NOLA – Random Thoughts
NOLA, The Big Easy, The Crescent City……..New Orleans. I just recently got back from a quick weekend trip there and thought it’s a good idea to share the experience while my memory is still fresh.
I packed for the trip on Thursday night so Friday after work I just grabbed my backpack and headed straight to the airport. Since I didn’t have any luggage to check in and it was a local flight, I used the mobile boarding pass on my phone; the TSA security line was a breeze thanks to Global Entry and I was through in a few minutes ….only to find out that my flight was delayed by 30 minutes….then another 30 minutes and another 30 minutes. The part I hate about this is that they keep “feeding” you delays in 30 minute increments so you can’t really plan your time and just sit there hoping the “new” departure time is actually for real this time. Anyways, by the time I landed and got to my hotel I was exhausted – a quick bite + beer at the hotel bar and I called it a night. The Country Inn hotel was unremarkable and the room was a bit outdated, but since I got in around midnight and was checking out the next morning, it did the job – a bed to sleep in and a shower.
On Saturday morning I checked out and walked to the other hotel – Monteleone, where I was going to spend my second night. I wanted to see if it was possible to check in early (regular check in was at 4pm). The guy at the check-in counter turned out to be Serbian, so I nicely asked him if he was by any chance related to Aleksandar Đorđević (Lithuania’s #1 enemy of the 20th century) and advised him that I was entitled to early check in because of the “good old times,” especially the 1995 EuroBasket. He agreed with me 100% and told me the earliest he could do was 12pm. I left my backpack, went to the nearby Cafe Beignet for coffee/breakfast and spent some time checking out the art galleries on Royal Street.
“The French Quarter’s more refined and elegant epicenter of local art. Royal Street is an eye-pleasing mix of classy antique shops, boutiques, fine jewelry stores, colorful art galleries and world-class hotels and restaurants.”
I believe it’s one of the oldest streets in the city and one of the “must do’s” when in New Orleans: a perfect place to watch street performers, grab a bite or spend your money at one of the many shops. Just keep in mind that all of the art/jewelry will be expensive, very expensive – not the place where I would go shopping. Overall it’s a nice street for a morning or afternoon stroll – I liked the atmosphere of the area and would definitely recommend spending some time there.
Once I received a call from the hotel confirming my room was ready, I headed back to the hotel, got my room keys, took my backpack to the room and went to the rooftop to spend some time by the pool. The room was of the smaller size but very cozy and well maintained. The hotel bar, the city’s only revolving bar as they claim, looked super cool; later that night I realized that Sazerac and the Merry-go-round don’t go well together, it makes me dizzy. I don’t think I would pay full price to get a room there, but overall hotel Monteleone is a very nice property.
After getting my dose of vitamin D for the day, I decided to check out the food festival that was taking place at the Spanish Plaza by the river. Once I got there I noticed there were a bunch of people getting on a steamboat so I figured it must’ve been taking them on a river cruise or some kind of a tour. Out of curiosity I decided to get more details about it from the lady at the ticket booth. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi, what’s that boat people are getting on? Is it some kind of a river cruise?
Lady: No, it just takes them to the other side of the river.
Me: Ohhh…..what’s on the other side of the river?
Lady: Nothing.
Me: …?
Lady: There’s nothing. I have no idea why they go there. Don’t waste your time and go get some food and a beer.
Me: ……mmmmm, thank you.
As it turned out, she was right – the food festival was THE place to be at – a bunch of different vendors serving anything from fish, barbecue, lobster to ice cream, chips and tamales. The food smell alone could easily wake up an entire army of white walkers and turn them into normal hungry human beings. Add live music, sun and a crowd of singing/dancing people to get the real picture. Eat, rest, repeat. Highly recommended place to spend a Saturday afternoon.
I left another “must do” – Bourbon Street for Saturday night. It’s a very unique place, not sure if it’s possible to describe it, I think Bourbon Street has to be experienced in person. It’s crowded – streets, bars and balconies are filled with people, drunk and sweaty people. Music, good live music that makes you want to dance is coming out of every possible corner. Beads are everywhere – on the streets, at the bars, falling from the balconies, around your neck. Smell. A mix of food, alcohol, sweat, vomit and urine. Bourbon Street has to be experienced. At least once in a lifetime.
Before my flight home on Sunday I decided to check out the famous Garden District, a 30 minute trolley ride away and I was in a totally different world. A great place for a morning walk – peaceful quiet streets covered by huge trees, beautiful old mansions with manicured gardens and the oldest cemetery. Also, quite a few nice places to have brunch or a Bloody Mary.
Bottom Line
I’d say New Orleans is a good choice for a short weekend getaway – a short flight from Chicago, there’s no need for a car, a very walkable city (especially if you stay in the French Quarter area) with plenty of restaurants serving great food. The city also offers one of the kind nightlife on Bourbon Street.
