NOLA - My Way

New Orleans - The Big Easy - welcomes people from all over the world to experience the non-stop party that it has to offer, but if you look past all of that you will actually witness an amazing culture, completely unique to this area. The music, the food, and the people set this city apart from all others. Now, everyone knows that NOLA can be a dreadfully dirty place, but there really is so much beauty in the atmosphere and the architecture that deserves to be admired. So let's, shall we?

The street notifications are really quite wonderful. Sure, there are regular road signs, but why pay them any attention when you can feast your eyes on a beauty like this?

Heeeellllloooooo color!

Even the neighborhood Walgreens has its own flavor going on.

In all of our wanderings, we actually did have a purpose. All of the runners in the race had to pick up their race packets and bibs, which of course meant that I had to take pictures while they were all together. And not sweaty.

From left to right, you will see my dear husband, my sister-in-law's (Megan) boyfriend Jonathan, Megan, my father-in-law Layne, and his son Jason. I and my mother-in-law are noticeably absent from this shot for a reason. We don't run unless someone is chasing us.

Then it was back to business as usual. I just can't help it.

Don't you just love the juxtaposition of the new {above} and the old {below} together?

No trip to New Orleans is complete without a cafe au lait and beignets from Cafe du Monde. Just a word of advice : don't ever wear black here. Trust me on this one.

On our way out of town, we stopped for gas about 20 minutes up the road from the city. The difference is night and day. From a place bustling with noises and people 24 hours a day to absolute calm at the water's edge. Truly amazing.

We have already decided that for next year's race we will go a day earlier so that we can spend more time just relaxing and enjoying ourselves. We aren't big on the night life, but we love the city and all of the other gems that it has to offer.