Road Trip - Day 2

Disclaimer:

Please be advised Blogger does not support retro-posting. During trans-temporal dimensional shifts in the time-space continuum Blogger got confused. The actual date is posted below
~Zen Dragon

October 25, 2012

Rest and Recoup

The day didn't start bright and early as you might have imagined. After the turmoil of the days before, rest was much needed and in short supply. We woke up, chilled, and didn't get moving until about noon.

Day 2 proved to be more sane, if not a completely wonderful and exuberant day. Lingering concern for the enjoyable success of our road trip brought me to a coffee shop early. When asked, the cashier recommended we 'explore the city.' Wow. Thanks bud. Sitting by a sunny window I opened up my laptop and typed away some pent up anxiety. I Hoped for a day of adventure, and I planned to make it so.

The fact of the matter was we were both exhausted, even though my travelling spirit didn't want to admit it. Had I been more psychically attuned, I could have seen our sluggish start was a portent for prolonged piddling- that is to say, we didn't do much. Alas travelling spirit, you will have to reign in those horses for today.

Patina anyone?  Room includes: chipped paint, brick
foundation, warped ceiling beams and exposed wires.

In daylight we lazily experienced but a single new sight. By night some tension had faded. Recouping in New Orleans is a far cry better than doing so in Gainesville, if still frustrating. Already a day into our road trip and we were still sorting through our lives.

Courtyard

It was back to the B&B, and then into the sun. It was quite a quaint little joint. A locked courtyard protected us from wandering vagabonds. Free muffins, fruit and stuff were severed in a very green very homey breakfast area.  Quite nice.

Breakfast Area

The French Quarter offered a variety of lunch options. Shrimp Po' Boy was on the top of my list. Plain and unexciting is what I got.  I cannot recommend the large open plaza where wrought iron chairs and tables surround a stage frequented by New Orleans blues bands. While quite entertaining in of themselves the food was about as authentic as a tourist shop. Luckily Tanya and I are in the habit of sharing. It's like getting two meals for the price of one, really. Her muffolata was quite yummy, and I was happy for the bits we traded.

Being able to drink openly on the streets seemed is as good an excuse as any to start in the middle of the day. I'm not sure how it turned into a contest, but we soon both had margaritas and were arguing over who got the better one. I obviously won because mine had more alcohol. She decided she won because hers tasted better. I had to concede it did, and it was decided we both won.

Louis Armstrong Park

We shopped and we people watched, although I cannot say I bought anything, largely due to not actually wanting anything I saw. We passed some real characters and struck up a conversation with a few. Before we knew it 5 o'clock rolled around. It was beautiful, sunny and 70. We decided to have a nice bike ride. Ha!




Have you ever tried to ride a bike in New Orleans? Let me save you the trouble. Don't. At least not around the French Quarter. It was the worst street biking of my life. 15 minutes, innumerable potholes and three blocks later we were turning around. Instead of 'exploring.' Not willing to take a complete loss, I found park very close, and we tried again.


We did not escape broken sidewalks nor cracked streets, but luckily it didn't take long. It was worth the ride. Louis Armstrong Park was a myriad of roses, rolling hills and fountains. Large bridges spanned its many lakes and ponds, and a couple was getting professional photographs taken atop one. It felt good to be somewhere new, seeing something I hadn't before. It felt like the trip had really started.

We rode 'home' with the setting sun at our backs. Safely inside the B&B's courtyard and older man asked me for a wine opener. I bustled into my room, found my pocket knife and had the bottle open in a jiffy. I was rewarded with a nice full cup, which I shared with Tanya. A few beers later we were ready for dinner.

Coop's was highly recommended by the B&B receptionist, and we were not disappointed. The food was amazing! There was also a line to get in, which we somehow skipped by being cool. Two couples preceded us, yet were were seated with two professional gentlemen before either of them. "I told you I wouldn't let you down," the waitress said to them, indicating us.

"She promised to seat us with cool people," one of them said. Road trip for the win.

Conversation struck up readily, and it was quite nice to share our dinner with these strangers. While taking our drink orders I asked about specials and the waitress gave me a mouthful of fire with NOLA sass. Eyes wide I was back peddling and apologizing before I even knew what happened. Apparently specials are not part of their deal. We were soon all laughing about it though, and beer was on the way.

My jambalaya came complete with rabbit, shrimp and sausage. It was to die for. Tanya got a seafood medley creamy pasta variety pack. Also delicious. The professionals were on vacations and had a week to spend drinking, eating and merry making. They were quite impressed with our venture and enthusiastic about our plans as well. It feels good to have other people sincerely validate what you're doing.

Happy bellies make for happy people. With some bounce in our step we headed to arguably the best spot in NOLA for some low down rough and ready blues - Frenchman, the street of vagabonds, urine and music. Bars lined both sides for blocks, open doors and the sound that came from them was all the advertisement they needed.

A drink here, a drink there, we hopped from band to band. The true blue of the city, the attraction of New Orleans felt far and wide can be found on these dirty streets and dingy dark alley ways. Apparent low lives lined the cracked sidewalks, circled around barrel fires or sitting on the ground. The rough smell of alcohol was perfume for them and their city alike. Through the loud carousing of drunkards we waded and eventually ran back into our friendly professionals at the Spotted Calf.

They had filled in some of their friends on our plans, and a new wave of congratulations went around. In our newly contented state easy smiles went around with the renewed support of strangers. The band was top notch, and a crowd of two-steppers had the floor. I pulled Tanya in for a move or two before it was back to the B&B for the night.

She steered us the right way. I kept a wary eye out past the super shady park and otherwise dangerous streets. I believe I was sleeping before my head hit the pillow. Things were looking up.