LET'S GO TO NOLA! Part 2.

Of course there were a ton of gorgeous plant filled balconies. Folks just create their own lovely oasis-in-the-air. The bottom floor is a restaurant called Herb Saint. It's right across from our hotel and we ate there twice. Excellent the 1st time and merely good the 2nd time.

This is also right across from Hotel Lafayette. The buildings are so old and pretty and rather European...no?

The St. Charles streetcar runs right out in front of our hotel and goes all thru the Garden District. Unfortunately...no A/C. Some streetcars had A/C but not the St. Charles. You can ride for $1.25 or buy a day pass with unlimited rides for $3. We rode it alot one or two days and took cabs the rest of the time. The taxis were pretty cheap.

I wonder how high dollar these apartments are? I loved them all!

Folks who live in New Orleans are proud of their city. They recycle everything...even turning alot of crap into ART. I like murals AND signs.

C.J. contemplates her Bloody Mary at Commander's Palace. The okra and pepper are skewered on a hunk of sugarcane. We went there for Sunday Brunch and it's a package deal: buy an entree and then pick out your appetizer and dessert which is included in the price. We ate so much and couldn't finish it and felt uncomfortably stuffed afterwards. This restaurant has been there since the 1880's and by 1900 gourmets from all over the world were going there. CP is in the Garden District and was started by "Americans" because the Creoles didn't want the new riff-raff in the French Quarter. What is Creole? You had to be: born there, French speaking and Catholic. The service at CP was off the charts! They did everything except feed it to us.

Isn't this absolutely wonderful? Look at the detail....love it!

This looks new but I'm sure it's probably restored. It's on the Whitney Bank.

Another cool sign. We didn't go there...I was just randomly takin' picture of buildings, murals and signs.

P.J.'s Coffee is based in New Orleans...good coffee....and this building is gorgeous.

St. Louis Cathedral overlooking Jackson Square. Folks have worshipped at churches on this property since 1727. This church has been there since 1794! It's survived lots of hurricanes etc. We toured inside but my pictures are dark. It has beautiful paintings on the high, high ceiling. This is supposed to be truly the heart of Old New Orleans.

It's good Ol' Andy Jackson. This was sculpted in 1856. The park and plaza are Parisian style. It's kinda cheesy/touristy around there but we enjoyed it anyways. We toured the Louisiana State Museum which is right next to the church...more on that later.

LET'S GO TO NOLA! Part 1

We liked that our hotel was in the Central Business district right next to the Arts District and away from all the French Quarter chaos. C.J.'s checking out a sculpture made of glass. Lots of art galleries.

I just really enjoyed all the murals in New Orleans. A cab driver (who was a retired fireman of 35 yrs.) told us that prisoners are given art lessons if they are so inclined and then employed painting murals when they are released from jail. It cuts down on the graffitti.

This mural is so big I couldn't get it all in my picture...without losing the detail.

Here's part of the rest of the painting...it's nice!

We liked our hotel alot! Small (40 rooms), quaint, charming, a little rundown but remodeling was going on. We had a big suite. T.V. in the sitting area and bedroom also...and a sofa-bed.

T'other side. Wet bar w/ fridge. It was nice and quiet. They accept pets and all the staff were really nice!

Hotel Lafayette. There was a ritzy steak restaurant on the left and a good happy hour bar on the right. The restaurant was busy so I guess had good food but we didn't eat there.

Right across the street was Lafayette Square. It was too hot to hesitate there...The square is surrounded by Federal buildings...court and stuff.

Another mural. Surprisingly I had excellent red beans and rice w/ sausage at Zatarain's at the airport before we left for Texas. It was spicy and made me sweat.

Beads, beads and more beads....everywhere. I like this picture alot. They're in the trees, hanging of off street lights, balconies etc.etc. I brought some home and tossed 'em in my little oak tree to keep the gris-gris and bad mojo away.

JUMBLED BLOG...A LONG, HOT, BORING SUMMER!!!

Dr. Chavarria (Sr.) performing his magic for A Pet's Wish. I don't have a pic yet of Jr....and he's the one I usually deal with. I trust them both very much. They're our heroes!!!

