Grungy in NOLA

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I asked, “Do you guys have any idea how dirty you are?” And this was their reply. Lowe looked genuinely surprised.

nov28-1Ali and Ouest had to fly back to MN for a quick one-day trip, leaving me and Lowe to have a boys-only day.

nov29-1 nov29-2Lowe spotted this guy first. We found another one basking in the sun along the shore, as well. Being a parent of young children in the south has to be incredibly stressful. Telling kids to not go near the water is like telling them not to touch the cookies you just took out of the oven. Although I suppose once they’ve seen a few of these guys up close they probably lose the inclination to want to go in the water anyway.

nov29-3There are armadillos all over the place. Lowe and I walked up to one and gave him a gentle poke in the butt with a stick. The little accordion jumped up in the air, then turned and chased us all the way back to the Airstream while making some sort of snuffling noise. We about died laughing. Lowe said, “I can’t wait to tell Mama and Da (his nickname for Ouest). That was my favorite part of boy’s day.” Always nice when a father can spend quality time harassing adorable/hideous/adorably hideous animals with his son.

nov29-4Lowe asked me, “Can I get the power to turn into a black panther for Christmas?” For a second I thought he was making a political statement.

I know there is plenty of family friendly things to do in New Orleans, but still, every time we’re here I think, “We need to come here without kids some time.”

dec2-2 dec2-3dec2-1I’ve never been a smoker, but still, seeing these machines takes me back. Although I’m sure my memories didn’t include people wasting $8.50 and a day of their lives for a pack.

dec2-4 dec2-5 dec2-6Music, music, everywhere. Sometimes there is so much music going on out on the street that it all blends together to make a fabulous mess.

dec2-7 dec2-9dec2-10Witch is going to be pissed when she comes back outside.

dec2-13We jumped on a trolly out to the city park, which turned out to be a horrible idea. We figured the trolly cars were more or less a silly tourist thing to do. Instead it’s actually a way for locals to get around—and it’s quite possibly the slowest public transportation option available anywhere in the United States. It’s 30 blocks from the French Quarter to the City Park, and it takes 45 minutes each way on the trolly. We could have walked it that fast. We couldn’t believe that any local would ever ride that thing. Get a bike.

dec2-8dec2-12dec2-14

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19 Comments on “Grungy in NOLA”

  1. NOLA is one of my favorite cities for a quick jaunt. Music hopping on Frenchmen Street (Spotted Cat!) and mornings outside coffee shops in the Marigny… so nice!

  2. No need for alarm, but be very careful with Armadillos. Back in the day, when I worked with the Park and Forest Circus, ‘er Service, signs and alerts to stay away from them. Why? They could potentially pass on Leprosy.

    As we say in this house “ain’t got no time for that!”

  3. Great pics as usual, we’ve driven through new Orleans many times but for some reason have never stopped! What campground did you stay at to explore the city?

  4. Great pics as always! Am heading over to NOLA early Sunday morning from Destin. Was last there over 40 years ago!

  5. “Music, music, everywhere. Sometimes there is so much music going on out on the street that it all blends together to make a fabulous mess.”
    Love that statement.

  6. Bayou Segnette, just about our favorite place to camp in New Orleans. Locals travel using the trolley cause “what’s the hurry”

  7. Ate an armadillo once. Breaded and fried. Still have my nose and ears.

    40-50 years ago gators were endangered and had a genuine fear of man. As a kid in New Orleans and later in Miami there was not a body of water that we didn’t swim or tromp around.

    40 years of gator protection and we have what we have.

  8. My mom used to said that it was a good sign when a child starts her/his day clean and finish it dirty. In her book it met that we were intelligent, inquisitive and creative children. There was 13 of us. Sometimes at the end of the day she’d look at us and say : Well weren’t you a smart little boy/girl today! I’m glad she wasn’t one of these mothers that stop a child from exploring because she/he might get dirty.

  9. Wish we could have met up! We’d love to give you a tour of our city. The streetcar is extremely slow .. a ferry ride up n down the river for a few bucks is fun. Hope ya’ll have a Merry Christmas!

  10. Wyatt and Levi requested moving parks when you left to, “go where Quest and Lowe are going.” Your family has made a significant impression on me too and I have enjoyed reading about your lives. It was very nice to have met the four of you.

    1. That’s sweet. They all had a great time together. It was really nice meeting all of you as well. Good luck with everything! Hopefully we’ll cross paths again down the road.

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