Carmen and Emily started this blog to commemorate their long standing friendship. In February 2010 Emily joined the Navy and hasn't had reliable internet since. While Carmen wistfully awaits contact she has decided to only post pictures of the sky until Emily's return.
Hi! I’m back! We were without internet at our hotel, it was really annoying. Can you believe – five days without checking Haute Look or Gilt Groupe?! How will I know what the people who buy clothes I can’t afford are wearing?
Before I get back to work, some highlights from New Orleans.
Seeing the swamp (bayou?) from the plane on the way in was breathtaking. It is so huge and flat. It is like the opposite of flying into Humboldt and seeing the redwood forest, but it gives you the same sense of our relative puniness compared to nature. Like Northern California, you get the feeling that nature is still putting up a good fight; and that was especially heightened by the fact that Saturday was the anniversary of the levees breaking during Katrina.
After the swamp, second impression of New Orleans – the airport smelled like bacon. Or maybe ham. Or maybe ham wrapped in bacon…either way, the food was fantastic. Muffalettas, beignets, pralines, fried oysters…the jury is still out on the fried pickles, they have kind of a weird texture. We went to (Emeril’s) NOLA on Saturday night and I had the short ribs – one of the best meals I have had in a very very long time.
Skipping the five days in between, final impression of New Orleans…hangover. We had a plan Sunday night to go see a movie, then chill by the hotel pool, but instead ended up on some sort of thrift store & bloody mary tour of Magazine street, where we met some locals at a bar who invited us to another bar called the Rusty Nail to see a rockabilly band. Our cab driver could not even find the place, but it was well worth it, the music was awesome, sort of Tom Waits goes hillbilly. Around 11pm, the thunderstorms that had been predicted for the weekend hit, and all of a sudden the bar door flies open and there is rainwater moving horizontally across the room! The two girls closest to the door tried to slam it shut, and their body weight alone was barely enough. No one seemed phased by the thunder and lightening outside, and the band didn’t stop playing. The ceiling started leaking, and the bartender walked around putting buckets on the floor and pouring everyone Wild Turkey shots. I might have been a tiny bit drunk by that time, but still, it was so awesome!
I got back late last night, with all my luggage intact and accounted for, so overall, a successful trip. I’ll try and post some of my pictures tonight!
Emilily 10:36 am on September 1, 2009 Permalink
Hi! I’m back! We were without internet at our hotel, it was really annoying. Can you believe – five days without checking Haute Look or Gilt Groupe?! How will I know what the people who buy clothes I can’t afford are wearing?
Before I get back to work, some highlights from New Orleans.
Seeing the swamp (bayou?) from the plane on the way in was breathtaking. It is so huge and flat. It is like the opposite of flying into Humboldt and seeing the redwood forest, but it gives you the same sense of our relative puniness compared to nature. Like Northern California, you get the feeling that nature is still putting up a good fight; and that was especially heightened by the fact that Saturday was the anniversary of the levees breaking during Katrina.
After the swamp, second impression of New Orleans – the airport smelled like bacon. Or maybe ham. Or maybe ham wrapped in bacon…either way, the food was fantastic. Muffalettas, beignets, pralines, fried oysters…the jury is still out on the fried pickles, they have kind of a weird texture. We went to (Emeril’s) NOLA on Saturday night and I had the short ribs – one of the best meals I have had in a very very long time.
Skipping the five days in between, final impression of New Orleans…hangover. We had a plan Sunday night to go see a movie, then chill by the hotel pool, but instead ended up on some sort of thrift store & bloody mary tour of Magazine street, where we met some locals at a bar who invited us to another bar called the Rusty Nail to see a rockabilly band. Our cab driver could not even find the place, but it was well worth it, the music was awesome, sort of Tom Waits goes hillbilly. Around 11pm, the thunderstorms that had been predicted for the weekend hit, and all of a sudden the bar door flies open and there is rainwater moving horizontally across the room! The two girls closest to the door tried to slam it shut, and their body weight alone was barely enough. No one seemed phased by the thunder and lightening outside, and the band didn’t stop playing. The ceiling started leaking, and the bartender walked around putting buckets on the floor and pouring everyone Wild Turkey shots. I might have been a tiny bit drunk by that time, but still, it was so awesome!
I got back late last night, with all my luggage intact and accounted for, so overall, a successful trip. I’ll try and post some of my pictures tonight!
Carmen 10:56 am on September 1, 2009 Permalink
Holy crap, that sounds amazing. Glad you’re back!
Emilily 11:02 am on September 1, 2009 Permalink
Me too. I missed the blog (okay, that means I really missed chatting with you!)
How was your weekend?
p.s. The embosser hasn’t arrived yet, but I will finish the banner this weekend. I might have said that before, but this time it is for real…
p.p.s. I am listening to the Stuff You Should Know podcast right now!