Syd and I decided to go somewhere special for his milestone birthday in September. . . We went over options. We decided on New Orleans. It was a no brainer, it’s so ‘US.’ The history, food, live music, spiritual side, ghosts, water, walkability, party time, and resilience have us in love.
This trip Syd let me plan it all. It was a “Do you trust me?” situation. I was sneaky and talked about everything with him subtly and also put on youtube in the background. I paid attention to what he was perking up at.
I then turned to groupon and Living social and bought vouchers for some fun experiences. I type A’d the hell out of this trip. (I’m not always type A I have do decide to be). But when I am stand back. I made a trip folder/binder thing. The kind with the plastic cover page. The art was a vintage map of the crescent city. I three hole punched all of the vouchers and hotel bookings and put them all in there with individual numbered tab pages for each day.
I booked our hotels this time off of Booking.com at the Omni Hotel. (and a little hipster cool inn in Marginy R bar and Inn). Back to the Omni We got a great deal. I sweet talked the front desk. I let them know it was his birthday and first time in NOLA! They upgraded us to a balcony room. It overlooked the street so we could see the second lines go by. Bless them. That hotel is walkable to EVERYTHING. It’s by far my favorite place I’ve stayed in New Orleans outside of our family friends’ rental houses in the garden district.
I was so happy with the omni in New Orleans that I ended up writing a letter to corporate and joining their loyalty program. BEST STAFF EVER. Ok I’ll stop gushing now.
This was a 5 day 4 night trip. I planned enough ‘activities’ daily to keep it interesting and cultural and tons of time to rest or do whatever spontaneously. It worked out perfectly! We chose to stay mostly in the Quarter for walkability this time.
If you are looking to stay in the garden district or like a local our family friends’ place is amazing too. Here’s their link: https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/the-dryades-house.html
Syd and I are energy based and flexible people when it comes to travel. we are ok with going with the flow and won’t throw a tantrum if we have to cancel plans. *PLOT TWIST One of our suitcases was too heavy on the way. Luckily I packed my handy dandy packable tote I got from Cath Kidston in London and repacked some heavier items into it at the airport. Unfortunately when we got to New Orleans we were excited and *PLOT TWIST forgot we had a third bag. We got all the way to the hotel before we realized we had forgotten it. Luckily Southwest airlines was on their game. They assured me they had it and would hold it for me. I went back. Syd decided to come with me. He really didn’t have to but he’s a gentleman like that. We really enjoyed the lyft driver on the way back. It was like getting a private tour. We also saw a double rainbow that felt so magical! Like it was the city welcoming us to her. We got back and sat out on the balcony then napped in the heavy afternoon rain.
After we were refreshed and slept off a little jet lag, we dressed for dinner. I realized we were freakishly close to Napolean house where Napolean was supposed to relocate before his death. A really cool old restaurant with a gorgeous courtyard. My friends and I ate mufelettas and played heads up there once during the day on a previous trip to New Orleans. They sat us in a romantic little tiny nook in the first room. We ate simple but healthy food. It was lovely.
After dinner we walked around the quarter. We got night coffee at cafe du mode and listened to street musicians and magicians. Then turned in.
To Be Continued. . .
The Adventures of Syd and Meg 