My body doesn’t quite know what to make of my travels. Freezing cold, arid Colorado to moderately cold New York to balmy, humid Louisiana. I’ve managed to get a cold, fortunately not covid, and am soldiering through.
I flew to New Orleans yesterday. It’s a city I love and have been to many times, but this trip is different. It is being sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Tourism. They’ve set up a wonderful itinerary for me based on my preference for quirky activities. Arriving at the hotel – the Selina Catahoula New Orleans – I was met by Diana Hernandez, who took me through the itinerary.
Yesterday wasn’t exactly quirky, except perhaps for the hotel. The hotel is definitely quirky. It’s a converted building, from what exactly I’ve yet to uncover. Lots of raw brick walls and odd décor. But comfortable, with friendly staff and a bartender who creates magic. He brews his own tinctures, mixes lots of ingredients together to make the ordinary, extraordinary. My gin and tonic was like none I’ve ever had, it was fabulous.
I walked a few blocks to the The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel for dinner. The Roosevelt is a hotel that believes in decorating to the nth degree for the holidays. Lots of locals come to have their photos taken there. I saw more people wearing sequins and glitter than I’ve seen in the past five years (guess I’m not hanging out at the right places). There was also a bridal party, with the bridesmaids wearing Christmas red and the groomsmen and families wearing Christmas green.
Dinner was at the #FountainLounge of the Sazerac Bar in the hotel. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. I had to order a Sazerac, a NOLA specialty. It’s made with rye, absinthe, and Peychaud’s bitters, and packs a punch. One would have been plenty, but a couple seated nearby sent one over to me with their compliments and wishes for a wonderful holiday season. It would have been rude to refuse, but there was no way I could finish it.
While I ate and drank a wonderful jazz singer and pianist entertained. There were lots of Christmas tunes interspersed with some jazz staples.
I staggered to bed and slept like a log.