Pages

Monday, March 12, 2018

We DID go back to New Orleans!

On Saturday, February 24, 2018, both of us were flying from Atlanta to New Orleans, using our free Delta Airlines companion ticket which would expire on the 28th. 
The weather forecast was excellent.
So we booked our room for 3 nights at the Hyatt Place New Orleans/Convention Center which is very close to The National WWII Museum, a 3 minute walk. 
So on Sunday morning we got up for our breakfast, which is on the 3rd floor.
Actually inside the squared space between the four walls with rooms.
Now we were ready to walk to Jackson Square for the 11:00 AM Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica Saint Louis King of France with organ and choir.
BUT... it was pouring down!
Hyatt Place New Orleans/Convention Center
Well, having our breakfast here on the 3rd floor at the Hyatt Place New Orleans/Convention Center's Guest Kitchen gave us NO view to the outside.
We soon were in for a weather surprise...
That perfect weather forecast of 28ºC or 82ºF had gone down to about 21ºC or 70ºF and 100% WET.
So out came my travel umbrella and we ordered a taxi instead.
That made us arrive early but this was perfect for admiring this magnificent Cathedral-Basilica from the inside.
What a gem is this French Quarter landmark! Click on link for info...
We took our photos after having first a chat with the Rector and found us a perfect spot up front, so Pieter could follow Mass easily.
It meant a lot to us for being here at Mass at the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States on Sunday.

The above 2 photos of Jackson Square are made on Monday as we walked past without any rain.
We did however manage to walk back to our hotel on Sunday, after Mass.
Pieter took a nap and next we went in 3 minutes walking to The National WWII Museum.

Husband Pieter in front of THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM
Me in front of THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM with the huge WWII sign on top, next to the tree.
The Museum Campus is HUGE, you can see it on photos in the above link.
Do you notice the red bricks?

Commemorative Bricks or ROAD TO VICTORY BRICKS that could be purchased for $ 250 to honor a personal hero.
NAMES of fallen HEROES... those that served during WWII and civilians.
Just click on the pink hyperlink for more info.

Yeah, Take a selfie with FDR at The National World War II Museum soon... and I did!
A beautiful bronze Franklin Delano Roosevelt sculpture.

Here you can read the complete text on a FB Page from Studio EIS, who did this bronze sculpture.
It is just over 1 year old.
My husband Pieter, who was a teen during WWII, did enjoy this museum tremendously.
There is a departing train, all set in the time of the 40s and you follow a personal screen with video.
The outside windows do transfer you back in time with a real movie being shown.
Then you are ready to explore the wonderful museum with video on the walls and spoken narrative and lots of artifacts too.
There is everywhere a chance to sit down while watching a short video of that section, so even elderly can enjoy it!
We did go to The American Sector, a 1940s style restaurant American Classics with a Gourmet Twist, conveniently within The National WWII Museum, without having to go onto the street.
Even though you can have dinner there without visiting the Museum, click on link for info from which street to enter.

The food was absolutely delicious and the price of a drink during Happy hour (daily from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM) is half-priced.
We went for a Chicken & Andouille Gumbo (served with rice) and a delicious Victory Garden Salad with Greens, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Shaved Radishes and Champagne Vinaigrette.

Everything does take you back to the 1940s, even the bill presentation in this flat tin!
Close to our hotel, Pieter leaning against these balls...
A perfect Sunday with a total walking distance of 5.5 km or 8,846 steps.
We traveled very light this trip with only 1 carry on for both of us and my Kipling backpack.
Pieter had nothing to carry and he thus managed very well!
On Monday we walked back to the French Quarter and past Jackson Square where I then took the first photos.

We both felt very safe near Jackson Square with the sight of this French Quarter Task Force New Orleans vehicle... 😘
So we walked a little further to the Old Ursuline Convent.
The Oldest building in Mississippi Valley
1749-1753
Make sure you click on the above pink hyperlink as their website is incredible and it gives you a perfect aerial oversight!

New Orleans Oldest and Most Historic Building
This was really stepping back in time on this Ursuline Timeline.
1727 Ursuline nuns arrive in New Orleans from France.

The Ursuline Convent is the oldest institution of learning for women in the present USA.
We visited on Monday and this photo I took from the inside garden where still part of the Wedding Reception Tent is visible.
Every weekend they have a Wedding Mass at St. Mary's Church and they offer their court yard for wedding receptions.

Ancient French Religious Paper Lace
Proud for having such a vintage piece as well: {Vintage Religious Paper Lace from France and Immaculate Conception} click to see my previous post.

St. Mary's Church on Convent - Altar
Like viewing a slice of heaven!

Detail of altar
Talented artists gave their very best to create this in honor of God and the Holy Mary.

Photo of the ceiling and organ of St. Mary's Church with husband Pieter sitting in the pew, before I joined him there, for a quiet and peaceful moment in prayer.
It was a very special trip for both of us.
One with a lot of religious meaning as we are so far away from family and with Mom and my sister and ALL of Pieter's siblings and Parents in heaven.
Praying for Peace in this World and also between family members as some have strayed away from their heavenly Father.
As for Pieter, with his heart condition he's on the edge of moving to heaven and each day is a gift from God!
It was a very nice experience and now we were ready to walk back...

