Weather: early rain, 65-70 cloudy
 Hours: 4.9
 Miles: 295
 States: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
 University:
 Restaurant: Weigmanns, Gumbo Pot and Cafe du Monde
 Hotel: Residence Inn Metairie
 Movies: Star Wars (Another part)
 Car issues: stability track light came on. Happened before after having tires rotated.

With a little apprehension or a unenthusiastic motivation, we made our way to or through Meridian, Mississippi. It was on our route but it was also where my brother and his family was stationed in the Navy at one point. My dad and I drove down to visit them on base while they were there and I thought it meaningful to make that our Mississippi stop with little hope for much to write about considering everyone including my family who lived there questioned, "Why?" 

We did hit a band of rain that was heavy for a short period. No rain the rest of the way. I read about a carousel that is a historical landmarker for being the oldest in the country. It was also closed during the week and located in a depressed neighborhood park. Very strange. Knowing it was not far from the restaurant I researched for lunch, we were concerned to say the least. I quickly looked up Weigermanns on Tripadvisor to double check reviews. "Everyone says it's great," as we pass over a bridge overlooking a run-down railyard. As we cross over the bridge, a nice little town emerged to our relief. It may be only a few little blocks but it was nice. We got to Weigmann's which has been there since 1870. The atmosphere is great. It's an old building but renovated. The food was great! The people were delightful. Everyone we talked to was so welcoming and nice. We have been ordering for the kids at unique restaurants or towns so they can get a taste for the area. We filled the table with gumbo, fried green tomatoes, Shrimp remoulade, crab cake and finished with a black bottom pie. The kids are such good eaters. Matthew really liked the gumbo, Elizabeth favored the crab cake and Ben liked the gumbo too. They all ate a little of everything. They also carry on a tradition of crocks of peanut butter on the table with crackers because during the war it was hard to get butter so somone suggested peanut butter for the crackers. It's carried on today with crocks made by a local artist. So glad we took a chance at the restaurant. Happens all the time when we take a chance.

Every state we go to, the kids get a postcard and write it to themselves about what we did there. We could not find a postcard so we went to the post office to see if they had one. They were so nice. They did not have traditional postcards but they had a plain white one with a large tree stamped on it. I took them and kind of laughed because the simplicity of the card really describes our visit to Mississippi. I think they will giggle when they get it in the mail when they get home. 

We arrived in NOLA around 5 PM. We are staying at a Marriott Residence Inn in Metairie. We unloaded and headed out to the French Quarter for dinner. Paul and I didn't love New Orleans on our first visit but it's growing on us. We really had a great night running around. It wasn't too crowded, it wasn't raining, it was comfortable temperature (the warmer it is the prominent is the smell of urine) and parking was easy. We ate at the Gumbo Pot. Our food was delish. Matthew wanted gumbo again. Elizabeth had a shrimp salad. Ben had a pasta jambalaya and I had a traditional jumbalaya. Paul had some kind of BBQ shrimp but it was BBQ sauce. It was a garlic butter sauce and looked nothing like what I pictured. Very good too. We took a walk through the French Quarter (it's a challenge to avoid seeing, smelling or experiencing undesirable things which are not kid rated) and worked our way to Cafe Du Monde for dessert. Beignets are sooooooo goooooood. The kids loved them. I took a couple tiny bites because I can't eat gluten. After the bites, I was almost willing to go into a gluten induced coma for those little bites of heaven. It was a fun night. 

We all learned a couple new things about New Orleans. We crossed I-10 which runs parallel to Lake Pontchatrain Causeway bridge. It is 5.4 miles long. Slightly longer than the Mackinac bridge. The LP Causeway is 23. 83 miles long. Holy highway. YOu can see it from I-10 which seems long when traveling over water. 
The kids loved and wondered why all the houses and buildings are painted in a rainbow of colors. I didn't know so I looked it up. They have started painting them those colors as a symbol of hope while they recover from Hurricane Katrina. I love that. We had been talking about HK and all the damage and devistation it caused. Elizabeth said she learned about it in Mrs. Thomas' class. 
Lastly....we learned...that you can't eat just one Beignet.

Another day in NOLA. Going to the bayou tomorrow.