a great back up plan. Wherever you go for your vacation, look and see what kind of museums are around. Who knows? A Ripley's Believe it or Not can be a lot of fun. And, it can turn a rainy family vacation into a whole new adventure.

So, pack your kids, your bags and your back up plan and enjoy!

https://www.corvettemuseum.org/

https://www.johnnycashmuseum.com/

https://armstrongmuseum.org/

https://www.hillstead.org/

https://www.profootballhof.com/

https://www.packers.com/lambeau-field/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-inc

https://baseballhall.org/

https://www.rockhall.com/

https://www.hoophall.com/

https://www.hhof.com/

https://countrymusichalloffame.org/

https://www.thealamo.org/

https://www.pequotmuseum.org/

https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/#

https://muttermuseum.org/

https://www.thehenryford.org/

https://www.msichicago.org/

https://coalminetournepa.com/

https://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm

https://www.fotografiska.com/

https://barnum-museum.org/

https://www.ripleys.com/atlanticcity/

https://www.osv.org/

https://expeditionwhydah.ecwid.com/

https://www.museumoficecream.com/new-york-city

https://imsmuseum.org/

https://www.roswellufomuseum.com/

https://titanichistoricalsociety.org/titanic-museum/

https://hillwoodmuseum.org/

https://lizzie-borden.com/

https://gallowshillsalem.com/

https://www.keywestshipwreck.com/key-west-museums

https://www.vanderbiltmuseum.org/

https://voodoomuseum.com/

https://www.neonmuseum.org/

http://thehollywoodmuseum.com/

https://www.coneyisland.com/programs/coneyislandmuseum

https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/attractions/cemeteries/

https://golddaughters.com/mining-museum

https://www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org/

https://sites.evergreen.edu/naturalhistory/mount-saint-helens/

https://www.califrt66museum.org/

https://www.visitnasa.com/

https://musnaz.org/on-view/native-peoples-of-the-colorado-plateau/havasupai/

https://www.battleshipcove.org/

https://www.saulthistoricsites.com/museum-ship-valley-camp/

https://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm

https://www.mountwashington.org/visit-us/weather-station-tours.aspx

https://easttexasoilmuseum.kilgore.edu/

https://marktwainhouse.org/

https://www.clarkart.edu/

https://www.nascarhall.com/

https://nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/

https://www.niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org/

https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-distillery

https://www.spymuseum.org/

https://www.madmuseum.org/events/cbgb

https://www.atlasobscura.com/categories/museums

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

With One Last Notable Stop...Nashiville!

I have to say that by the time we reached Nashville, Tennessee on our cross country odyssey, I was sick from exhaustion, the weather was finally getting fairly warm and sunny, and we were on our last notable stop.

Did I, by any chance, stay in my room and rest? Nope. I took a covid test, which was negative. I took another one, which was negative. Then I realized that I could taste and didn't have a fever, so I said screw it, I'm in Nashville.

Nashville was kind of my husband's stop. I've been there a few times, even for work at one point. My husband is a huge "American Pickers" fan, so we had to stop and check out Antique Archaeology in Nashville. They have multiple stores, but they definitely have one there.

The store was in an old Marathon car factory just south of downtown and Broadway. The building has several unique shops to visit and some food options as well. The common areas between stores in the hallways are museum like exhibits of some of the old machinery and fixtures from the factory days. It is a beautiful building, beautifully preserved and an interesting stop away from most of the fuss in town.

Antique Archaeology is an interesting shop, however, most of the merchandise that's for sale are souvenirs. There are a lot of items on display that aren't for sale, and the odds that you'll see anyone who appears on the show are next to none. That's the way it always is if you visit a store or restaurant or any venue that is shown on TV. The owners and persons on camera very rarely are in the venues.

Following our nice and very interesting visit to Antique Archaeology and the Marathon Factory, we headed downtown to what has come to be known as Broadway.

Broadway is the historic, very musical neighborhood directly downtown in Nashville. It basically is a few blocks wide, up and down the hill and runs from the Cumberland River with the Titans Nissan Stadium just across the way to the east to the Predators Bridgestone Stadium at the west end. In between are enough western stores, country music museums, barbecue joints, souvenir shops, and bars with live music to keep you busy for days.

