Breakfast

I'm happy to report that after more than a year of not traveling, I have my groove back! 

I slept great (minor hiccup with a Keurig machine which was soon fixed) and set out to look for a non-hotel breakfast. I found Daisy Dukes Cafe, a stone's throw from the hotel. It's touted as the best breakfast in the French Quarter and my egg white veggie omelet plus melt-in-your-mouth biscuit were terrific. Angie, the waitress, took wonderful care of me. 

 

  

Afterward, I stopped to have a chat with the concierge, George, who helped me navigate my route tomorrow to the Grey Line pick-up spot for a tour of the Whitney Plantation. 

This morning, I'm headed for a swamp tour, which includes a hotel pick-up. Hope to see some gators up close!

Exploring

All went well with the flights and Uber. I arrived around 3:30 PM and after getting checked in and unpacked, I set off for a swim in the rooftop pool.

 

 

As many of you know, I am always very, very warm. The pool was FREEZING. I almost couldn't dip in my foot. So, plan B was to go early to Hotel Monteleone where I had made a reservation at their restaurant, Criollo,  a quick 8 minute walk away. 

 

Crossing Canal Street.

 

 

Hotel Monteleone. Their Carousel Bar is famous for rotating. Apparently, it completes a full 360-degree rotation every 15 minutes. 

 

I sat by a window overlooking Royal Street and ordered one of their craft cocktails, Brandon's Bramble, while I indulged in people watching. The window was slightly elevated giving me a great view of various happenings. I did not see/sense the bar rotating, as the same people sitting at the bar did not move.  Maybe a second Brandon's Bramble would have made it happen? I may need to return for some intel...

 

Across the street was Mr. B's, an eatery recommended by Gates. I'll try them tomorrow night. There was a huge crowd outside waiting for it to open - always a good sign. 

 

Soon it was time for my reservation at Criollo. Their Caprese salad was the best I've ever had. Tomatoes rested on a bed of balsamic and pesto, making the flavors pop. The trout almondine was also delicious. Forgot to take a photo - I'm rusty.  😄

Leaving soon for the Mississippi River

I'm super excited to be traveling again! Soon, I'll board American Cruise Lines' American Melody and cruise up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Memphis with frequent stops along the way. 

I'll arrive three days early in NOLA to explore on my own before meeting up with Road Scholar.  

Stay tuned!