Arrival

You know how sometimes you dream about a place before you visit it, and then when you get there it just doesn't live up to your expectations?

New Orleans is not one of those places.  I've only been here for four hours, and I'm already in love with it.  The tree-lined streets, the Georgian architecture, the jazz playing everywhere, and the food (the FOOD!) - this is my kind of city.  I'm actually sad to be going on my cruise tomorrow, as it means I have to leave New Orleans when I've just barely started to explore it.  (Yes, my life is hard.  I'm sad about going on a cruise.  I'm sure you all feel tremendous pity for me.)

Here are some highlights from day one.  (It's quite overcast here, so my apologies for the rather dull photos.)

The Garden District on our way to dinner:

The utterly amazing Upperline Restaurant, where I had my first introduction to New Orleans cuisine:

The fabulous interior of the restaurant:

Dinner!  I started with fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade.

Then had sauteed shrimp with crispy grits.  (Mmmmmm...grits....)

Then finished with bread pudding.

If I continue with this pattern throughout my trip, I may be too large to lift myself out of my deck chair by the end of the cruise.  Which I suppose I can live with.  Because this food is absolutely amazing, and worth every calorie.  Mmmmmm.