I will be perfectly honest, Broadway is busy. I don't care when you go there or what you intend to do. There were absolutely no signs of the pandemic anywhere, and when we arrived at one in the afternoon; well, most people were already a little bit drunk. I was blown away by that one, because even in New Orleans, they didn't really start drinking until late afternoon.

There will not be any street parking available. Best option is to park in the parking garage at the west end of the area by the hockey arena and just walk. I felt like crap that day, but walking was still the better way to go.

There are rules on Broadway. First and foremost is pay your tab! Oh my God! I saw signs about what happens if people don't settle their tab in every store, bar, restaurant and even in the parking garage there were warnings that if you didn't settle the bill in time, you would be charged for a whole 24 hour day. My guess is that there's problems with people settling bills. So, pay, will ya?

Fact, a lot of musicians got their start in the Broadway neighborhood. We stopped a few places and listened to the music. There's some fabulous live music there. It's worth dealing with crowds and crowded bars. We heard some good stuff.

We also had some good food. I can't say it enough. When you're traveling, try the local cuisine. In Nashville it's barbecue, wings, and barbecue wings. There are dozens of ways to try these things, and there were fewer pizza places on Broadway than anywhere else we visited. I found it refreshing.

We found a Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline museum. We saw a lot of interesting things. We shopped for boots and cowboy hats, because Nashville is famous for selling them. We talked to the people and saw a lot of art and arts and crafts for sale on the scene. It was a fascinating culture and a culture shock to us old people. Broadway is largely a young person's venue. Most of us old people can't drink like that.

We did find that all the drinking has brought about some interesting facts that you to will discover if you head out to Broadway. It's hard to find a draught beer. In most places you buy beer by the can or bottle. Not sure why that is, but it's common in the neighborhood. In several of the restaurants there are no choices of sides with your food. A side is assigned to nearly every meal and that's what comes with it. No substitutions. Be aware. Crowds are a way of life. No one is concerned about a pandemic, and if you are, don't go there. Always take your receipt. Everyplace gives a paper receipt and you don't want to leave any personal information sitting around.

Now, I am going to leave out some things about Nashville. It was too early and chilly to think about going to Opryland to catch a river cruise. It is a great resort and they have a great boat cruise on the river. We didn't take any of the multitude of tours available. If you are in Nashville and have some time there, by all means, take a tour. There are tons of them and they go to fascinating places and do interesting things. I recommend it, and it's not real expensive to take a tour in Nashville. There are a lot of cities that have far more expensive local tours. If you get a chance, check out a sporting event. The venues are great in Nashville.

And that's what we did. We headed down to the west part of the neighborhood and went to see the Predators play the Pittsburgh Penguins on the ice. My husband is a huge Penguins fan, and the timing was great. They just happened to be playing on the one night we were in town.

Inside Bridgestone Arena is a little museum honoring several local sports and athletes. It was interesting, but on to the main event. To be honest, it is worth checking out. We took some time before the game and looked around.

Notes. For one thing, don't be stupid like me. It was actually nice out that day, so I wasn't wearing a coat for the first time since I left Arizona. Why I didn't think about it, I don't know. Always wear a coat or other warm clothing to a hockey game. It's self explanatory, but I mention it anyway.

I don't talk about going to sporting events often, because we don't go often. However, it was an irresistible stop in Nashville. I recommend going to live sports events. Most sports I don't watch on television, but give me an opportunity to go to the game, and I'm there. You just don't get the real experience at home. If you've never gone, go. Whether it's hockey, football, baseball, basketball, soccer or whatever. If you can, go. You won't regret it.

Unfortunately for my husband, the Penguins lost that night. But, we had a really good time, despite my being cold and sick. It was still worth it.

Nashville is a busy city all day, all night. There's so much going on that one day just doesn't do it justice. If you like a multitude of options for activities, it's a great place. No matter what your preference is, they've got something that caters to it. I didn't have enough time or energy to show my husband all that the city has to offer. I wish that we'd been able to stay longer.

