We had a great time visiting The Big Easy aka New Orleans. Here’s the itinerary from the first half of our trip. Part two is coming tomorrow!
Summer trip to New Orleans
Mazen and I spent a long weekend visiting family in New Orleans! KK is the mother of Mazen’s father and Mazen’s grandmother. Mazen’s uncle and cousin also live there. I offered to fly Mazen down to spend some time with them and make it a little vacation for me too!
Saturday trips
Our ride started last Saturday at 4:45 am. We traveled from Charlottesville and had a three hour layover in Atlanta. This was my first time using a Priority Pass membership that came free with Capital One Venture X Card. Did we feel like going there boy!! (Read more about the perks of credit cards and travel rewards over here).
We had our second breakfast, coffee, free M&Ms, free wifi, nice bathrooms.
I got MIMOSA at 9 AM. It was free – why not!? haha.
Karen boat house
We met Uncle Andrew at the airport and took us to Karen’s house. And boy does she have a wonderful one!
Not to be confused with a boatman, KK lives in a boat house!
after renovation
In 2018, she bought an old boat house in Anchorage where there are more than 134 boat homes, many of which have been renovated. Fun fact: Its basement is made of waterproof material because flooding is obviously a concern (and it was flooded during Hurricane Ida).
But look at her backyard view!!!
The balcony was great for sitting and sunset. It has many big fans (that’s the name of the company!) to keep the breeze going.
her neighbors
Her neighbors on the right are actual boats! The wooden box at the back was once owned by a famous Cuban. To the left it has residents.
boat slips
In the basement it has a wonderful swing bed, kayak and small motor boat. We didn’t do any boat because everyone was a little scared of the crocodile! Karen said that after last year’s hurricane there were 12 feet swimming next to her!!
fishing
Mazen borrowed a fishing rod from the neighbors and caught a huge catfish in his third team!! Fortunately, the neighbor was still there to help him get the fish off the hook.
decorative harbor
KK has always been a talented decorator, and her home is gorgeous.
This is the room Mazen and I slept in. Very comfortable and there are no windows as in the inner room, so it was great to sleep in.
lulu pillow
Karen has a few fur pillows
Oh wait that’s a dog!!! She is actually he did not do Get a dog. This is Lucy, the neighbor’s dog, who lives with Karen 90% of the time. She was very nice!!
blue crab
For dinner on a Saturday night we went to a nearby blue crab With a friend of Andrew’s birthday! We started with a round margarita for the table.
Mazen (who loves mussels): “I’m not going to try oysters.”
Also Mazen:
Mazen loves crab and that’s what he got for dinner!
The rest of us shared an array of seafood on a plate (calamari) and side salads.
blueberry bread pudding
We came home to raspberry bread pudding topped with vanilla ice cream.
Andrew and I talked about going to the French Quarter that night, but we decided rush hours had passed, so we called it a night.
Sunday breakfast
After a good night’s sleep we had a big breakfast of bacon, fruit and toast.
riding lessons
Mazen’s cousin was taking horse riding lessons, so Mazen joined her! We met horses beforehand.
He learned to trot!
Lunch at Andrew’s
We went back to Andrew’s house for lunch and a bit of relaxation. All sandwich toppings as salad – including fritos!
Before we head to Bayou for a swamp tour!!!!!!!!!
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