Last day in New Orleans

Friday March 6th spouse and I woke up in this room at Hotel Provincial in New Orleans. We had 1/2 a day to spend together in New Orleans before we left for Brandon, Mississippi to stay with spouse's Aunt L and Uncle G. That afternoon we headed back to the airport to get a rental car and drive about 3 1/2 hours to George and Lorene's home. So that morning we took the cable car from the French Quarter to the Garden District. The weather was nice. We didn't have plans however we were very lucky that just as we were coming out of a random coffee shop in the garden district we basically stumbled on to what turned out to be a great 1 1/2 hour neighborhood walking tour. Here is some of what we saw on the walking tour.

This is where it started.

Our tour guide had lived her whole life in this neighborhood. She was so knowledgeable and just really a great guide.

According to the cemetery preservationists this next picture is where they believe the most bodies are buried. Several movies have been filmed in this cemetary. At least one based on an Anne Rice's book. Anne Rice used to live in the neighborhood.

This home was used in the movie Benjamin Button which was just filmed last year. Brad Pitt and Kate Blanchett were in this movie with a reverse aging theme. Our tour guide said she and her neighbors thought the cast and crew for this movie were very nice.

Some amazing architecture and history about these homes as well.

The last picture is of the Manning's home, where Peyton and Eli grew up. Archie Manning and his wife still live there. Our tour guide had the nicest things to say about this family.

Below is a description of Antoine's (from their website) where we went for lunch. This was spouse's idea. He had been there with his co-workers and thought I would love it. And it was fun. Also afterwards the restaurant staff told us we could wander around (see below description from http://www.antoines.com/). We ran into our morning tour guide with a tour group while we were wandering around.

Last picture is the wine cellar. Although Antoine's did not suffer a lot of Katrina damage b/c of lost power the restaurant lost $1M in wine.

Since 1840, world-renowned Antoine's Restaurant has set the standard that made New Orleans one of the greatest dining centers of the world. For over 160 years, Antoine's Restaurant's excellent French-Creole cuisine, service, and atmosphere have combined to create an unmatched dining experience for both locals and visitors to New Orleans. Antoine's has a selection of 15 dining rooms, each with their own unique history and charm, for private parties and events for up to 700+ guests. Memorabilia from its many notable guests line the walls....and include General Patton, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, President Roosevelt, Judy Garland, Carrol Burnett and Pope John Paul the II...to name just a few.... We invite you to experience the culinary delights which have made Antoine's Restaurant a living history!

So after lunch we walked back to Hotel Provincial to get our luggae and a cab to the airport.

We got to George and Lorene's in time for dinner and to go to bed early. The next day the four of us went to see the plantation homes in Natchez

Pet Nanny Report Mar 2009

Spouse and I have been home now for 48 hours after traveling for the past 2.5 weeks. Kitty has been purring a remarkable amount since we have been home.

The scan on this entry is unreadable but basically recaps what was happening at home while spouse and I were in New Orleans, Natchez and Branson Mississippi and lastly Florida. The scan is PN's "Daily Dairy".

Basically each day PN:

1. refreshed food (and LN ate a lot) & water

2. scooped litter boxes and swept

3. gave TLC

4. brought in the mail.

And some of her comments:

"Lucy has a lot to say today.""Put her in my lap and gave her lots of TLC""Could not find brush to brush her"."Was in your area so I stoped by to check on Lucy.""Combed her a little." "Treats" "UPS box put on counter."" Good time on the deck.""A little play with feather.""She has a lot to say today.""Combed Lucy on patio."

The first night we were home spouse woke up to see her laying on our bed, 4 paws in the air and purring. By the 2nd night she was back to sleeping on "her" fake fur blanket in the river room.

New Orleans

Above are pictures of the hotel where we are staying while we are in New Orleans. Below is a description from the hotel's website:

History of the Hotel Provincial In 1718 Jean Baptiste LaMoyne, Sieur de Bienville, established New Orleans as the Capital of Louisiana. The land on which the Hotel Provincial is located was a grant from King Louis XV of France to Bienville's Lietenant Louis Boucher de Granpre circa 1725. In 1775 it was sold to Chevalier Jean Lavillebeuvre, an Indian agent for the French Colony from 1780 until 1797. The site was acquired and developed by the Laurans and Roque families during the 1800's. It was sold in 1903 to the French Market Ice Company. The Dupepe family purchased the tract after fired destroyed the Ice Company in 1958. Here the family built the 100-200 buildings, which opened as a Hotel in 1961. The site of the 300 building was used from the founding of the city and throughout the 18 th century as a medicinal herb garden supplying the Military Hospital located down the street. The Archbishop of New Orleans acquired the tract at some time during the 18 th century, and sold it in 1820. The present townhouse and slave quarters were constructed around 1825. Its present restoration was completed in 1967. The 400 building was built in the 1830's and was utilized in the Creole fashion of retail store downstairs, and living quarters upstairs. For many years a hardware store occupied the site, until it was purchased and restored in 1964. The plot upon which the 500 building is located belonged to the Ursuline Nuns. Here a military hospital was erected in 1722. In 1831 Archbishop Leon de Necke, sold the property to Antoine Abat. Abat sold the building to a lawyer named Dominique Seghers. He tore down the old building and erected two grand houses on the site. In 1848 Francoise Sambola bought the property and ran a boarding house and coffee house. The two houses burnt in1874, the present building was built the same year. The Reuter Seed Company bought the building in 1916. The Dupepe Family acquired the building in 1969.

Needless to say I am looking forward to this trip... just have a lot to do before we leave... including:

1. get tax documents organized for accountant (almost done)
2. collect documents and make appointments for I-171 H renewal (at this time still unsure how difficult since agencies are giving conflicting direction... arggh the joys of int'l adoption)
3. hopefully rent my last open apartment and become 100% occupied again
4. get initial b-fly orders placed and fill-in approvals passed.

Snow Days

Today and yesterday I stayed home because the roads were impassable due to the 8" of snow that hit us. Last night we also got about an inch of sleet. So today teh City of Cincinnati declared today a Snow Emergency Level 3 meaning you could get ticketed for driving. The emergency level was downgraded to Level 2 at 4PM today. Level 2 means only drive if you have to.

The first picture was taken from our 3rd floor looking out towards the Ohio River. The next picture is of spouse shoveling the snow in front. The last picture is looking down Fort View ... I thought it was interesting b/c it shows the ice on the power lines and how it is weighing down the branches on the trees (a big problem around the city).

Yesterday and today I helped spouse shovel (my back is sore) but mostly I just embroidered and stoked the fire we had going all day. Yesterday I embroidered a bath towel for baby and today I embroidered pillow cases.

This afternoon spouse bought a tickeet for me to travel with him (business trip) in March to New Orleans the first week of March! So tonight I'm looking up stuff to do... as of right now I have found 4 museums that look interesting (Museum of Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Bishoff Sculpture Gardens and Contemporary Art Center). I've also found several interesting tours, French Quarter, Garden District as well as Katrina Recovery Tours. According to what I've read online the Katrina tours are not voyeuristic and actually residents welcome the tourism.

On Saturday March 7 spouse and I will drive about 3 hours to Brandon, Mississippi (near Jackson) to visit spouse's aunt and uncle.