We did stop at the golden statue of Joan of Arc, Maid of Orleans 1412-1431
A gift from the people of France to the citizens of New Orleans
In Dutch and in French we call her Jeanne d'Arc

This is where the Joan of Arc statue is located in-between Decatur St. and N Peters St.
NOW it was time for a special, historic treat at the Original Café Du Monde.
The one at 800 Decatur Street, 70116 New Orleans and open 24 hours a day!
This familiar New Orleans landmark has been located in the French Market since the early 1860's.

Pieter happily smiling with his café au lait and our shared saucer with hot French beignets.
A small glass of water (delicious water!) got also served with it.
Those French beignets brought back fond memories of my dear Mom as she used to bake them for New Year's Eve; Apple Beignets or Apple Fritters in English.
Sure don't understand why they use such EXCESSIVE powdered sugar?!

We opted for the quiet indoor seating and here you look out onto the large covered patio for outdoor seating.
A great experience and I did not heed my diabetes type 2 diet!
Loved the memory of Mom's baking too much...
For Pieter it was the very same childhood memory as also his Mom did bake them!
We have been under French rule so long that there is lots of French culture in the South of The Netherlands.

Back on Jackson Square in front of Jackson's statue and the Cathedral-Basilica where I stand next to an antique cast iron urn with plant.
It is only 2 minutes walking distance from Café Du Monde!
There also was a fabulous cast iron fence all around...

In the morning we had seen this statue from the other side of the road and wanted to have a closer look now.
It is in-between Decatur St and N Peters St
Jean Baptiste de Moyne de Bienville Founder of New Orleans 1717 from Canada.
Slouched at his feet is a generic, nearly nude Indian... holding a peace pipe.
Standing with his back to Bienville is Father Athanase, a Recollect monk.
Click here for The Bienville Monument New Orleans by Andria Patino to have a far better look from the other side.
That was our two-day history trip back to New Orleans.
Sure one could stay for many more days but I wanted to be back in time for choir rehearsal on Tuesday.
Our flight back with Delta was great; that means check in and TSA screening.
In Atlanta, for our flight to New Orleans, it was a disaster as they herded both of us to the main queue, regardless of our TSA PreCheck status!

Clearly the TSA Pre is marked green above the code!
Then they took my MacBook and said it had to be removed from its case and go through again.
While they were searching our carry on, my MacBook was carried back for another screening.
Actually 3 black women were messing with it, my clean and neatly folded undies were dropped onto the floor and things got stomped back into the carry on.
After a very SLOW pestering search I asked for my MacBook as it never showed up on the belt.
One of the three barked back at me telling me that I never had a 'laptop'!
Oh yes I said, my rosé MacBook and you took it back, after I removed it out of its burgundy case you certainly took both back.
She started getting louder and louder and I insisted to see the supervisor.
A black gentleman came and the 3 women were very loud screaming that I didn't have one.
I kept calm and described it to him, and also the burgundy case.
He then said, if you HAD it, then it must show up on camera, we do capture everything daily.
I was not allowed to step into that section but he soon said; yeah, there it IS!
Miraculously the TSA women came walking up to him and me with my MacBook in hand.
On line I found out that Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson ranks 4th in TSA theft firings... and that was in 2012!
What a difference with the absolute courtesy we received in New Orleans where our TSA PreCheck did get honored and no shoes off and no MacBook out of its case.
Guess next time we fly from Savannah, I'd rather enjoy reading a good book instead of such a stress situation again. It took us 1 hour and we barely made it to the gate.
I was so worried about my poor Pieter, with his very weak heart condition.
He cannot walk fast, let alone run.

Thanks for your visit!


Related links:
Saint Louis was King Louis IX of France | story of this ONLY French King being declared a saint

32 comments:

  1. Dearest Mariette,
    thank you for all those wonderful impressions from New Orleans, it seems to be a wonderful City!
    Wishing you a happy week,
    sending much Love and hugs, Claudia xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      It is indeed a wonderful, historically rich city with endless opportunities to explore!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  2. Liebe Mariette,

    herzlichen Dank für deinen eindrucksvollen Post.

