trippin'

I want to travel the world. To never leave my own city, state....or country for that matter...UNTHINKABLE! After going back and forth about this year's vacation, love and I decided to hop in a rental and hit the highway. I absolutely adore road trips! Great transpo, music, conversation....and of course, great company makes for a fabulous time. After visiting family in Georgia and Alabama, we settled in New Orleans for a few days of fun and relaxation. To be honest, I was slightly nervous, as I didn't know what to expect. I recently attended a play where they were still collecting donations for N.O. residents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Of course, as we drove over the bridge into the city, we could see the scars left by the disaster. Damaged buildings, abandoned businesses, broken homes. The four star hotel we stayed in didn't seem to sustain any lasting damage, based on the lobby. But when we entered our room, there was a distinct odor....moldy...mildewy...old wet. Although they had replaced all of the carpet and furniture, the moisture locked in the walls gave away the secret. Damaged goods. The next room was a lot better. We hit Bourbon Street in the French Quarter the next day. I was anxious to walk down the same streets as the likes of Louis Armstrong and Tennessee Williams.....wanted to be captivated by the music and the art. Unfortunately, the first part of The Quarter we hit was the T & A section. Naked girls...liquor....more naked girls....more liquor. Now I know New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras and just partying in general...but in my naivety, I didn't anticipate bare titties and unmentionables in open view on the street. Silly me. Surely there is more to New Orleans than this! There is. We continued our exploration to find the arts district where there was not only quaint little shops (...Cafe Du Monde...YUM!), an open square/garden and a museum...but serious artists were on the street creating everything from portraits to bold paintings of New Orleans life. One such artist said her daughter had taught her the basics of the art just a few months earlier....and her work was good! I had to wonder whether it was a natural gift or whether she was exaggerating a bit in the name of salesmanship. lol! One thing I observed was the people, although scarred by the recent past, still had a pocket of life and freedom...even if it was only for the brief moments they broke out in a step to the music from the street band on the corner....or maybe it was just the cheap beer. Who knows.

bite of the day ~ visit a place you've never gone before. even if it's not your cup of tea, open your heart and mind to experience the beauty in it.

thirtiesgirl