We had quite an adventure as our directions weren't the best, but we made it to the airport with lots of time to spare so her coworker and sister weren't rushed for time getting through checkout, etc. We joked that they shouldn't ask for our 'taxi' service in the future as we were hopeless with directions. It took three mobile phones with maps to get us to our destination once we tossed the directions I had.
After that debacle, we decided to go into New Orleans for some fun. My sister wanted to show me the Marie Leveau House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street. It seemed like we were in for another adventure with the directions (yes, I picked them back up from where I tossed them in the car), but my sister absolutely refused to use them. She said, "We are getting off at the Super Dome. Everything is around that area." And lo and behold, she was correct!
We parked over by the Riverwalk (expensive flat rate parking for the day) and trudged our way through the heat (thank goodness for the breeze!) to Bourbon Street. I will say that New Orleans has its charm, but Bourbon Street is not one of those things despite all the shops.
Unfortunately you cannot take photos inside the House of Voodoo as they have an altar set up in the shop and for religious reasons photos are not allowed so you'll have to be satisfied with my photo of the sign of the shop. It is an interesting little shop with many supplies such as candles, incense, masks, charms, etc. You can even have your palm read if you are brave enough!
Afterwards we trudged our way back to our car at the Riverwalk, but along the way we stopped in several other shops including a lovely shop that sold Mardi Gras masks of all sorts, The Bottom of the Cup Tea Room which is tea shop that specializes in psychic readings as well, and finally we ran across a needlepoint shop! My sister was kind enough to let me go inside and look around ;)
The shop is on Chartres Street. It is a quaint little shop with a wall full of needlepoint canvases, tables full of yarn, and a small section of cross stitch patterns. But don't let the word 'small' misled you! The section of patterns are entirely devoted to New Orleans/Louisiana designs with anything from historical houses, maps, and Mardi Gras designs. It is a perfect way to stitch a memory of your time in Louisiana.
You will love the way they gift wrap your purchases. They wrap your purchases in colored tissue paper insert it in a cellophane bag, sprinkle cut-out paper hearts inside along with their business card and tie it with ribbons! Quite sweet and perfect if you are giving something as a gift!!
I only spent a couple of minutes in the shop...maybe about ten or so since I didn't want to bore my sister as she doesn't craft, but it was well spent.
Next stop Magazine Street for some dessert at Sucré, which I've spoken of before on my blog. It is a delightful shop that sells gelato, pastries, desserts, macaroons, and chocolates.
Here are desserts we had:
My sister usually gets their CS Sundae, which is one of their delicious chocolate caramel cookies topped with vanilla gelato, whipped cream and caramel and chocolate sauces.
After browsing their dessert selection I knew I wanted their Verinne Tropique dessert!
Here is all the yummy ingredients inside:
Let me tell you that the passion fruit cremeaux is exquisite. Oh, and that little square with their logo on the top is actually a thin piece of chocolate....yummy!
Blackberry lemon and peaches & cream macaroons
Before leaving the shop, we bought a box of their summer selection of macaroons and a bag of their CS cookies. After that we headed over to Biloxi to have dinner at the Hard Rock cafe in the casino there before heading home.
Overall, an eventful trip that was a lot of fun! I would definitely do it again, but in nicer weather (i.e. anytime, but the summer).
Until next time ^_____^
