Day 29: New Orleans

This has felt like the busiest day! Lots of fun stuff to talk about. We started off the day with a swamp tour! Vil had suggested this awhile ago and I had agreed to do so enthusiastically, as it sounded like fun. We drove out to the Lafitte swamps (only about 20 minutes away) and boarded a basic pontoon boat. For about 90 minutes, we went out to the bayou and saw a bunch of wildlife creatures, including herons and alligators. Capt. Allen, our tour guide, talked in a quick southern drawl, which meant we missed about half the words he said. He would often call to alligators with a "Buuuba, buuuba, hey girl!" and they would coming swimming over! We shared the boat with an old couple from California (Manteca), another middle-aged couple and their daughter who asked somewhat inane questions, and a younger couple with their three young children who were kind of obnoxious but funny to watch.

It was an interesting way to see the marshlife around the area and to hear Capt. Allen's thoughts on the recent oil spill and the further development of the swampland. And the weather held out pretty well - barely any rain and decently low humidity. Or maybe I am just getting used to it!

After the tour was over, we headed back to the mainland. We went to a Mexican/Creole restaurant for lunch which was delicious. After that, we made a quick stop at Vil's condo then went to Tulane (where I updated from earlier today about yesterday). Vil is in the midst of completing her thesis research and needed to work on her cell specimens (I don't know if she technically called them that), so I sat in the lab with her and went on her computer and read my book while she worked. It felt a little like it was "Take your Son/Guest-in-town to Work Day" but that is fine by me!

After that, Vil took me on a driving tour of some parts of New Orleans (which was fine with both of us, considering that it was pouring). We drove past and around Tulane and Loyola New Orleans, which are separated by a single street. Got to see some more really expensive homes that look straight out of a Southern painting. Lots of famous people live here, so Vil has taken me to see all of their homes - Sandra Bullock, the Manning family, Drew Brees, Ann Rice, Joh Goodman, etc.

After the tour and the rain had died down, it was time to go to Hansen's (don't know if I spelled that right) for a snowball. This is essentially a New Orleans dish. It is basically a well-done snow cone. The ice is shaved so thinly that it almost has a consistent of ice cream, and the flavors are a bit more sophisticated than wild blue raspberry or something like that. I got cream of strawberry and it was pretty delicious.

Then we came back to Vil's, hung around and rested for a bit, then headed out to dinner. We went to Joey K's, a restaurant and bar that has been featured on "Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives". The food was good, and all I know is that if I lived in the south I would probably be morbidly obese (and very full). I resisted buying a shirt from the place, if only because my last name is not Kammut (and wouldn't that be weird if I wore a shirt around with my name on it? Didn't they have PSAs back in the day about not doing that so people couldn't kidnap you off the playground?).

Then we went to The Bulldog, a local bar (that was very unlike The Bulldog in Spokane, WA, than god) and had a few drinks. The Bulldog has a porch that you can sit on with your dog if you want! Did I mention that Vil has a dog? His name is Boston, and he is very mild-mannered and kind of acts like an old man (sleeps a lot). We got along very well.

Overall I have enjoyed seeing New Orleans and getting to catch up with Vilija - it has been to long and she is a good friend for letting me invade her life and 500 square foot condo for 2 days! Tomorrow it is onto Texas, where I shall be trying to withstand the winds of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Alex. Just another reason to dislike Texas in my mind!

(I have pictures which I will try to upload from the swamp and Hansens - just not working right now!)