Week 10: Weekend at The Big Easy

Blogger's note: I was going to write about another aikido shirt this week since we have another big workshop weekend. Since it has been only two weeks ago when I wrote about aikido, I figured some variety may be in order, so I decided to pick one from the pile.

Spring is around the corner and with warmer weather, folks are starting to think about traveling. So I am picking one of my favorite destinations: New Orleans. It's also fortunate that this shirt is black, so it matches my gray sweatpants well (Hey, I am still sick this week, so I am entitled).

Featuring New Orleans Jazz: Reminds me of Preservation Hall

I visited New Orleans only for a weekend a long time ago. I spent some time in Tampa, Florida for business and training, and decided to spend the weekend in New Orleans. I've never been there before and have heard so much about the city - specifically the French Quarter - so I was looking forward to a weekend get-away after a week of training. I was (and am) not a big party person, most especially when I am traveling alone, so I was not expecting to get drunk. I do love good food. I was looking forward to a weekend of great eats and eating my way through New Orleans.

I was not disappointed. On my first evening, I lined up at K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen (no reservations back then) and had jambalaya. It was community seating, so I had a chance to meet people and share conversation. The next day, I also enjoyed beignets and chicory coffee for breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, enjoyed po-boys at lunch, another dinner at Brennan's with my new friends, and yes, enjoyed libations here and there. I've never seen pina coladas and margaritas sold in machines like slurpees. It was a delicious time, and I surprisingly stayed sober.

What I did not expect was getting exposed to and enjoying the wonderful music. I met some new friends at K-Paul's, and we went out after dinner each night and enjoyed music afterwards. The French Quarter was filled with music every night - just go in a bar, order a drink, and enjoy (kinda makes bar hopping worthwhile). Music ranged from old piano standards at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop (the piano player even played "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" after finding out where I was from), techno pop, zydeco (my first exposure using washboards as a musical instrument), and of course, New Orleans jazz at Preservation Hall. I was so inspired by the music that the next day, I spent the whole afternoon taking in the Jazz Museum and bought this shirt.

I love New Orleans and am hoping that we can go back there someday. I haven't been back since Katrina, so I hope that they have rebuilt, but kept that wonderful New Orleans charm. I hope that next time, we'll have more opportunity to explore the city, the food, and the music.

Oh yes, a bit of the booze too.