NEW ORLEANS, LA

Monday, January 14, 2019. My adventure starts in New Orleans. Can you think of a better place? I’m from Texas. Louisiana is like our easygoing, fun loving next door neighbor who keeps you up late with their loud music and partying. But you cant help but envy their care-free spirit!

So, no, this wasn’t my first time in New Orleans. I’ve been to Mardi Gras more than once. And it was the funnest, drunkest time I’ve ever had! Every time! But that’s not why I went there this time.

This time I was there to see the city through sober eyes. Well, relatively sober eyes I should say. I’m not a monk. I do still drink!

I rolled into the city around 9pm and headed straight for the French Quarter. And no sooner than I “checked in” did my trusty NOLA friends respond with numerous great recommendations for spots to hit! I parked on Decatur and set foot for Bourbon St. I’d been in my car all day so I just wanted to walk around and “be in the moment”. It was chilly so I popped into Crescent City Brewhouse for a pint of Guinness. That’s all the drinking I would do that night. Sorry, Nikki Nik, I never made it to The Swamp.

The next morning I was up at dawn. I grabbed a coffee and tried to decide what I should do to kill some time until the rest of the city woke up. I’ve always been drawn to the beautiful architecture in New Orleans. Even in the cemeteries. Call me morbid, but the mausoleums fascinate me. So I took a drive to Metairie to tour the cemetery. It was surreal being there but peaceful. And not as strange an idea as you might think. My last name’s Parrish, after all. I could very well have ancestry resting there.

I ventured back to downtown around 11am and had lunch at Mother’s on Podryas. Thanks again for the suggestion, Danielle Wright. Try the Debris, y’all! You won’t be disappointed.

Now that I had a full belly I was thirsty for a beer! So I headed back to Bourbon St to do a little day time sightseeing. Again, you simply cannot ignore the wonderful architecture there. It’s almost like the buildings are alive with the spirits of the past. They seem to absorb you and transport you to another time.

Even more so after dark. With the nightly procession of rebel rousers on Bourbon Street, intoxicated by the atmosphere or the liquor, you half-expect to see the dread pirate Jean LaFitte himself, with a wench on each arm. Spilling ale as he saunters past you. New Orleans will make you feel nostalgic. It’s one of my all-time favorite cities. And it’s a hell of a place to grab a pint!