So, if you're traveling across the country, Nashville is a great stop. You can eat, drink, dance, and enjoy!

https://www.nhl.com/predators

https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/nsh/nashville-predators

https://www.tennesseetitans.com/

https://www.milb.com/nashville

https://www.nashvillesc.com/

https://www.nashvillekangaroos.org/

https://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/NashvilleTN/activity/?msclkid=7ba5b48532af1bcdc0f3d6eca03255b6

https://www.visitacity.com/en/nashville/activities/all-activities?campaginid=418228910&adgroupid=1289727522163115&targetid=kwd-80608188424415:loc-190&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Nashville%20ActivitiesM%20G-US-In-US&utm_term=nashville%20guided%20tour&utm_content=guided%20tour

https://tickets-center.com/search?kwds=Grand+Ole+Opry&venueId=665&venueId=1484&tagid=233&nid=2&accid=140078697&cid=71880695309928&kwid=71881133147209&akwd=grand%20ole%20opry%20tickets&dmt=b&bmt=bb&dist=s&uq=nashville%20broadway&device=c&ismobile=false&msclkid=763bbd65b52f13f5d540df0c27fd15e7&loc_physical_ms=44736&loc_interest_ms=64811&exid=&vx=0

https://nashville.broadway.com/

https://nashvilledowntown.com/go/broadway

https://www.trolleytours.com/nashville/broadway

https://www.broadwaynashville.com/

https://belleairmansion.com/blog/nashville-broadway-street/

https://herlifeinruins.com/nashville-broadway/

https://thetravelingmoore.com/restaurants-in-nashville-on-broadway/

https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?aid=803588;label=msn-Jb_rez91Yi4pvkb6pkCExQ-80058231552717%3Atikwd-17108961215%3Aloc-190%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp44736%3Adec%3Aqsnashville%20places%20to%20stay%20downtown;sid=c124479d0d6cc3b159e64c280f509756;dest_id=2626;dest_type=district;from_district=1;keep_landing=1;redirected=1;source=district&msclkid=f34cd5e983eb13ec505db780107ed038&utm_campaign=Accommodation%20-%20United%20States%20of%20America&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=Jb_rez91Yi4pvkb6pkCExQ&

https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?SEMDTL=a1392812617.b11322713613608969.g1kwd-82670119267138%3Aloc-190.l1.e1c.m1.r1946612db7c237beef592cd7155070728fe642af3f52d84295740eaf307a94cd1.c1Ky2diyOHjgAbPp5cJo3ZNQ.j144736.k164811.d1.h1e.i1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&destination=Downtown%20Nashville%2C%20Nashville%2C%20Tennessee%2C%20United%20States%20of%20America&endDate=2022-05-12&locale=en_US&msclkid=41d1d710a8811f9ac3aab5793b14db15&regionId=6059741&semcid=US.UB.BING.DT-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=&siteid=1&sort=RECOMMENDED&startDate=2022-05-11&theme=&useRewards=true&userIntent=&utm_campaign=BEX%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3ADL%3AAMER%3AUSA%3ATN%3A244%3AMCY%3ANashville%3A178291%3ACL%3A&utm_content=BEX%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3ADT%3AAMER%3AUSA%3ATN%3ANashville%3A178291%3ADowntown_Nashville%3A6059741%3Aaccommodation%3A&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=lodging%20downtown%20nashville

https://www.vrbo.com/search/keywords:nashville-tn-usa/filter:33?k_clickid=&ds_cid=71700000081827126&ds_kids=p62629457645&ds_kid=39700062629457645&ksprof_id=700000002196404&ksdevice=c&ktarget=dat-2324367581350296:loc-190&kloct=64811&klocf=44736&ds_aid=58700006953731364&ha_t=:o:&&msclkid=5ea6fc793957182bd1459e10aac22dcd&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=VRB%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3ADL%3AGLOB%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3ASEO%3A&utm_term=vrbo.com%2Fsearch%2Fkeywords%3A%20usa&utm_content=VRB%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3ADT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AXX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3ASEO%3A&gclid=5ea6fc793957182bd1459e10aac22dcd&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Nashville_TN/n-downtown-nashville/

