Down in New Orleans

Hola, NOLA!

I'm positively thrilled to be blogging from New Orleans, LA tonight! I have loved NOLA from first sight in January 2010, and I know a lot of people have differing opinions about the city, but I don't care what anyone says: it's the best.

We had a looooooooong day today- lots of driving, and while it was truly beautiful to go through southern Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, it was fairly boring until we got into Louisiana. Lots of the same rolling hills and small mountains. It was an easy drive, but very long! We left Nashville at 8:30 this morning, and having stopped once for gas in Alabama and once for lunch in Mississippi, we arrived in NOLA at 6.

We're staying at a gorgeous hotel on Tchoupitoulas Street in the Central Business District, and we walked about four blocks for dinner tonight based on a recommendation from my cousin Kevin- Cochon. It was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had- my dad and I were so happy! We sat at the back bar and watched the chefs prepare the food as we waited, and it was all incredible! I had a cocktail called "The Swinekiller," which was gin, rhubarb bitters, and limeade. It was so refreshing on such a hot day! I had oven roasted Oysters as a small plate, and even tried (and liked!) the house-made pate that was brought as an amuse-bouche between courses. I had the Lousiana cochon for my entree, which was a great pork dish with "cracklins" turnips and pickled peaches. For dessert, a delicious banana pudding-- do I ever have to leave this place? Weight watchers be damned!

We rolled back to the hotel and positively crashed- We're exhausted but very happy to be here and are looking forward to our day of touring the city tomorrow! Pictures to come, I'm way too tired to deal with Google+ instant uploads tonight, sorry!

PS- Being here is so wonderful, but I desperately miss my teammates from my NOLA immersion trips from 2010 and earlier this year in January. I keep thinking of you all with every step I take! Expect lots of texts tomorrow :)