Travelers to NYC ! Who? When? MAY I ask?

Off to New Orleans tomorrow am.

Laissez les bons temps rouler

Oui

You know I'm going to want food and drink and music and people and architecture reports (have never been there). At your leisure though.

If you want real insider info, ask JPB.

Yeh, but she doesn't post here these days. Besides, I'm familiar with how she loves the area for many reasons... but not how Dlowan and Dodie are liking it. For example, have they tried beignets? I think I've only tasted one once and that was in Los Angeles so it doesn't count.

We are loving it except for the obvious one....the humidity.

We had an interesting day getting here......we were ready early so luckily went to JFK early. My luggage was a bit over Delta's limit so I got charged $100.

Dodi thought she lost her passport.....she has this vest thing with zillions of pockets inside....it has become known as "its pocketses." It's a death trap. Very convenient but travelling has us to the point where we can't remember where we put ANYTHING. She put her passport in a pocket and promptly forgot where she put it...causing panic when Delta demanded ID.

That resolved, we were told that our terminal had been changed and we had to get on a bus to the new terminal. The staff waved vaguely in a direction, and we spent ages working out where the hell we were supposed to go.....

At the other terminal we had breakfast after struggling with Delta's weird iPad ordering system, which didn't work.

Luckily, we then went to our departure lounge early, only to discover they'd changed terminals again. They don't announce these things....in teeny weeny letters on the ticket they tell you to keep checking if things have changed.

We bussed back and found the flight boarding process all blocked by the fact that apparently staff had wrongly processed a large group of French people, so their luggage was being chased all over the airport.

When we arrived we could not see our luggage. Apparently they decided to send some luggage to a carousel different from the one on the board...but we were able to retrieve it with some effort.

Sadly we are flying Delta to LA. : (

Good grief! I've had unpleasant airport experiences, but that take the cake.

Beignets and café au lait at Café du Monde in the French Quarter.
It's a must. Recommended by this guy.

Oh, man, is he a cutie!

<blush>

quite rightly, too!

Don't like deep fried sugar stuff.

You're in the wrong state.

I don’t like deep-fried anything and not icing sugar, but I have to have beignets in N.O. Just once per trip! At least, try the café au lait to go if you’re passing by the Café du Monde and wandering through the French Quarter.

Just a little way down the same street is Aunt Sally’s, noted for their pralines. Maybe not the best in New Orleans, but worth a visit. They also sell a good cross-section of Cajun/Creole seasonings at prices less than some others in the French Quarter. There’s Slap Ya Mama (a favourite at our house), Tony Cacheres, McIlhenny’s tabasco sauce and other products, souvenirs, cookbooks.

The New Orleans School of Cooking is fun if you have time to take a class, otherwise, visit their shop.

Don’t know what you’re looking to do…

We visit N.O. almost yearly and have for over 30 years. It’s unique.

Crawfish, try some …

Welcome to the nightmare that is USAn flight travel

Yes...but I can duck and weave. So far i have had various salads, eggs and bacon and black beans and pasta.

We can't put any more in our suitcases Mac, but thank you. We are visiting the French Quarter tomorrow. We are in Bywater which is lovely itself.

Had great time outside eating and listening to jazz last night.

I'll remember the crawfish. We are cruising on a riverboat tomorrow night....tres tourist!

Any recommendations for accessing the work of local artists?

I was amazed when I flew United from London to NYC a few years back. The crew wore stained and dirty uniforms and scuffed and damaged shoes. I only hoped the maintenance on the aircraft was better! I was actually scared that it wasn't. The staff were friendly and helpful...but I have never seen frankly dirty crew on an airline before. Even teeny regional airline staff in Oz look professional. There's one crazy ground admin lady in Coober Pedy who is as rude as hell, almost to the point of being a tourist attraction, though.

She once punched me in the arm as a friendly gesture after she'd been ruder than usual. Luckily all the German tourists on one trip had no idea what she kept yelling at them. Apparently Germans carry funny shaped and hard suitcases that can't be put in weeny cargo holds in the usual way and cause other people's luggage not to fit! I can see why it was irritating but coming over several times to yell at her customers was appalling!

You should go to the Ex in Toronto and try the deep-fried butter!