Woke up in New Orleans. One of my favorite places. Here’s a party game for you. Ask anyone to name their top five places. You could use any number and/or limit it to any continent. No justification is needed. My top five, in no particular order are New Orleans, the Grand Canyon, Ocean City MD, San Francisco, and Escalante (because of the slot canyons).

I went out for breakfast at the Wakin Bakin. Good food and service. It’s going to be a hot and humid day. Then I strolled the streets, stopping in the occasional store.

Left my room so housekeeping could do their job. It was a little early for my boat ride, so I stopped at a massage place I had passed on my way back from breakfast. It sure felt good.

Got on the Creole Queen for a history tour down the Mississippi River. A couple hundred years ago, the river didn’t have a mouth, just drained into a swamp, so it was difficult for explorers to find from the Gulf. The French got settles by taking the three P’s, poor, prisoners and professional ladies and told them they could get out of jail if they married and emigrated. The boat was a paddle wheeler that was supposed to stop at the battle of New Orleans site, but today was so windy they had to change plans.

Had dinner at The Original Pierre Maspero’s. Got the Crescent City Sampler of Cajun Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffée, Red Beans and Rice, and Chicken & Andouille Gumbo and bread pudding for dessert. Good stuff.