Friday, September 2, 2016

The National WWII Museum

We visited the National WWII Museum and were riveted. We both spent considerable time looking at the artifacts from the world through the lens of knowing that our fathers both served. Shawn's dad served in the European Theatre in the Army Air Corps and my dad served in the Pacific Theatre as a navy guy, aboard an LST. It was a moving afternoon and, with our first cold beer in the French Quarter after our visit, we toasted their courage and sacrifice.

NOLA!

We landed in the Big Easy, that Mississippi River port town, Nawlins, known for spicy cuisine, jazz, and the fun of the French Quarter.  It's so obvious that the city has a rich history and is a melting pot of French, African, and American cultures.  

The last time I visited NOLA, it was 2009 (with Kate, for her 25th and my 50th) and not much has changed. Bourbon Street is mildly interesting for a few hours, but is still raunchy, stinky, and visited by inebriated tourists. We went to Pat O'Brien's and ordered the famous Hurricane. For dinner we had jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and shrimp creole. In the morning, we ran by the Mississippi River and then dined on beignets at the famous CafĂ© du Monde. It was a fun 24 hours but we were ready to bid adieu when it was time to go!