Yeah...I have no idea what this used to be....but the falling lake levels are bringing up all kinds of interesting stuff. I just saw this on Facebook and thought the picture was cool.

This is Sicily from A Pet's Wish. I wish she was ours. I think Cherry would like her very much. HAHA....Jamey pointed out that the guy holding her is "Lunchbox".....very funny.

Gourd #5...finally done.

I'm sending this gourd to Jamey's friend Seze in NYC. Gourd #6...is for Jamey. My gourds take a long, long time to make.

Yeah....well, he's not smiling but is STILL glad to have a cane and not a walker.

I'm a dork to include this....but when H.E.B. is having roses on sale $5.99 a dozen...I get all excited and can't stop buying them.

Peek-A-Boo Willie! He hasn't been doing so well. His heart condition is NOT good. We love him.

Happy Birthday America...July 3 & 4th 2014.

This is the evening of the 3rd. Our neighbor Robert came over and grilled us an amazing fajita dinner. Jamey bought us that USA sign in the backyard. You can never have enough yard-art ya know?

The old man is happy with: food, his walker, a beer and a perfectly manicured yard.....thanks Robert for keeping our yard nice while Gene is out of commission!!

Pretty Jamey keeping in touch w/ San Marcos friends...she went there today. The week with her went by in the blink of an eye....as always. She drove her rent car to S.M. this morning and will visit with pals until the 8th.

You can't beat a small town parade! Here's the Border Patrol guys...they also have: 4 wheelers, air-swamp boats, pick up trucks...etc.etc. They do the best they can.....

So I cheated and we didn't go to the parade. I pulled these pictures off of the Del Rio Community Facebook page. What a pretty horse!!

CHEER LOUD AND LONG....here comes the Pet's Wish Dogs!!!! The office is on Main St. and the parade went down Main St. The truck following behind was decorated and had more dogs. Who wants one??? Jamey helped me transport dogs and cats to Acuna 3 days this past week. She loved it....and they loved her!

A parade isn't a parade without a few clowns.

Now THAT'S a proud 'caballero' on a gorgeous horse!!!!

A very pretty pair with a cute dog in the background.

Hi Yolanda!

A PET'S WISH....please give food, litter, love, money or adopt or foster. Save a life Del Rio!!!!

Gee...there were some beautiful girls and horses in the parade today. Yes...it's Latino/Mexican....this is how we do it in Del Rio!

I want a hat like that!

Sometimes I can't help but think that everybody should experience the "Mexican-ness" of where we live. Forward this blog on to friends and familia.

Yeah...o.k. Johnny Cash wasn't at the parade. But he was a rebel...and Gene and I are rebels...and still proud of our country....and this is a cool-ass photo!!!

JUNE NEWS.....

I was in San Antonio for 4 nights to be with Gene during his hip replacement. The hospital and my hotel were on the riverwalk. This is on Wednesday...folks were gathering for the Spurs Victory River Parade. A "boat cop"!

Bruce and Kay came and stayed for a couple days to keep me company. They were a great distraction for me. We ate alot of good food.

And here come the Spurs....this was taken from my hotel window. There were about 15 floats. I thought it was dumb, noisey and crowded. Kay and Bruce loved it.

Kay and I ate the La Fonda on Main....ooooo...it was SO good. This restuarant has been there since 1932 and is way more upscale than the other one (which is now closed). This cold avacodo soup had some heat.

Yummy lunch. I think this was just about the best Mexican food I ever ate. Kay agrees...and we've eaten ALOT of Mexican food....

Kay and I wandered over to another hotel where they had some shops on the riverwalk because we wanted to see this store that is blown glass by a San Antonio artist. Her stuff is very Dale Chihuly...It was great!

Shifting gears....here is "Bolt"...the cat that had the arrow in it's head. He's doing great and he's a very sweet guy. The vets in Mexico did a wonderful job!! Thanks to you all (again) who donated to A Pet's Wish!!!

When I got back to Del Rio yesterday there was FOUR INCHES of water in our rain gauge!!! Unheard of....!!! This is the flooding in Acuna, Mexico. They don't have much a drainage system over there. Poor folks....hope they recover quickly and that we don't get any more rain.