things every human should do: visit New Orleans

I am half French (Acadian French-Cajun to most people- and French Creole, to be exact.)  With these roots comes the luxury of amazing food, friendly people and certain responsibilities. Namely, spreading the love.

It's time to spread the love about my "home" (well, recent historic home, as the French in the Southern US were actually cast back and forth England and France before being banished to Nova Scotia and finally shipped, literally, to the Gulf Coast and thus taking on the French Creole and Acadian/Cajun things we now know and love.)

Ok, sorry about the history lesson.

I love Louisiana. Specifically, New Orleans.  Have you been? You should go. I get to go back to Louisiana each year for Christmas, as it is where my mother spent a large portion of her youth and where my grandmother and one uncle still live.

This year, I brought Topher with me. He LOVED it.  The food, the people, even the streets of New Orleans.  I'm really excited to head back down to New Orleans this spring, and to share my excitement, you really ought to check out this year's pictures from New Orleans and get your arse down there for a weekend soon.

Let's start with my wonderful cajun Momo (grandmother), who made delicious gumbo for us while down there:

 So, New Orleans.  My family usually goes to Masperro's, which is great but a bit touristy and usually packed. It's on Chartres street, right near St. Louis Cathedral.

This time, we decided to stop by a different spot. There's some debate where it was, but after scouring the menu, I'm 90% sure it was Primo's Bar. Yep, tourist trappy, but yep, also good.

We immediately ordered Hurricanes. A must do in New Orleans- please do it.  A classic? Pat O'Brien's.  Pat's is great, though also a bit overpriced because of how well known it is.

 Even Ma and Pa kept up with us drinking in N'awlins.

I like Hurricanes. You should too.

 Chris likes Hurricanes.

 I got some yummy shrimp and andouille sausage pizza.

 Topher got his first alligator po'boy.

 Topher liked this place because they soaked their vodka in olives and peppers and stuff which became the base for their Bloody Mary.

 After lunch, we began to traipse the French Quarter.  With a few drinks each, we were feeling goooood.

 While in New Orleans, you have to marvel at all of the beautiful architecture. And take millions of photos of it.

 Below you'll see Jackson Square, with the St. Louis Cathedral on the left.

 I'm the type of dork that likes taking photos of such things as building signs.

You have to love the (daytime) street performers.

 There's a very touristy, kitchzy street fair...but also a yummy chocolate shop.

 Obviously, you have to stop at the original Cafe du Monde.

 There are just a few things on the menu- and really, you only need a few things. Beignets. They come in orders of 3, covered in powdered sugar, for around $3.50.  Cafe au lait, also cheap at $2.50. The best coffee because it contains chicory.  I hate coffee, so Coca Cola works well too.

True marks of N'awlins- sugar on the lips.

Ok, I know you were waiting for it. Hand grenades.

Fluorescent lime plastic.

We were excited. That's my sister in law in the middle.

Daddy loved his hand grenade.

And now, halfway through the hand grenade, the world began to be a bit..lopsided.

...it also became blurry...

This is Antoine's, the country's oldest family run restaurant.

You have to take a look at St. Louis Cathedral. Gorgeous grounds, but they close as darkness falls.

Also after dark, more...characters come out. This is the tamest of what you'll see, but since who knows who'll stumble across this, I'll keep this PG.

Thoughts? Comments?