Travel Diary

SUNDAY

Sunday was more relaxing. We slept in a bit and then people did their own thing for the day. I had planned to visit a nearby park, but the rain suddenly came now in torrents and plans changed quickly. However, a couple of people were headed to the French Market so I tagged along.

It’s a fun place to explore. We had food in a gumbo restaurant. I tried a po boy, but made the mistake of ordering roast beef version and it was plain awful. I would not recommend it. I did have a nice Mint Julep though. Got to have at least one of those in NOLA.

We walked through the massive market and I grabbed many many videos. One lady even stopped me and asked why I was taking videos. I explained it was just for a fun YouTube NOLA episode. She said shop owners did not like people taking photos or videos as they worried about people creating knockoffs and stealing customers—or some nonsense like that. It was pretty silly, but I didn’t bother explaining that her trinkets had no real value and no one was coming to steal her business away. As well, no one else complained about the video recording, so she wasn’t speaking for all shop owners there. Just a silly paranoid woman, ’tis all.

I did agree to try raw oysters as that was the timing to do there. It was a memorable experience, and fun. My thoughts? Eh, not bad I guess, but also not something I’d likely do again. Just cool to try once while in the south. I think I just like my food cooked…sushi notwithstanding.

After leaving the market, we hit a grocery store to pick up some things. I noticed a salad bar there. It was notable because at the beginning of Covid, I remember how the media was predicting how many things would never be the same again, and that it was unlikely we would ever see salad bars again. And what do you know? A salad bar, exactly as before. There were so many false predictions, it’s almost comical.

Once back at the place, my friend Lesly offered to go to Audubon park as we had to swing by and help Brianna with some moving-out tasks. The park was nice. A cool refuge for the students of the nearby university. Good for a few hours maybe.

Back at the AirBNB, we had a nice dinner (first one in the place and not in a restaurant). I got a text that a friend of mine was in town and watching the Warriors game at a nearby bar with his wife. So Mark and I (a huge Warrriors fan) headed over there for beers and to watch the game. Good times and a great win.

Most were asleep as we returned. It was late Sunday evening. I stayed up for some time chatting with Lesly, but then it was time to turn in.