Road Trip Day 11 - A Muffuletta and a Long Drive

Walked to the Central Grocery about 9 am. Central Grocery is the acknowledged birthplace of the Muffuletta. It was quite good, and the staff at Central Grocery are friendly. I also bought some Cajun spices. Muffulettas are available in at least a half dozen New Orleans establishments.

I wanted to get some beignets for the road, but there was a huge queue (at least 75 people) at the to go window at Café du Monde.

I checked out of Harrah's. I had a great stay! I start driving east towards Disney World in Florida with no particular destination in mind. I stopped at the Alabama Welcome Center and pick up some hotel coupon books, and at the Florida Welcome Center for information and a free cup of Florida Orange Juice. I end up driving to Lake City, about 100 miles east of Tallahassee. I stay at the Rodeway Inn for $40 plus tax (using a walk-in coupon).

Not a terribly exciting day, except for my Muffuletta sandwich, but at least I made it to Florida. By the way, the crowd photo (above) at Café du Monde is a joke (the crowd was not really as bad as the photo).

Road Trip Day 10 - Lunch at Commander's Palace

Had coffee and a pastry for breakfast. Walked through Harrah's Casino to the Canal Street entrance. Louis, a very nice southern gentleman was manning the security station, and he gave me good directions to where I could catch the streetcar to the Garden District.

The streetcar is $1.25 exact change (and at least one of the women drivers is not so friendly or helpful). I used my GPS to identify some points of interest (Emeril's Delmonico, for one) along St. Charles Avenue. I alighted at Washington Avenue.

Commander's Palace is a New Orleans institution (and previous stomping grounds of Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse). I looked at the menu, and since it was only 11:10 am, I was able to get a table without a reservation. By 12:15 the place was packed. The meal and service were EXCELLENT (one of my waiters had just graduated from Tulane). I could not pass up the 25 cent Melon Martini (weekday lunch special when ordering an entree). I had Turtle Soup, Sugarcane Smoked Pork Tenderloin & Crawfish (with Andouille Sausage-Potato Galette, and Chardonnay & Tasso Marchands de Vin). The Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé was a perfect dessert. My experience at Commander's Palace was fantastic and worth the $50 (including tip).

After lunch, I ventured a little way into Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, but kept the visit quite brief because of:

• Rumors about safety in New Orleans Cemeteries,
• Flashbacks of Easy Rider (though it was shot in St Louis Cemetery No. 1),
• A sudden rain shower, and
• The fact that many Chinese people don't like to go to cemeteries when they will be gambling.

I returned to St. Charles Avenue to catch the streetcar back to Canal Street and my hotel. This time the driver was a man who was friendly and helpful.

In the late afternoon, I went out into the Arts District right behind Harrah's Hotel to see if I could find out what was being filmed on the street and in some old warehouses. Sylvester Stallone was filming The Expendables. Although they were blocking off the street to cars, they were nice enough about letting pedestrians watch the action if we stayed on the other side of the street. I am a long-time Stallone fan and it was fun to see him up close.

Had some Gumbo Soup for dinner at the McAlister's Select Deli on the casino floor courtesy of Total Rewards Points.

Road Trip Day 9 - Around New Orleans

Got up early to be at the National Park Service Office (419 Decatur Street) in the French Quarter by 9 am. They have an informative free walking tour which focuses on the Mississippi River and the evolution of New Orleans. The walk is mostly along the river and ends at Jackson Square. Danny, the NPS Ranger, was very engaging and entertaining.

Next, I went to Café du Monde to try the beignets and cafe' au lait. Café du Monde was highly recommended by a friend, and sure enough, I love the beignets (though I think the French may have stolen the recipe from the Chinese and just added the powdered sugar).

Went to the French Market, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie's house (they were not home), walked along Bourbon Street. Bought a can of Budweiser and drank it on the sidewalk (since this is one of the few places that drinking alcohol in public is legal). Bought some Beignet Mix , Pralines, and refrigerator magnets. Walked along Canal Street back to Harrah's to relax and shower before dinner.

Tried unsuccessfully to get into K-Paul Louisiana Kitchen for an early dinner without a reservation. Settled on the heavily promoted "Gumbo Shop". The Daiquiris, soup, and Alligator Sausage were quite good. I thought the Crawfish Étouffée was just okay (too much thickener).

Gambled a bit and used the Internet in the hotel business center before going to sleep.

Road Trip Day 8 - To New Orleans

Visited the Conrad Rice Mill and Company Store on the way out of New Iberia. This is evidently the oldest operating rice mill in the USA. I did not go on the tour because of a timing issue. Maybe if I went on the tour I would have been more impressed.

It was about a two hour drive from New Iberia to New Orleans. I checked into a beautiful room at Harrah's New Orleans overlooking the Arts & Warehouse District. The room has a large flat screen TV, refrigerator, safe, and a lot of marble in the bathroom. There is a greeter in the hotel lobby who, along with elevator key cards, seems to provide a very high level of security.

After a shower and a nap, I spent some time in the casino. I used Total Rewards points to treat myself to a free dinner at the Harrah's Casino Buffet. The buffet had a number of regional specialties and was very good. Interestingly, there is security screening at each door to the casino, and people under the age of 21 are not even allowed into the Buffet.

Gambled some more after dinner, but went to bed by midnight since I was anticipating a busy following day.

Road Trip Day 7 - To Avery Island, Louisiana

Had an amazingly slow breakfast at the hotel, but at least I got a rubbery waffle and a one egg omelette (with no fillings) for my 45 minute wait. I also had an interesting conversation with an couple who had strong opinions about Rihanna, Scientology, Tom Cruise, and John Travolta.

Crossed the Mississippi River from Natchez into Louisiana.

Stopped at a very nice Louisiana State Welcome Center in Vidalia.

After a leisurely four hour drive, I arrived at Avery Island (via Alexandria and Lafayette).

Avery Island is, of course, the home of Tabasco Sauce. I stopped at a rather humorous toll house (on the right side of the road) where a friendly Cajun man passes you a pamphlet then collects your one dollar using a long stick with a clothespin at the end. After paying the toll, you cross a "bridge" about 15 feet long (which you really may not recognize as a bridge). Avery Island has two primary attractions:

• The Tabasco Factory and Tabasco Country Store, and
• The Jungle Garden and Bird City.

The factory tour consists of a brief video about the history of Tabasco Sauce, the McIlhenny family, and Avery Island. After the video, you walk through a viewing area above a bottling line in the factory, and then to a display area. Each visitor gets several free mini-bottles of Tabasco Sauce.

The Tabasco Country Store has a special meaning to me, because it is featured in one of my favorite slot machines. I spent a lot of time in the store looking at many Tabasco and spice themed items which I had not seen before. I made half of a meal at the free tasting bar and then ate an order of excellent Crawfish Étouffée at the picnic tables outside. I could not resist a few souvenirs from the store, including some Tabasco Earrings, Tabasco Potholders, Tabasco Refrigerator Magnets, and some Spicy Pickles. I found the Tabasco Factory tour and Country Store very enjoyable and worthwhile.

After all the time I spent in the store, visiting the Jungle Garden was not really an option as it was approaching 5 o'clock. I stayed at a Best Western Hotel in New Iberia which was quite nice (and only about $61 + tax using a coupon from a hotel book which I picked up at the welcome center). One interesting thing about this hotel was the notice placed prominently in the room:

I was quite happy that I did not receive any calls during my stay about gas leaks.