https://www.thingsinnashville.com/downtown-nashville-hotels/

https://www.nashvilleboots.com/

https://www.trailwestnashville.com/

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/tennessee/articles/best-places-to-find-cowboy-boots-nashville/

https://www.bettyboots.com/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/nashville/activities/all-activities?activitiesCategoryId=133617&campaginid=418228908&adgroupid=1280931429275331&targetid=kwd-80058432447289:loc-190&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Nashville%20ActivitiesC1X%20G-US-In-US&utm_term=nashville%20pub%20tour&utm_content=Pub%20Tours

https://everybodylovesnashville.com/nashville-broadway-bars-the-honky-tonk-guide/

https://styleblueprint.com/nashville/everyday/rooftop-bars-in-nashville-on-lower-broadway/

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=bars&find_loc=Downtown%2C+Nashville%2C+TN

https://www.thestageonbroadway.com/

https://thetravelingmoore.com/best-country-bars-in-nashville/

https://www.opentable.com/s?lang=en-us&covers=2&ref=15187&SP=ppc_b_us_nontm&mt=p&bmt=bb&oiid=76004079248419&aid=1216060272956744&adid=76003879327808&tid=kwd-76004079248419:loc-190&d=c&nw=o&cmpid=382368266&msclkid=3d549059f0d91219a345f23065914e38

https://nashville.eater.com/maps/best-downtown-restaurants-nashville-where-to-eat

https://www.getyourguide.com/broadway-nashville-l113072/museums-exhibitions-tc132/

https://www.visitmusiccity.com/things-to-do-in-nashville/attractions/museums

https://theescapegame.com/blog/13-best-nashville-museums-to-visit/

https://nashvilledowntown.com/explore/destinations/arts-and-entertainment/museums

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/nashville/free-museums-nashville/

https://visitdowntownnashville.com/top-5-bbq-joints-in-nashville/

https://smokegears.com/best-bbq-in-nashville/

https://www.boxofficeticketsales.com/grand-ole-opry-house?msclkid=8befbfdef30216ce2e47ddb76558b555&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=**National%20Venue%20%7C%20Head%20Keywords%20%7C%20Exact&utm_term=nashville%20grand%20ole%20opry&utm_content=Grand%20Ole%20Opry%20House%20%3E%201211

https://www.opry.com/

https://www.nashville.com/attractions/grand-ole-opry/

https://joyrideus.com/nashville/?msclkid=e60067c7ac6f14a76a2905ae3ada4bb3&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NSH%20-%20Search%20-%20Counter-Branding&utm_term=gray%20line%22%20%22nashville&utm_content=NSH%20-%20C%2FB%20Search%20-%20Grayline%20Tours

https://www.opry.com/venue/ryman-auditorium/

https://www.visitmusiccity.com/explore-nashville/neighborhoods/opryland-music-valley

https://www.travelchannel.com/destinations/us/tn/nashville/photos/what-to-do-at-gaylord-opryland

https://www.getyourguide.com/-l1279/-tc48/?cmp=bing&campaign_id=377864099&adgroup_id=1249045805944774&target_id=kwd-78065696559169%3Aaud-806416215%3Aloc-190&match_type=e&ad_id=78065510515698&msclkid=7eeb735131381b51e52c1138a6754c3b&loc_physical_ms=44736&feed_item_id=&keyword=nashville%20tn%20river%20cruise&partner_id=CD951&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=dc%3D8%3Aus%7Clc%3D1279%3Anashville%7Cct%3Dcore%7Cln%3D29%3Aen%7Ctc%3Dus&utm_term=nashville%20tn%20river%20cruise&gclsrc=3p.ds&utm_content=lc%3D1279%3Anashville%7Cfn%3Df4%7Cci%3D1118%3Aboat%20tour

https://generaljackson.com/

https://www.antiquearchaeology.com/locations.php

https://www.visitmusiccity.com/local-business/antique-archaeology-nashville

https://parking.com/nashville/neighborhoods/broadway?lot_id=&showListOnly=0&view=daily&sw&ne&facility&valet&general=&displayFullCity=0&start=2022-04-27T15%3A00&stop=2022-04-27T17%3A00

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

The Myth, the Legend...New Orleans!

