Consortium of Seven: Year 3: Florida, Oddly Enough

Preservation Hall

Loving this visit to another eternal city, fragile as it may be.

Notes: thumb down (because 2 thumbs would be disrespectful) to Cafe Dumonde. Bad coffee and mediocre beignets, sad to say. It's an institution most definitely, but I guess we are all spoiled by much better coffee preparation these days.

Thumbs up to Frenchman's Street, and The Old Absinthe House.

I've completely loved the New Orleans experience. The architecture, history, and mood of the place is very appealing. Of course, this is a visit had in November and I'd surely feel differently in August, and the weather has been very mild for our trip. The residents and shopkeepers of the French Quarter have been helpful and friendly and kind. Upon exclaiming, "I smell pot everywhere and don't see anyone smoking it!" I was given a small twisted up cigarette cellophane of a joint's worth, by a sweetheart of a man who approached me, as, apparently high on Absinthe, I'd directed my exclamation at him! This morning I returned it to him, at his "sitting spot", along with delicious shrimp & grits, some orange blossom soap, and a heating pad, (he had walked up to me on his cane). He's my Mister Angel, now.

There is a great deal of chaos and debris here as well, plenty of spice. But once here, it's hard to resist the energetic flow of the place. Don't worry though, there are plenty of oases to be had. I practically ran away from a parade last night. But one block over it was peaceful enough for a woman with sore feet and sensory overload to relax and enjoy the night air as we walked back to our hotel past the everchanging shop windows and fragrant cooking smells.

Back at the hotel, we settled in at Beach Bum Berry's Latitude 29, pics at the bottom. Whoever decorated this place for Christmas is a real artist.