NEW ORLEANS---THE BIG EASY NEVER STOPS!

Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, Louisiana

Saturday, January 31, 2015

65 F, Sunny

We drove early morning to our hotel on Loyala Street. The weather was cool, but quite tolerable. Basically we parked the truck at our hotel and walked to the National World War II Museum about nine long blocks away. This museum is worth the visit—we viewed Beyond All Boundaries, “an award winning 4D cinematic experience narrated by Tom Hanks.” Flashing lights, vibrations like moving tanks, fog, snow, mist, enhanced the experience. It reminded me somewhat of the new Battle of Gettysburg panorama scene which puts the viewer right in the middle of the action. The final scene of the rescue of so many people from a major concentration camp was especially moving.

From this theater we went to another pavilion to see airplanes and military vehicles—the Sherman tank and a Willys Overland Jeep made in Toledo, Ohio.  I need to check with my brother, but I believe my father worked at Willys Jeep in Toledo during the war. He was also in the Civil Air Patrol.  My mother was a 1^st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps during WW II.  At this pavilion we viewed Final Mission: The USS Tang Experience. This interactive encounter recreates the last war patrol of America’s most decorated submarine in World War II. Each person was assigned a duty as a crew member while we watched the submarine torpedo a convoy of Japanese supply ships. Only nine crew members survived the conflict, the only submarine crew members to ever survive sinking.

Willys Overland Jeep, National World War II Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana

After lunch in a WW II diner, we took a cab to the Café du Monde and walked through the French market. I bought two beautiful blue and green masks with peacock feathers. When we decided to have some coffee and beignets at Café du Monde, TK saw Lawrence and Donna. What a reunion! It was wonderful to see them again and our conversation began right where we left off two years ago! We finished coffee with a walk down busy Bourbon Street and even in daylight we saw some x-rated sights. 

Back at the hotel briefly we got a call from Brian and Nancy that they had arrived—they came to our room, and again so great to see such good friends. After a quick streetcar ride, we walked toward the French Quarter. Since both TK and Brian are retired professional firefighters, they easily spotted a firehouse. The NOLA firefighters just happened to have NOLA FF t-shirts for sale so we all bought one---Nancy’s and mine say, “Kicking Ash for a Cure.”  I love how all firefighters across the country support the fight against breast cancer.   

We finally arrived for our reservations at Oceana Grill (where Donna and Lawrence joined us) and the bread pudding did not disappoint! Our server Errol was great!!!  We even saw part of the first parade for Mardi Gras 2015. Back on Bourbon Street at night, the crowd was even bigger and as active, but nothing x-rated this time. We all got beads thrown at us from balconies---great fun, thanks to daring Donna!

TK’s Takes: Janie would not share her bread pudding, so others had to order their own. Donna’s crème brulee was the largest serving he ever saw. Pralines are too sweet. Looking forward to two weeks of relaxation!!!