The Big Easy

May 25, 2012 was both an exciting and sad day.  While I am extremely excited about our trip to New Orleans and the cruise, I am also sad that this is the first vacation Ann has not accompanied us.  In fact, this is the longest I will go without seeing her.  Luckily, her pregnancy is going great so I really don't have any fears along that front.  I just really wish she was here to experience all this with us.  But Jon is super excited so I do look forward to having a great time with him.

Jon and I are alot alike in the "just roll with it" category.  Ken tends to fret over everything, and Ann just is a stay in the background kind of girl on trips.  Not me and Jon.  We have no problem busting a move with the street performers or just being able to really enjoy our experiences.  Ken says he always enjoys the trips after they are done because he has nothing to worry about then.  I live by the motto CARPE DIEM!!!

 We started our journey with a lunch at Lambert's Cafe, Home of the Thrown Roll.  Jon had never been here before so I really wanted him to be able to experience this.  I don't know if Jon was actually hungry for all the bread or he just really liked catching flying rolls in the air.  We all were stuffed to the gills by the time lunch was over.  And since Ken had not yet been to bed, this was the perfect time for him to hunker down for a nap.

 Jon Blaylock's dad let us borrow his Excursion, and it was a life saver.  We were all able to drive together and it offered us a ton of room.  Of course, Jon and Josh had trouble getting comfortable.  Or else they just liked screwing around in the back seat the whole time.  But they did catch some zzzzzz's  on the way down.

 Jon learned the sleeping on the floor was not the best solution.  It is easier to sleep in a car when you aren't longer than the seat.  Sometimes it sucks growing up  : )

 Once we arrived at the Holiday Inn at the Superdome at 8:00pm we were all starving so we headed down to Bourbon St. for dinner.  Holy Moly that place is crazy!  It's not a good picture but on the corner of one of the streets a band set up and people were in the streets dancing to them.  And the town stinks like trash, vomit, pee, and alcohol.  The atmosphere is unbelievable but I don't think I am brave enough to venture down here during Mardi Gras.

 Ken asked around to people who had been down here before for places to eat.  One that was mentioned over and over was Felix's Oyster Bar.  Believe it or not, we found it right away and sat down for dinner.  Ken loves oysters and Josh decided to be brave enough to try one.  So Ken gave him instructions on how to eat them while the rest of us sat back and laughed.

 Ken eats his with horseradish and when he saw the bowl of it on the table he was giddy like a little kid.  Josh prefers tabasco sauce which is what he put on his oyster and cracker.

He likes it, he really likes it.  In fact, he went back for seconds.  I will stick with my shrimp po' boy and crawfish etouffee thank you very much.  Jon really ventured off the charts and ate a hamburger.  That boy lives dangerous I tell you.  Ken followed up his oysters with jambalaya which he said was awesome.

Our first night in the Big Easy is considered a success.  Looking forward to a full day to be able to explore all this town holds