Guest rcfreak339 Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hey!, I'm going to talk a little bit about my trip tonight and tomorrow photos will follow. We decided to go to New Orleans this year for our schools yearly band trip and we have been planning for this all year! DAY: 1 Wednesday evening we set off on 2 comfortable charter buses for our 1,000 mile drive to the big easy, we slept on the bus that night and arrived in Louisiana about 5 am. Around 8 we ate Breakfast at a local restaurant then set off to New Orleans. Before entering city limits you have to cross a long, long bridge across lake Pontchartrain. The Bridge which is the longest bridge in the world was beat up bad by Hurricane Katrina, they are building another bridge right next to the side entering New Orleans. The Bridge still has replacement sections made out of steel where sections either fell or where to badly damaged to be used. After Crossing the lake its then a Swampy looking area that of which the vegetation looked nothing like what I see here in Kentucky. Once we entered New Orleans we quickly started the Ghost Tour around the French Quarters. The French Quarters were amazing and were nearly untouched by the hurricane, The tour was fun I learned about some good and not to good History about New Orleans. After the Ghost Tour we decided to eat lunch at the River Walk shopping and entertainment complex. It was nice but since we where there on a Thursday not many shops were open. For the last thing that day we took a boat tour down the mighty Mississippi River and a steamboat named Natchez, it was a neat tour telling you about the coast guard, ports the canals and everything in between. We then ate dinner at Bubba Gumps right beside the beginning of the French Quarter, after that we left for the hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I've always wanted to go to the Big Easy. I'm very envious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
touchdown62 Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Did you read the story of the Bright Field incident while at the Riverwalk? Fascinating story and quite a hero story. In a nut shell, the Bright Field was a ship that lost power coming down the Mississippi, and the cross currents were taking the ship right to the Riverwalk and the 2 casino boats that were there. The captain somehow maneuvered his disabled ship in between the 2 casino boats and crashed into the outside patio of the Riverwalk. Considering what could have happened, the accident was pretty minor. I'd love to know which place you went for breakfast. I personally love the Camelia Grill in the Garden District. I certainly hope you all went to Cafe du Monde. Nothing like a plate of beignets and cafe au lait, sitting there watching the pigeons swarm on any crumbs and listening to the sidewalk jazz musicians. I'm looking forward to seeing your pics and hearing what else you did. I sure do miss that place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcfreak339 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 DAY 2: We got up at a good 6am and ate Breakfast at the Hotel and boarded the bus to head to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, The Aquarium was amazing, you couldn't even tell a level 5 hurricane git it, The Outside is almost all glass and was very beautiful, the inside was big. On the inside all of the glass interior was a greenhouse complete with Alligators, snakes, owls and even a white alligator! The Aquarium also had a IMAX Theater which I didn't attend. We then went over to Hard Rock Cafe right across from Bubba Gumps, The prices were high but was well worth it since the food was great. After Lunch we put on our marching uniforms and did a stand up performance over at Jackson Square in front of The Quarters, It was fun but not a lot of action since were weren't marching but still drew a good sized Crowed. Around 2:30 we headed over to Mardi Gras World were floats, masks, and costumes are stored and made for the Parades. After walking around looking at all the floats and figurines I could tell that the people of New Orleans took there parades seriously. That evening dinner at a restaurant named Michauls. It was great! There was a big buffet complete with French Bread, Gumbo, Jumbiliya and Bread Pudding. The Restaurant also had live music and a dance floor. The last thing we did was watch the parade which started around 9, we had a deck reserved for use so we had space. The floats threw beads, noise makers and candy. I think I picked up at least 90 beads and two noise makers. DAY 3: We then again woke up around 6am and ate Breakfast at the hotel. We started our day with a trip to the National WWII Museum. The Museum looked new and was huge! I learned more things about WWII in 2hours then I have all my life in my Social Studies class. What I liked about the museum was that it made it fun, I only thought fun museums were the Science Museums that had hand on and interactive stuff. To my surprise this museum had things you could touch and movies you could watch to really make the place a fun place. After a good time at the museum we headed off to the New Orleans School of cooking. We didn't cook anything but what we were served was amazing. I think it was my best lunch I have ever had. We had Gumbo, Jumbiliya and my favorite The Banana Foster. Along with the food we had a deep south tea, and if you don't know what that is it's just a really really sweet iced tea. For the evening our band decided to march in the "Sparta" Parade, which is the the 2nd largest parade until the Fat Tuesday Parade. The Parade was crazy! It was 6 miles long and was very tiring. I think we played the song "Sledge Hammer" 38 times, our drum line was featured on a segment of CNN talking about the parade. Marching Downtown is were the Drunks and just the plain crazy come out, I remember one guy actually took his