No trip in a car across the southern tier of the United States would be complete without a stop in New Orleans, Louisiana. Strangely, I've never pursued a trip to this part of the country before. A reminder that this entire trip was unplanned and a necessity. However, that being said; New Orleans has long been on my bucket list.

The mystique of the amazing city of New Orleans has always lured me to it. My husband and I met over 25 years ago, and I wanted to attend Mardi Gras, but he didn't think it was feasible. All these years later, we visited the famed city after Mardi Gras, during the high holy season. We didn't know what to expect, with our one day in the city being a Sunday during Lent.

We arrived in Slidell from San Antonio. Where is Slidell, you might ask? Well, it's across the lake. Lake Ponchartrain. There are many things that go with the legend of New Orleans, and one of them is a certain amount of trepidation.

New Orleans is that mystical, below sea level city, precariously awaiting hurricanes and floods a lot of the year. In recent decades, there have been such storms as Katrina and the city has had to fix levees, repair parishes, restore businesses, and reinvent itself more than once. Lake Ponchartrain is the holder of the water, and perches precariously above the city. We drove across it on one heck of a bridge to get from our hotel in Slidell to downtown New Orleans.

As we drove down from the lake, into the city, we saw the world of New Orleans unfold before us. It's a beautiful city, vibrant and full of people and businesses. They have colleges, a luxury shopping district, fancy hotels, and all sorts of places to spend money. They even have a casino. You can catch a riverboat cruise, book a swamp cruise, or visit the world famous French Quarter.

What to do with one day in this famed city? For one thing, I promise you will spend you day above ground. New Orleans sits below sea level by 20 feet or so, so there are no subways, underground passageways, or any of that. As most of you probably know, there are also above ground cemeteries. They are famous the world over.

Here's what we did.

We found a self park that had a working pay station in the French Quarter. We were advised by the lovely people at our hotel not to use any valet parking that is offered in the downtown area. Apparently, the attendants will go through your car and your things in your car. They don't even deny it. We also made sure that the pay station worked before we parked in the lot where we parked. They keep a stack of boots for cars right in the parking lot, and if you don't pay, that's your fault and your car will be booted until you pay. So make sure your pay station works. Don't leave your car in a lot unless it does.

From all of that, we walked down to the waterfront from there and took the streetcar that was earmarked for Canal Street. This was a great ride. For $1.25 we took the trolley up one of the main drags of the city. We got to see everything, and when we reached the end of the line, we were at the world famous cemeteries.

From there, we walked all around the above ground cemeteries, which are all in the same general place. We admired the artwork and enjoyed the weather, which for the first time in our trip was moderate. The rest of the trip I'd either had to or wanted to wear my parka. After a lovely walk, we went to a great place next to the streetcar station and got a coffee. We sat and relaxed until a trolley became available, and for another $1.25 we rode back to the center of the city. We rode through the college, by the casino and shopping district. It was a great city tour for $2.50. Can't beat that.

We originally arrived in the French Quarter in the late morning. I won't lie. I thought that all of my impressions of the area had been filtered for maximum impression. I looked around and saw what appeared to be a bunch of dilapidated buildings and rough narrow streets. The classic iron railings above were cute, but there was garbage around and virtually no people. At that time, they still had mandates in the city about covid, and one of those was that you had to show proof of vaccination to enter pretty much anywhere. It seemed strict and harsh and a little smelly. Won't lie.

I'd spent a lifetime dreaming of what the French Quarter would be like, and I was quite frankly heartbroken. It wasn't what I expected at all. That was when we headed for the waterfront and took off on the streetcar to look at the cemeteries. Fortunately, those things offset my disappointment at the French Quarter.

