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This Ma Belle Vie is a little different from others because I’m combining it with Georgina’s A Day in the Life Linkup. Well, to be honest, it’s really not that different. I captured photos from morning until night, however I couldn’t exactly document what happened after we returned to the hotel because that Hand Grenade knocked me out. I hadn’t felt that horrible in a long time, so lesson learned: don’t take on an entire Hand Grenade if you can barely handle more than 5 shots of hard liquor.
On February 19th, Josh attended the 56th Annual Convention of the International Studies held in New Orleans & flew me out for our 2 Year Anniversary. It was my first time in Louisiana & also my first time in New Orleans aka The Big Easy. This city has experienced a lot of tragedy & hardship in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina drowned 80% of the city, due to a major engineering mishap: the levees designed to protect the city against major hurricanes failed. Thousands of people were displaced, lost their homes, lives, businesses, & many were trapped in their own homes when the waters rushed in. Since then, the city has slowly, but surely recuperated. Tourism is very much alive & Mardi Gras is still a much celebrated event. Our trip to NOLA was a week after Mardi Gras, so most of the city still looked like the day after a frat party, but I chose not to photograph the trash. I don’t want to depict the city’s disheveled appearance, hoping to highlight the wonderful mixing of various cultures, food, & architecture. New Orleans is appropriately named America’s most unique city & while it might be a far cry from Paris, Amsterdam, London, or Bern, it is still such a worthy visit. There is no other city in all of the US like it & the culture & food is phenomenal. It’s a perfect blend of Southern comfort, Caribbean & Spanish flavors, & most notably, French influence. NOLA is a pescetarian’s dream come true: seafood for days. It’s also a great hub for meat eaters & veggie lovers alike.
Time for me to stop talking, so enjoy this edition of Ma Belle Vie/A Day in the Life.
Happy anniversary to you both! My friend and I have talked about taking a foodie trip and meeting up in New Orleans. I hope we make that happen some day because I’d love to visit!
I really liked looking at your photos of the city 🙂 Layfette Square looks like a really nice place to walk through. And wow, I haven’t seen anything like your brunch plate before. So many delicious things put together! The etoufee and po’boys look awesome too. Etoufee is my favorite cajun dish; it’s just so rich and satisfying. I typically get a crawfish one 😀 Aahhh, I want to go and experience all that food!
Thank you!! You should put that talk into walk, because it’s worth the trip. I actually want to go again, so if you actually do plan on going (go during crawfish season) let me know, because I might….just hop on your plans too hahaha. I wanna eat ALL THE THINGS! Gained 5 pounds probably after that trip, but when I got back I lost it all (because who can eat like that every single day & not feel like a myocardial infarction is about to happen?!).
That catfish brunch is seriously worth every penny. I’ve never had anything like it before & it was so amazing. So filling. Would’ve licked the plate clean if my stomach weren’t already so full.
I like étouffée a lot too, but the ones I had in NOLA were really watery, almost like canned tomato soup + Slap Ya Mama’s seasoning + some shrimp. Kind of disappointing, but I’m sure there are restaurants that serve it better elsewhere. That’s why…..I MUST GO BACK.
Happy anniversary! 😀 Looks like you guys had a blast! I’d love to visit New Orleans one day . . . I’d probably go mostly for the jazz aspect, haha! Wouldn’t also mind trying real cajun/creole food, too, while I’m there!
I loved going through your photos! All of them look great, and the food . . . NOM. The food pics really look delicious! ^^
Thank you! 🙂 We wanted to go to a jazz club too, but alas….I got… way too hammered. BUT I WILL BE BACK!! I want to go back when it’s crawfish season (it is right now, but we didn’t get a chance to have any) & I want me some fresh oysters (again, didn’t get any, but had the chance). No hand grenades, no hurricanes, just friggin NOLA without the migraines.
Happy Anniversary! All your photos look great. I wish I could visit other places. I’ve hardly been out of Texas – especially lately. I think the last place I went to was Memphis. I will keep in mind your warning on the Hand Grenade, lol.
HAH yeah unless you’ve got a really high tolerance, beware of the Hand Grenade. Aw I’m sure you’ll be able to travel about the States when your schedule isn’t so busy! Thanks for checking out my post. 🙂
It’s good to see that New Orleans heavily recovering from the hurricane damages a decade ago… Really a decade ago?! I like the whole culture of Orleans being a party town during Mardi Gras. Buuuuut the aftermath of it isn’t always the best *_*. Your breakfast looks so delicious and the presentation is amazing. I’ve never seen shrimp skewers being vertical :D. The oysters must be tasty too! I’m still trying to find an excuse to go all the way to LA for EMC (one day..!).
Happy anniversary to the both of you and wish you many more years of happiness :D.
Congrats on two years! From your photos, I think New Orleans is a beautiful city. I’m glad that it’s recovered from the hurricane. I remember watching it on the news, and it was devastating.
I feel you on the drinks! The last party I went to was a work party, and I thought for sure I could handle myself. Nope, I got major turnt because my co-workers are terrible enablers. That subway ride home was fun. I was drunk tweeting the whole time. XD
I can see you had great fun in New Orleans! The tragedy that hit the city was tremendous, I still remember those images…
p.s. I love your red pumps 🙂