    Frohe Grüße

    Elisabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Danke und ich bin froh es hat dir gefallen!
      Liebe Grüße,
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. Hallo Mariëtte, mooie reis en gezellig zo te zien op het bankje.... fijne dag,Joan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beste Joan,
      Ja het was een heel fijn weekend samen en de gezelligheid komt ook door het mooie weer!
      Liefs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  4. Hello Mariette, It seems that no one can avoid the inconveniences of travel, however much the rewards may be worth it! I am glad that you got to see a few more highlights of New Orleans; it seems to be a city inexhaustible in its surprises and features. Those paper lace religious cards remind me of the old Valentines which were similarly made.
    --Jim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Jim,
      Indeed, New Orleans is inexhaustible in its surprises but we left this time with a far better feeling of having explored its very best.
      Indeed the religious lace looks very much like the turn of the century Valentines!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. Lovely photos Mariette. I like the one of you having fun with the Roosevelt statue.
    How weird about the "almost theft" of your Macbook! I can just imagine with the rush some people might forget about it and only notice once they get home, and there it goes! Very nice of them to check the cameras.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Sami,
      Oh, I could not resist sitting next to him and than being naughty...
      That theft was planned, they never laid it back onto the belt of course but hid it somewhere for themselves... I'd already made up my mind for letting that plane go - IF! But you're so right so many people are in a rush and just move on. At least that male supervisor was courteous for immediately check what they's captured on camera. I owe it to him but here again, most people would not ask for a supervisor.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Dearest Francisco Manuel,
      Indeed the land of Jazz but we satisfied ourselves on that already during our first trip by visiting Bourbon Street.
      We did hear some of it this time but it was not our main purpose of going back!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  7. Dear Mariette - that was disgusting behaviour you received in Atlanta. Thank goodness you were able to hold your own amid such harassment.
    However, I am delighted that you both had the chance to return to New Orleans again, and walk in Jackson Square once the rains cleared up.
    I agree with you about those French beignets, in fact, I would rather have one without any sugar on it at all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Rosemary,
      Indeed disgusting and we've been in the air for over 1,500,000 miles but NEVER encountered anything like this while passing through an airport.
      Don't know what that sugar thing is, you see people with stained jeans and it is all over the floor... For what? Such a waste of money too. They better place a muffineer shaker on the table, for people that like to add a dusting of powdered sugar.
      Nevertheless we had a great time! That is done and fond memories forever.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  8. How great you got to go back to New Orleans! Your photos are beautiful! I love that flat tin that bill came in.
    When I visited New Orleans long time ago, I dined at Café Du Monde, too. It was a must-visit spot for me :-) So sweet that French beignets brought you memories of your mom!
    Sorry to hear about the trouble at Atlanta Airport. I'm glad you got your MacBook back.

    Have a wonderful day, Mariette!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Yes, we were lucky that it worked out this way and we sure enjoyed what we did while there!
      Café Du Monde is a place not to be skipped and for both of us it was with 'sweet' memories.
      Oh my, TSA Atlanta was a nightmare but I would never have given up my MacBook, rather let the flight go.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  9. Dear Mariette,
    I thought I had already left you a comment here, but cannot see it!
    I am so pleased for you and Pieter to see that you have returned to New Orleans and enjoyed your visit at your leisure in this beautiful and historical city!
    I wish you a lovely weekend!
    Many hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Marie-Anne,
      Yes, it was a very pleasant short trip for doing what we'd love to do and see!
      Enjoy a happy new week with spring coming your way.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  10. Hello dear Mariette!
    So glad you enjoyed your trip to New Orleans!
    You both look so happy!
    Wonderful pictures of this beautiful and historical city!
    Beautiful buildings and Church!
    Thank you for sharing !
    Wishing you a lovely weekend!Hugs!
    Dimi...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Dimi,
      Those indeed are happy moments forever sealed inside our hearts with some photos to remember it more vivid.
      Happy new week to you and hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  11. Olá

    Bonitas fotos, lugares interessantes, aproveite bem e bom passeio.

    Manuela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Manuela,
      Thank you and yes, very interesting places to visit!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  12. What an amazing trip the New Orleans. Sorry you had such an awful time going through security...The days of travel being glamorous and safe are a distant memory.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Janey,
      Yes it was an amazing trip this time and we enjoyed it, once we got that TSA part behind us!
      Indeed, travel cannot be compared to the 70s, 80s or 90s!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  13. Hello. You had a great trip and watched the places interesting and important to you. Sorry, the trip ended with an unpleasant incident. Regards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Giga,
      Yes, the trip was great, only the beginning was unpleasant!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  14. Liebe Mariette,
    du hast so wundervolle Erinnerungen an all die tollen Ausflüge, die ihr unternommen habt - die kann euch keiner mehr nehmen - ihr seid ein wunderbares Paar

    ich wünsche dir eine schöne Zeit - herzliche Grüße - Ruth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Ruth,
      Ja, das ganze Leben endet mal in nur noch Erinnerungen und es hängt von uns ab wie wir die einfüllen.
      Danke für deine lieben Wörter!
      Ganz lieber Gruß,
      Mariette

      Delete
  15. Hello,Mariette,
    Ohhh New Orleans is a very beautiful city.Both of you look so happy on your trip.
    Lovely buildings and the Church. I like that ancient French religious paper lace on the frame.
    Have a happy new week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Tomoko,
      Yes, New Orleans offers almost endless things of interest to do and to see.
      Oh, you too like the French made religious paper lace, it IS very delicate and so special.
      Happy new week to you and hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  16. Amei passear com vocês nesta linda cidade. Linda igreja. Dever ser maravilhoso assistir uma missa acompanhada de um coro. Ano passado cantamos uma missa numa comunidade alemã. Foi muito bonito. Minhas colegas do coral amaram o teu coral. Gostaram do uniforme de vocês. Elas querem um igual.
    Bjos tenha um ótimo fim de semana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Anajá,
      Glad you enjoyed traveling with me and oh yes, Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica with organ and choir was wonderful.
      So you too enjoy singing!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...