Austin to New Orleans via Houston

So we are on I-10 heading East through Texas into Louisiana, and we are planning to hit The Big Easy by 6 in the afternoon, which should give us enough time to drive around a bit and see some sights, grab some good Gumbo and Jambalaya, and then hit up Pat O's in the French Quarter.

Yes, we are going to go to Bourbon Street. No, we are not going to take our clothes off in front of Girls Gone Wild photographers. 

Anyway, we woke up in Austin and hit the road at 9am towards Houston. Jeff was in rough shape, so I did the entire morning drive. Hey, that's what friends are for, right? Plus, I think I've earned myself some valuable snoozing time this afternoon.

(THE Hangover.)

Michelle, who is a Houston native, recommended a place called Barnaby's for lunch. She mentioned they have great salads, and since I haven't had a salad since July, I figured it might be a good idea to balance out all the cow I've been ingesting. 

We showed up in Houston, saw the skyline as we drove in, and then headed directly for Barnaby's, which turned out to be just what we needed. An air conditioned, friendly, not-too-big-not-too-small, affordable and healthy spot, Barnaby's was a great place to recharge our batteries from the night before. 

(The Houston Skyline.)

(More restaurants in America should be like this one.)

(Note the conditional pricing on the Stimulus Brownie at the bottom of the menu.)

I ordered the California Mediterranean Salad and I was served a mound of lettuce, feta, tomatoes, olives, onions and shredded chicken. Adding a bit of Italian dressing, I took it down while Jeff enjoyed a nice, safe, recovery-friendly Turkey Sandwich.

(My monstrous salad.)

(Good food, no pretense.)

At the end of the meal, I broke the bank on a $1 "Stimulus Brownie" a la mode, which may have been the best deal of the trip so far. 

(This could be the best dollar I've ever spent. This picture doesn't do justice to the height of this brownie. The thing was about 2 inches deep...that's what she said?)

The new Mustang has an iPod jack, so we are going to pick up a cord and rock out to some of the songs that I wasn't able to burn onto bland CDs. I am thinking that "Young Adult Friction" by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is going to be a great driving song.

I also want to give a big shout out to my uncle Ted Kantor, who texted me last night while I was in Austin. The text read as follows:

"Do this for me. Top down, cruising, listen to The Doors, LA Woman"

What an awesome uncle. Well guess what? Jeff just happened to bring along his "The Doors: Greatest Hits" CD, so I am obliging Teddy as we speak, sitting shotgun and listening to Jim Morrison moan about Mister Mojo Rising...

(Next time you uncle tells you to do something, it might not be a bad idea to pay attention.)

I drifted off to sleep for an hour of two, only to be woken up to the sound and feeling of aggressive raindrops. We had driven into a Louisiana downpour and had to pull over and put the top back up. 

(I haven't seen rain like this since Wisconsin.)

We drove through Baton Rouge and into New Orleans, seeing a ton of swamp and marshland along the way.

(Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The state capital and New Orlean's tamer, more well-behaved younger brother.)

(Marshland as far as the eye could see.)

(On the top of the picture, angry gray stormclouds. On the bottom, fluffy white clouds. The contrast was striking.)

We arrived at Sarah's house in New Orleans, located on Freret Street in the middle of the Tulane campus. We were greeted by Sarah's roommate Elizabeth, a Tulane Law student and an all-around sweetheart. We offered to take her out to dinner and around town, and were delighted when she accepted. So we drove down the parade routes on St. Charles Street, and continued on into the French quarter for some food, sightseeing, cocktails and gambling.

(Streaks of sunset color along the New Orleans skyline.)

(St. Charles Street, the main parade route for Mardi Gras. Note the trolley on across the street.)

(Sarah's roommate Elizabeth hung out with us all night. And she was good luck at the Blackjack table. Double bonus.)

(Sarah and Elizabeth's house on Freret St. A beautiful place for us to crash.)

(Through the trees, one of Tulane's main buildings.)

First, we parked the car and hit up The Gumbo Shop for some delicious Blackened Catfish, Crawfish Etouffee, Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo, and Cajun Mashed Potatoes. 

(Blackened Catfish with a Sweet Mustard Fish Sauce.)

(Good old Chicken Andouille Gumbo.)

(Can't miss with this name and description, right?)

Then we walked a block and a half to Bourbon Street, where Jeff got really happy, saying stuff like, "I can't believe I'm here" and "Wow, I'm in New Orleans" and "Will, you're so handsome and thoughtful"...I mean, he definitely said at least some of that stuff.

(360 degrees of Bourbon St.)

(Talk about your effective forms of advertising.)

Just off Bourbon Street is Pat O' Briens, the most popular bar in the French Quarter and a Tulane institution, not to mention the second dueling piano bar we had visited in as many days. Pat O's is famous for their "Hurricane" a massive 5-shot drink that is both infamous and delicious. Jeff and I "split" one, meaning I had one sip for the purposes of a photograph (I was driving), and Jeff polished off the rest.

(A French Quarter Institution.)

(Sharing a Hurricane at Pat O's in front of a flaming fountain.)

Finally, we headed over to the Harrah's Casino in the French Quarter, which I didn't have the chance to visit during Mardi Gras because I was having too much fun elsewhere. Though I finally made it this time around, the Harrah's in New Orleans, like its Vegas counterpart, doesn't allow photographs. Still, we played some Blackjack and some Roulette, Elizabeth played her role as my good luck charm, and I won enough money to buy gas for the rest of the trip. Way to go Liz!

On our way back, we drove past the Superdome, where thousands of families were displaced after Hurricane Katrina. It's not particularly well lit, but has become a cultural landmark for many reasons.

(Not a great picture, but this is the Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints.)

Now we are off to Mobile, Alabama for lunch, and will be heading to Atlanta tonight to spend a few days with my ridiculously good-looking friend Christian Colin, see a few Braves games (this will be my first trip to Turner Field), eat some solid Georgian fare, do some much-needed loads of laundry, and spend multiple days in a single city for the last time on the trip.

On behalf of Texas, Louisiana and Jeff: Y'all take care now.