On a drizzly day we set out from Houston to New Orleans.  The ride was pretty easy without traffic until we got nearer to our destination.  This is Lake Ponchitrain which I thought was the ocean at first it is so big.

Lovely and iconic New Orleans architecture.  We did Hop On Hop Off to get a feel for the city.  Basically it is divided into thirds:  The Garden District of stately old houses, The Vieux Carre or the old part of the city which is sub-divided into French and Spanish areas, and then the areas around the Old Market and Jackson Square which are basically in the Old Quarter.

This is one of the many old, above ground cemeteries found all over the city.  Very interesting. Seemed to me like a lot of famous people either came from or are buried here (New Orleans).

Continuing with our military theme, we visited the National World War II Museum. This very interesting museum chronicals the war as seen from the eyes of the soldiers.  At the outset we were given dog tags belonging to a soldier and we followed his story through the war.  ‘My’ soldier was John Morgan who was rejected when he tried to sign up because he had broken his neck so he went to Canada and joined the RCAF.  He went to England and fought courageously and was finally accepted into the USAF.  He earned a Congressional Medal of Honor and was then shot down and captured.  He made it out alive and was a great example of the bravery and single mindedness seen in so many of that generation’s soldiers.

And, finally there was the food!  Beignets at Cafe du Monde,

Chicken gumbo and crab deviled eggs at Mannings (yes, the father of Eli and Peyton),

And finally a taste of jambalaya, gumbo, and etouffe at Huck Finn’s.  I’ve gained 5 lbs so far.