But, don't despair. We then went back to the French Quarter. It was late afternoon at that point, and suddenly there were people all over the place. There was life. Garbage had been picked up. Suddenly, this neighborhood felt laid back, comfortable and friendly. It was a completely different vibe from the morning.

And those dilapidated buildings? There's a lot of historical society requirements about those. They do what they can without breaking the rules. We finally decided to go inside some places, and they were awesome. The inside is meticulously maintained and sometimes quite modern. Little did I know from my first impression that the French Quarter was kept up beautifully. It became welcoming in the afternoon. Suddenly, it all reminded me of Las Vegas. The world sleeps during the day and comes out at night.

We began to stop and get something to drink here and there. No, not alcohol in the afternoon, but most people were. By late afternoon, we were beginning to think about dinner. We'd been trying to eat the local specialties as we visited different areas, so in New Orleans; I wanted to try Crawfish or crawdads.

I wanted to try a boil with the in shell crawfish and do it up right. So, we began our journey. What we came to discover was that most people didn't want to work that hard, and Crawfish Etouffee was the preferred dish. It was a soup or stew made with the famed Cajun crustacean. Once we determined what we wanted to order for dinner, it was time for dinner.

We followed the sound to find a place to eat dinner. We walked toward the music. We noticed the drumming. We followed the people. At last, after 25 years, we found ourselves standing in the odyssey of Bourbon Street.

We found a lovely restaurant with the dishes that we yearned to try. With a little southern hospitality, some local decor, and some hot sauce; we had a great dinner and got to sample crawfish. It was delicious, and a tip of the hat to the locals. It was kind of cool not to have to figure out how to get them out of the shells.

We hung out at the restaurant and watched a few people celebrating bachelorette parties and birthdays. It was fun to see them in groups going crazy. I like to live vicariously through young people.

When we left the restaurant, we stepped out into the Bourbon Street of legend that I've heard about my entire life. Lights, people, music, drums, street performers, bands in bars, dancing, and everything you've ever heard about Bourbon Street. The balconies were filling up, the booze was flowing from stands in the street. it was the world's biggest party, and for the first time ever; I was attending that party.

We had a lot of fun that night. Now, I'm not much of a drinker, so I had a couple of beers. But, I sang, I danced, and I had a great time. I met people from all over on Bourbon Street. I heard all kinds of music, saw all kinds of performances, and truly relaxed for the first time in weeks. That night, after all I'd been through in recent weeks; I felt like I deserved that night out.

The one thing that did not happen on Bourbon Street was meeting the locals. Save for I presume a few waitstaff and bartenders, there were no locals. Everyone I met, even the performers, were not from New Orleans. Most people I met were from Colorado, New York, Florida, and Texas. The French Quarter is not a place for locals. It's an entire section of town nearly %100 visited by tourists. Know that before you go. You are hanging out with an entire group of people who have no reputation to protect in New Orleans.

That being said, when the horses start to come to Bourbon Street, it's time to go. I don't know what happened after we left. I'm going to take a wild guess that I don't want to know.

New Orleans. I had a great time. I'm old, so my great time may not be as intense as someone half my age. Was I stunned that the trees were still filled with Mardi Gras beads? A little. Was I shocked that Bourbon Street was crazy on a Sunday during high holy season? Somewhat. Was it everything that I always imagined it would be? Absolutely. Am I glad I went? Without a doubt.

New Orleans is a city that lives in extremes. It's below sea level and always waiting for the next disaster. It's a diminished city after Katrina hit and a lot of people have trouble getting by still today. There's a definite element of minor crime, so watch your stuff. It's a one of a kind place with one of a kind sights to see, one of a kind experiences to have, and one of a kind food to eat. It's almost like a trip to another country. It's a city with some of the most amazing history anywhere in the country. It's a casual city with friendly people, if you see them. You won't find locals on Bourbon Street.

All I can say is that I'm so excited that I finally got to visit this bucket list spot. I wasn't disappointed in any way at the end of the day. So, pack your bags, and a lot of money, and your vaccine card. Come to New Orleans and experience the mystique, the legend; enjoy!

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