This post is ridiculously overdue. A month overdue to be exact. But anyway, the day before my birthday was spent in New Orleans with my mom and sister.
It was amazing because two years ago was my first time in NOLA. However, all we had time for then was breakfast (we were passing through).
Considering this was a month ago, I don't remember specific details of the day. It's funny, some memories of that trip are vivid in my mind, while others tiny memories like stolen words from distant conversations, passing faces, and delicious smells (
food of course) have quickly faded. But the feeling the experience gave me still remains.
You know how cities almost have a personality. I can only compare this one's with others I've visited.
Orlando. Atlanta. Washington, D.C. But, it's not really something you can up words to. It's just a feeling. You either get it or you don't.
My mom and Sky didn't feel the same way about the city as I did. I don't think city life calls them like it does me. A different pace. Taller buildings. More people. More stories.
I don't know. It gets me excited.
It makes me feel alive somehow.
Which means that naturally, I was the one that dragged them around for the day. And they couldn't tell me know because, well, this was my day.
The first thing we noticed was that there were Mardi Gras beads everywhere. And I mean
everywhere. In the trees. The street. Hanging from fences. Posted on houses, as if on display. At first, I thought
"come on people, Mardi Gras was a month ago," but after a while, I expected those beads to be there as we cruised through the streets of New Orleans and as eventually found ourselves walking along Magazine Street. They added just a little extra sparkle, I guess. I mean, the St. Patty's Day Parade would be the following day. Maybe that was simply the city's way of recycling.
The one thing I do hate about cities: parking. I know first world problems...but when you're used to the empty, free parking spaces of a small town, find parking (and coughing up the insane amount of money to pay for it) can be rough.
After finding a place to park, we went to find food! We ended up going to this Po-Boy resturant called Mahoney's, which was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Personally, I definitely thought it was more of a lunchtime hangout. We got there right before the crowd. And for a Thursday, it was pretty packed.
My ratings on a five star scale...
Food: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Price: Good
Overall: 3.5
Actually, I think my meal was the best out of the three of us. But, to be honest, everything tastes wonderful after eating cruise ship food for a week.
What does this sign remind you of? I just thought it was funny. At the time, the topic was very trendy. On to other random things, I also found myself taking quite a few photos of houses. Don't ask why.
We did a little shopping, drove around some more, ate dinner in the French Quarter, and then I convinced my mom to take me to a creepy mansion in the Garden District. Fun fact: American Horror Story: Coven was filmed in New Orleans, and since that series was my obessession back in the day, I had to go to the house where most of the filming took place... Buckner Mansion aka Miss Robicheaux's Academy (the witch school itself).
And honestly, it was a beautiful house. I think the creepiness factored in because it was almost midnight. (Excuse my appearance btw, it was pretty cold that night so I chose comfort over style.) Plus, it was so weird how a huge mansion popped up out of all these regular-sized houses. The best part of the visit to Buckner mansion was a tourist-y family pulled up in a taxi, and the dad shouting, "Hey, you know that's the house from American Horror Story!" as he took his daughter's picture with a grin on both of their faces. Oh, how creepy mansions bring people together!
All in all, it was a great day, my only regret is not getting a beignet for breakfast. We woke up late the next day and had to head out. Places to be and people to see as they say.
That's how I know I'll be back: because I haven't eaten a beignet in Nola yet! However, next time you catch me in the city, it'll be for a more extended amount of time;) There is much more tourist-ing to be done.
"If you're open to it, New Orleans will teach you about yourself, but if you want to hide from who you really are, the city will help you do that, too. " Laurell K. Hamilton
