28.08.2014 Day six : New Orleans

Woke early and then we both promptly went back to sleep until midday. Oh the bliss! But when we woke we had some shopping to do! The night before we had spotted a closed shop we wanted to revisit that sold really styley cotton clothing. Seriously, on the way there, we dropped into at least 4 other clothes shops and not one of them sold plus sizes for me. It drags you down a bit when you start feeling there are no options for bigger women. Someone could make a fortune opening a plus size shop in NO.

Lunch in a corner bar in the French quarter was for me pulled pork po-boy and for Ken, beans and rice. Both tasty and very traditional. Video, on our walk around New Orleans. http://youtu.be/02rBF9TH0c4

But eventually we found our Cotton clothing shop, and JACKPOT!! We couldn't stop buying stuff. The prices were really cheap and the fresh breathable cotton was perfect for the hot New Orleans weather, and there were plus sizes. I tried on a lovely blue top...bought it; a white top...bought it; white pants...bought them; some super groovy ultra comfy shoes that were very shiny (check pics)... no choice... bought them. Ken tried shirt, shorts, shoes and hat...bought the lot. We were happy.

Then we stopped a cycle rickshaw guy and got a lift with our parcels back to the hotel. A shower and change into our new clothes and we were back into the middle of town waiting for a streetcar. These ancient but preserved electric streetcars rumble through the main street and out to the suburbs on a regular basis. Open on the sides and at the front, we creaked and chugged through New Orleans suburbs with the wind in our hair and the camera on constant movie record catching the incredible NO mansions in the ritzy areas of town. See video http://youtu.be/sMXwl7KTFX4 . Finally quite late in the afternoon we disembarked at Audubon Park. Our initial plan was to visit the Audubon zoo that was in the same area, but it was twilight and we just wandered along the paths in a blissful peaceful park. We sat on a park bench by the water surrounded by white geese and up to our feet came swimming at least 10 turtles. Their little heads popping up out of the water as their eyes glared at us, I think they might have wanted food. A squirrel ran randomly through the group of geese and stopped on the pathway and observed us, and the cicadas serenaded us from the trees. New Orleans circadas are not as rhythmic as kiwi ones. The noise they make is more similar to a chainsaw than the singing sound we experience in our forests.

As it was almost dark we caught the streetcar again, but jumped off in a hurray when we spotted through a window a rather ritzy looking restaurant advertising superior fish dishes. We ended up going for the 2014 dinner menu.

Green fried tomatoes - really tasty;

Quinoa Salad with fresh arugula, feta cheese tossed in lemon vinaigrette and served as a ball of food - couldn't eat it. The only disappointment :

Pan-seared Gulf fish on top of roasted kale, cauliflower and cherry tomatoes over a light cauliflower puree - divine:

and finally, a plum buttermilk cake with orange royal icing and whipped cream - also divine. We washed this down with cocktails of vodka, ginger and champagne.

Why am I telling you this? Because its New Orleans, and the food is divine. You simply have to know.

Home on the street car lurching and swaying through the dark warm streets. We got off in town and walked down the length of Canal Street to the river, stopping only to walk through Harrahs Casino out of curiosity. A massive casino it is located at the riverside end of town .

Then with sore feet from the constant walking in heat, we limped back to the hotel and sleep