Welcome back, readers! After a brief hiatus, we’re back with more non-rev adventures beginning with our day trip to New Orleans. Expect some recaps of trips throughout 2024-2025, new itineraries, tips, and more. For our first installment, fly with me to New Orleans.

My husband, Bryan, had never been to New Orleans. This spring, we noticed that seats were wide open and the weather was optimal, so we decided to take a day trip. We arrived in New Orleans just in time to hop on an Uber and find something for lunch. 

With a recommendation from a friend, we made our way to Central Grocery and Deli, home of the first-ever muffelata sandwich. We ordered one to split and eagerly awaited its arrival. It was much larger than expected. We could have split half of a sandwich. We each probably consumed half of a loaf of bread. Between the fluffy bread laid an assortment of deli meat, cheese, and olive tapenade. It was a delightful and flavorful combination. Unable to finish the sandwich, we stashed a portion of it for a snack. 

After lunch, we wandered around the French Quarter. This area is the more touristy part of New Orleans, but is relatively safe compared to other neighborhoods. The French Quarter is rife with kitschy souvenirs and themed merchandise. We had no trouble finding a sticker for my travel journal and also procured a Christmas ornament. 

While meandering, we took in the sights. Many horse-drawn carriages were traveling along the streets. We saw street artists, with paintings lining a park street. Two “living statue” artists performed at a street corner. Musicians were busking throughout the city. 

Having had our fill of trinkets, we stopped in some more artistic stores to admire some artwork. We found my favorite place, Fischer and Gambino, an antique store featuring extravagant chandeliers in an electric display of dancing light. These light fixtures were several thousands of dollars, but fun to admire nonetheless. 

We strolled through the French Market and found our way to Loretta’s for some praline beignets, also recommended by a friend. There was a line, but the beignets came out hot and were tasty. I would argue that they outdid Cafe DuMonde. 

Our final point of interest before flying home was what we thought was a museum. We wandered around and marveled at the jewels, extravagant furniture, historical paintings, and other artifacts. There were even Egyptian relics. We discovered, upon further research, it (M.S. Rau) was not a museum. It was instead an antique store intended for the wealthy. Everything in the place was for sale, albeit for a steep price. 

We had an enjoyable afternoon in New Orleans and would recommend it for a quick trip. I’m sure there is more to do that we missed, but we enjoyed our time.

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