plastic trumpet and marched beside us for about 15 minutes, LOL. After the Parade we went the Cafe Du monde were we had good Crepes, coffee and there famous Beignets. Day 4: We got up around 7 and once again ate Breakfast at the Hotel. Around 10 we got on our coaches and headed to the Swamp Tour, The Swamp tour was fun and very cool. We saw some of New Orleans most Famous Wild Life and feed some Alligators! After the Swamp we went to the oldest Plantation south of the Mississippi River. We toured the house of some of Louisiana most famous people and also toured other parts of the plantation. We then changed in to some nice attire for dinner at the Jazz restaurant, but first we did a driving tour of the 9th and lower 9th ward. We entered the 9th ward which is the area of New Orleans that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The 9th ward was horrible almost all the houses were nearly destroyed, shops still boarded up and some with those spry painted x's to see if they have been checked and if any bodies were found. I thought it couldn't get any worse but when we crossed the drawbridge to the lower 9th ward you couldn't help but just think how people can even comeback. The lower 9th ward was just slabs of concrete were houses, schools, and churches were bulldozed are whipped out by the hurricane. It's one thing to see it on TV but to see it in person is sorta a life changing experience. When we were done with the 9th ward we had some time to kill so we stopped by the French Market to pick-up some stuff. The French Market is just a Flea market with better quality products. After the Market we headed to The Palm Court for some good Jazz and great Cajun food! For dinner I had the Red Beans and Rice with the Roasted Chicken, it was excellent the meat was so tender I could almost eat it with a spoon. The music was awesome! He played local songs like my favorite "When the Saints come Marching In" and he also found out we were from Kentucky so he played our state song "My Old Kentucky Home". Now here's were it got crazy, I was eating my food when a guy came over to our group and said he was from Lexington. We all did the University of Kentucky cheer (C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS!) after I thought that moment was over he came back and did it 3 other times that night, but when I was walking to get a refill the guy gave me a high five and said go cats! when I said it back he randomly gave my 10 bucks and told me to go buy me and my girlfriend a beer. I was like WTF? I think he was sorta drunk LOL. After a good time we boarded the buss and headed home. Pictures in a few! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I hope so, I'm getting tired of reading.....kidding you know....It sounds like you had a great time, I have been wanting to go see the WWII museum and it sounds like I am in for a treat. The Sparta Parade must have been a great note to end on and a lot of fun to be part of. I have not been down there since before the hurricane, but I am planning for this fall to see friends. There is only one thing I can finish with.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcfreak339 Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Sorry about the pictures being a bit late, Photobucket didn't upload all my pictures at once but here you go! Heres my first look at the quarters as we headed to the Ghost Tour. There were many of these vendors all around New Orleans Here you can see many shops lining the quarter. Mardi Gras school? French Quarters all clean and nice looking! One of the many street performers! The Beautiful Cathedral near Jackson Square. Theres a story behind these so called "Romeo Catchers" There was a boy one night that sneaked out to see his girlfreind when he wasn't supposed to, but when he heard his Girlfriends parents coming up the stairs, he jumped off off of the balcony but unexpectedly hit one of these things and killed him by cutting his and his stomach and cutting he throat. Me in front of the Jackson Square park statue! While at the park we saw a Microsoft Commercial being filmed. Inside of the River Walk I love this picture Next Stop was the Mississippi Boat Tour! Damage on the dock. Our boat "The Natchez" A person playing some nice music. These are some insane bridges! Skyline of New Orleans More Damage Another neat street preformer! That ends the day one photos. I will post the rest of the pictures tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Cody, great TR and photographs, looking forward to seeing the rest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
touchdown62 Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Awesome pics! I love the shot you have of St. Louis Cathedral. Such a beautiful church. It is nice to see the French Quarter with people, vendors, and performers. The pic of the bird was a good one as well. Nice pic of the Crescent City Connector. When I see those bridges, I know I'm in New Orleans. I'm looking forward to more pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 The pictures are not late at all, after all we had Louis to listen to while we waited!! They are wonderful by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 What a wonderful opportunity you had in going and it sounded like you had a great time. I really like your pictures and the action in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Thanks for the great report and wonderful pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiruler102 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 you are far more of a better photographer than i am but good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcfreak339 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Sorry Guys, Ive been having some Major problems with Photobucket, I will try and you get you the pictures as soon as possible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.