Today I took a day trip to the New Orleans French Quarter. My last visit I spent a couple of hours driving around New Orleans, both sides of the Mississippi River. Today I went straight to the French Quarter. I also went early enough that I didn't have to hunt around for parking. I found several parking lots with plenty of empty lots. Here is a tip for you site seers like me. Most of the parking lots are near the Mississippi river side of the French Quarter.

Last time I took I55/US51 South from Hammond to New Orleans. I thought I spent a lot of time on a bridge during that trip. Well this time I took the Lake Ponchartrain causeway (US190). It is a toll road leading from the north side of Lake Ponchartrain to the south side into New Orleans. This time I was impressed with the bridge. I clocked 23 miles solid on the bridge (causeway).

Like the other day I did a lot of walking around. Today on the other hand was sunny and much cooler (read less humid). I really enjoyed the walk and even got my self a little red faced.

I spent most of my time walking along the sea wall watching the ships coming and going on the Mississippi River. I especially enjoyed watching the Paddle Wheeler Natchez. I just missed her or I would have taken a ride on her. I suggest anyone planning on visiting the French Quarter you should definitely check the departure times and make it a point to ride on the Natchez.

For lunch I went to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe on Decatur St (across the street from the French Market). Like the other day I had some Gumbo. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe has a Filé Gumbo which was particularly good. I guess I am now going to have to start looking for Gumbo in other states.  I probably won't have too much trouble for the next month or so but once I get back on the left third of the country I will have to do some serious looking.

I wanted to get out of town before the traffic hits so I left about 3:00 PM. I took the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway again North.  I stopped between Mandeville and Covington at a Books A Million with a Joe Muggs Coffee shop. I wanted to relax a bit so I sat for awhile reading some magazines.

By the time I got home my babies, (my cats Christie, Grayson and Patches) were so glad to see me it took me an hour of letting them each take their turns setting with me getting petted before I could think of doing anything else.