Day 9 - New Orleans

We decided instead of heading back to Houston to get off the island, we would brave the possible lines for the ferry to Bolivar and cut across the peninsula so we didn’t have to back track. It was an awesome idea! 

Next in line to board our car onto the ferry.

We had to wait a bit to load, but it was a cool experience and actually knocked off 15 minutes of drive time and about 60 miles. Plus, we got to get out of the car and have fun while still making good time! We met a few sweet ladies on the ferry who gave the girls Cheetos and bread to feed the seagulls, so we headed to the back of the ferry to feed the gulls.

Grace was a nervous first-timer, but these gulls seemed to know what they were doing!

 We couldn’t believe how brave they were swooping right down and grabbing things out of their hands. Emma discovered they were incredible at catching bread in the air so she threw it up and watched them catch it. 

Not taking any chances...they were seriously skilled at catching!

And...as we predicted, it was all fun and games until Grace got pooped on. We figured it was inevitable with that many birds, so we were super thankful it was on her shoulder and not in her hair or clothes! J

Occupational hazard! :) 

The horn sounded for docking so we headed back to the car and drove through the peninsula. It was obvious that Tropical Storm Cindy was harder on the peninsula that it was the island (Galveston has a 17 ft seawall that was built in the early 1900’s…though it was no match for Hurrican Ike) so there was apparent flooding in many places and temporary seawalls constructed to help direct the unwanted water. 

Temporary barriers were no match for Cindy, she broke right through!

Nearly every structure is built on stilts on the peninsula, and nearly every one of them is brand new since 2008 when Hurricane Ike destroyed the nearly 200 homes there. It was a fun drive through Bolivar and we were feeling especially thankful we chose not to drive the “beaten path” and take the slower route (which saved us time and miles in the long run anyway).

So many tall bridges...the girls throught they were on a roller coaster ride!

We were hoping to stop off in Baton Rouge at the old Louisiana Capital Building (it looks so awesome and comes with its own ghost stories), but the traffic through Baton Rouge is ridiculous. It was at a standstill multiple times [on a Saturday at 2pm with NO road construction and NO accidents, mind you]. So, the Capital building closed before we were able to go through it. We decided people in Baton Rouge really don’t know how to drive as we saw multiple people turn on their hazards when it started to lightly rain, and still others driving with their hazards on while texting on their phones. 

We didn't stop in Baton Rouge, but we did stop in Gator Country!!

We arrived in New Orleans and checked into our hotel. We quickly dropped our things and headed downtown to hit the 5pm Mass at The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France. 

Mass was packed, the priest was great (with a super thick Irish accent) and the Cathedral was beautiful!

This beautiful Cathedral is the oldest Catholic cathedral in use in the US dating back 1718. It was gorgeous to attend Mass there and is definitely a prominent part of downtown New Orleans. 

Year of Mercy Doors!

After Mass we watched a few street performers, checked out Jackson Square and Washington Artillery Park before walking down to Oceana Grille for dinner. 

Jackson square

Washington Artillery Park

Our favorite street performers playing the Kora. It has 21 strings!!

The line was backed up out the door and half way down the block so we didn’t think we would get in, but for once, a party of 5 seemed to be a good thing, as most people were in groups of 2 or 4, so we were seated quickly. Since we were in the French Quarter we, of course, had to order a little Cajun food. 

Can you tell this is one of the most popular restaurants in the French Quarter?!

Mark ordered the Cajun jambalaya, I got the shrimp gumbo, and the girls all three got shrimp. We ordered a bit of gator sausage for an appetizer to try out and of course since we were in New Orleans, we tried a NOLA blonde from a local brewery. It was one of the most incredible meals.

Mmm...Cajan Jambalaya and Gator Sausage!

Shrimp gumbo for me, fried shrimp for Grace. The verdict for the girls...they like the sausage, and were 2/3 for the jambalaya and gumbo.

 We walked around the French Quarter a bit (even braved Bourbon Street with the girls) and then headed back to the hotel before things got too crazy. It was another wonderful day of vacation, and another day where the crazy weather didn’t keep us down!

Bourbon street, after 8pm, with children. Feel free to nominate us for parents of the year.

*Though the rest of us missed it, when we got back to the car the 6 year old asked why there was a girl who lifted her shirt and showed her boobs. O.M.G. Insert "mom speech" on inappropriate behaviors -here-. [I felt like I should be giving myself that same speech...who takes their children down Bourbon St after dark?] I totally deserved that.