Yesterday, Saturday.....was a very busy day for myself and the 1st Lady. We spent the morning getting ready to leave for New Orleans(on Sunday)...and then spent the afternoon visiting with our son, Mike.
This morning.......we were up early....and pulled out of the driveway at 7am CDT.....but, it was actually 6 am today's time. We made two brief stops on the way down the I-55....and arrived in the suburbs of N.O. at 3:30 this afternoon.....about 9.5 hours for the 621 miles. We quickly found our hotel, The Provincial Hotel, in a great section of the French Quarter....and used the valet parking service. Parking is only $18 per day.....about the cheapest we could find connected with a hotel in the Quarter.
OK...when I called to discuss making reservations, I told the reservations clerk that I HAD to have Wifi access within our room. Sooooo, I made the mistake of assuming it would done....DAMN! We were brought to our room by the bell boy as he pushed and pulled the luggage cart over the cobblestone parking areas....and soon he had unloaded the luggage in our hotel room, we tipped him, and off he went. OK......the 1st Lady unpacked, put her belongings in the antique dresser(the room was furnished in antiques....an old French style hotel), and I did some of my shirts, putting them in a drawer.
I then brought out my laptop....and CRAP!!!! NO Wifi service, or at least......it was not strong enough in this particular building for me to get any service/websites. Soooo, being the old man that I am.....I called the desk and bitched about this!! Sooo, the bell boy soon arrived at the door and.....Voila!!!! We were being moved to another room. WEllllllll, the 1st Lady came unglued...at me.....as she had to repack everything into her luggage so we could be moved. But.....soon we were moving to another one of the ancient buildings which house the hotel rooms.....all of them surrounding the parking area.
We then settled into our new room....which, to me is much cooler than the one we had. Still have the antique furnishings.......but, we have original French doors as our entrance doors to the room, which has a balcony overlooking a palm court with iron table and chairs and fountains!!! Beautiful!!! The room is larger, the bath is better....and we have GREAT Wifi!!!! And...at the same price of $67 and change per night, plus taxes!!!! WOW.....and such an incredible location in the Quarter.....only one block from the Open Market, three blocks from the Cafe du Monde, and two blocks from Bourbon Street!!!!! It is quiet here......the clientele(SP?) are quiet.....and the service is amazing!!! It is a very safe area of the Quarter, well lit.....and just perfect for four nights here in New Orleans!!!!
OK......the 1st Lady and I unpacked, and then went for a walk.....exploring this marvelous section of New Orleans. Keep in mind that we LOVE Paris, France....and the French way of living. I have been to Paris twelve times over the years....and I salivate just to return again!!! We walked for awhile....and then decided to stop and have a drink and a bite to eat. We chose the French Market Cafe because of the outside seating and the live music that was being performed this evening.......and, it was a GREAT choice we made!!!
Our server quickly brought us menus....and asked us what we were doing in the city. Well, we said we had driven down from south of STL....and were here for three days. He then politely asked if we had voted before we left..........!!! And...we were both impressed that he was concerned enough to ask. Well, obviously....this brought on an on-going conversation that lasted off and on during the time we were there. Informing him that we were here to enjoy the Quarter and the election night results, including Sen. Mary Landrieu's re-election.....he then became a bit excited, saying that he was volunteering for her, and making lots of phone calls on her behalf! This, of course, brought on other discussions about the upcoming election........a great hour with some very good music in the background of our talks, as well as some WONDERFUL Gumbo which we each ordered, along a with a couple of beers.
Jay then called us...and soon was there to greet us....since we have not seen him for almost a half year. As I have said, he is the State Campaign Manager for Sen. Landrieu and has been extremely busy with his job!!! We soon were in his new truck and went out of the Quarter to the west side of Canal Stree to Lowe's Hotel and we quickly found ourselves in a very cool lounge/bar......along with a good friend of Jay's......a writer with a super personality who is in the process of writing a book...fiction. The next hour was spent in having a drink, talking, asking questions, and getting to know her. Two other Democrat workers here in Louisiana soon joined us.....and we became better acquainted with the type of work they are doing for the election. Of course.......the polls were discussed and our hopes for Tuesday.....as well as the political scene here in not only New Orleans, but in the entire state of Louisiana. Talking with two people who are currently deeply embedded in this process of Louisiana politics/elections......we learned much as we listened and questioned.
Then we returned to our hotel as Jay and friends/staff members had a dinner planned at Harrah's for the evening. We are having dinner tomorrow evening with Jay...and whos who else.....and sure he will be ready to have the campaign over with, after working on this re-election campaign for the past year. Tuesday evening we will join him and many others for the....hopefully.....victory celebration of Sen. Landrieu's election at the InterContinental Hotel here in New Orleans.
And sooooo, enjoying this great little hotel, we are about ready for the day to end......and ready to welcome tomorrow as we continue to enjoy this wonderful city, as well as the Fr. Quarter.
Hey.....if you have never been here, or have not explored the Quarter carefully, then get yourself down here and relax, enjoy, dine, have a fun time in this amazing part of our country. We LOVE it.....but, speaking from experience........come here during the spring or at this time of the year. The summers are not pleasant!!!!! Having spent a week here over a year ago during the month of August is.....horrible.......the heat/humidity is unbearable!!! Today....PERFECT!!!!!
I can't wait for tomorrow to see what the day brings forth!!!!! This is such a super place....I can't say enough about it!!!! .......and, what did you expect me to say, but.....
LIFE IS INCREDIBLY, WONDERFULLY GREAT!!!!!.....And....I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
VOTE....VOTE....VOTE!!!!! (don't go backward......go forward)
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