Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler

 Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler ~ Let the Good Times Roll!!!

Straight out of Atlanta, we headed towards the Edmund Pettus Bridge, historical sight of racial and civil unrest just outside Selma, Alabama. 

We had to head a little out of our way, but it was totally worth it to drive across. 

Driving through Selma, we visited The Old Live Oak Cemetery.

I just cannot pass up something with so much above-ground tombstone action.

And the trees here are glorious. Old cypress and magnolias and weeping something-or-others. 

From Selma we headed straight away to Laurel, Mississippi. I have wanted to visit this little Southern town ever since we started watching Hometown on HGTV. Ben & Erin Napier have done a lot to revitalize this sweet town and we wanted to see for ourselves what it actually looked like. 

                                                 

                                                 

First stop - Pearl's Diner! We have watched the episode with Miss Pearl a couple of times and love her sweet personality. Her diner is open from 11am-2pm and the line forms right out front. We waited about 30 minutes for one of three main courses. 

Our choices were fried chicken (duh), salisbury steak, or ham steaks. 

We waited a bit for our meal, but it was so good. 

And then, we wandered. We wandered all over the downtown area, visiting the Laurel Mercantile, the antique stores, and up and down residential streets looking at the darling Craftsman style homes. 

These sidewalks were a bit of a challenge for this old gal! 

But the trees throughout the neighborhood are so pretty and they distribute their roots pretty randomly! 

We had a wonderful Italian dinner at Mimmo's in downtown Laurel. The story goes that a man from Florence, Italy fell in love with a Southern gal from Georgia and he followed her home. Whether or not the story is true - the food was wonderful. Some of the best bolognese I have ever tasted. 

We stayed in a charming B&B called The Grandiflora Inn. 

Loved the gracious hospitality and the gorgeous setting. 

If you find yourself in Laurel, Mississippi - check them out!!! 

Did Laurel live up to what we expected? Yes, it did. 

Hometown on HGTV showcases what is beautiful about this small town, 

and probably very similar to others throughout our country. 

Onward to New Orleans ~ 

Our first stop - Dooky Chase's Restaurant

This place was phenomenal. The fried chicken was the best we had on the entire trip. And the gumbo was unbeatable. Not too spicy, but plenty of flavor. 

We loved the service here and the pressed white tablecloths for lunch. 

So yummy. 

Oh, and surprisingly, New Orleans had some of the strictest mask mandates we've seen.

I like that. 

We did a lot of walking throughout the Garden District in New Orleans. 

We stayed at a lovely B&B called The Parisian Courtyard Inn, right on Prytania Street.

It was walking distance to just about everything we wanted to see except for City Park. 

We had to drive there, but check out these gorgeous photos from 

The Sculpture Garden situated just outside the NOLA Museum of Art. 

Spectacular!

Ladder to Nowhere

I Love Botero! 

This artist is everywhere in New Orleans

Another Favorite - Mother & Child

And this lovely gal just spoke to me. - She is so beautiful!

This walkway symbolizes the Mississippi River currents throughout Louisiana.

Having traveled to Minnesota earlier this year and seen her there, then seeing

her here in New Orleans was truly amazing. 

Another stop for us was the Ogden Museum of Art. 

No photos of what's inside there, 

but it was a lovely walkable museum filled with Southern Art pieces - 

everything from folksy crafts to lovely paintings and sculptures. 

Padlocks of Love on the Mississippi River - 

this was along the walkway just beyond Cafe du Monde. 

I love seeing these kinds of street art - my favorite was in Lyon, France. 

We sampled quite a bit of good food in New Orleans. 

My favorite was Compere Lapin run by Chef Nina Compton.

My Caribbean Roast Chicken was out of this world. 

Fragrant and richly spiced - really special. 

Commander's Palace was as good as we had last time we visited. 

Jeff's dinner was a bit better than mine. 

He had the Lacquered Quail and it was divine! 

Oh, and The Bakery Bar.

I just can't like this place enough!

Friendly and helpful with delicious cocktails and uber yummy Doberge Treats.

We sampled four mini-cakes and they were all so good. 

A true favorite. 

I'll say this - we had gracious service just about everywhere we went. 

One of our favorite stops was into MS Rau in the French Quarter.

This high-end (really high-end) antiques dealer was as gorgeous as an art museum. 

We wandered through the three floors (on the advice of our son and his wife - I kid you not)

and just gazed at all the beautiful pieces.

My favorite piece was a player piano/violin combination that someone requested we hear.

I felt so lucky to be there and listen to this wonderful sound. 

Never seen anything like it. 

Speaking of which - we also sat for a bit in the shade of the Cathedral and watched a 

Wedding in progress. The happy couple had a small group in attendance and we saw their 

Second Line take place a few doors down the way. 

And then there was this place - Mardi Gras World.

I wasn't sure about this warehouse, and didn't expect much, but Oh My Land, it was so cool!!

We viewed a film on the philanthropy associated with the floats and how they make them.

The sample of King Cake was better than expected as well. 

But check out this Styrofoam-based sculptures. 

Just wow. 

Isn't he gorgeous??

Shrek and Jeff!

Wickedly Wicked Witch

Spidey Senses

We really had a very fun time here.

New Orleans is truly one of our favorite cities to visit. 

There is so much to see and do and sample. 

I know we'll be back again some day down the road.

Until then...

Cheers!!

:) Deb