2017 Jan 10 & 11 - The train ride home

Well, I finally got around to posting this last post of the New Orleans trip. We had a great time with our good friends, Jim and Bonnie and our stay at The Banana Courtyard B&B was very nice. The only thing wrong with the trip was the weather in New Orleans and by "bed" on the train trip home.

On our first day in New Orleans, the weather was great, then the temps dropped to daytime highs in the 40s, lows in the 20s and rain on Friday. The high on the day we left was 80!

On Tuesday morning about 11:00, we boarded the trolley down the street from the B&B and road it to the end of the line, the Amtrak station. We were there plenty early, so we sat in the lounge and waited until 1:30 to board our train. It overnighted there, so it was on time. We had a roomette, which would be more aptly named a torture rackette! The chair was uncomfortable for me, but it seemed to fit Marsha OK. After dinner, our steward turned the chairs into a lower bunk for Marsha before folding mine down from the ceiling and fluffing up the safety straps that would keep me from being tossed out of bed on the rough tracks between New Orleans and Memphis.

I finally got out of bed around 2:15am and went to the observation car where I watched the night go by for a couple of hours until I was so tired that I couldn't keep my head from swaying to the beat of the train! I staggered back to the rackette, climbed into my bunk, and fill asleep until Marsha woke me to go to breakfast at our appointed time: 6:45am!

We rolled into the station in Chicago around 9:30am, only about 15 minutes late, where we sat in the very nice Amtrak lounge, at lunch (after my nap) and boarded our train for the ride to Springfield at 1:45. That leg of the trip was uneventful and extremely smooth. We were on the tracks that had recently been installed for the high speed rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. We arrived in Springfield about 5:30, only about 15 minutes late.

That's the name of that tune! it was a great trip, overall. I'd suggest it any time you are looking for something different to do for a few days.

2017 Jan 09 Walking around - French Market, River Front

This morning after breakfast, we walked through the French Market, where we bought some nice T-shirts, to the Gazebo Cafe where we had a warm drink and listened to the music of a jazz trio. The high today is going to be 61 with plenty of sun, a good day for a walk.

From there, we walked down St. Peter St. to Canal St. with the intent of going to the Insectarium. Turns out that the Insectarium, and many other attractions are closed on Mondays, so we walked across the street to Harrah's Casino to use the restrooms. It was just a short walk from there to the riverfront.

We walked along the riverfront and stopped for a sandwich. We continued along the riverfront, across Jackson Square, through the French Market and back to the B&B by 2:30 where we went to our rooms for nappy-time.

We walked down the block to the Rampart Food  Store, which had been closed for vacation since our arrival, and got a shrimp po' boy sandwich. Our driver from the airport said it was the best in New Orleans. He may be right!

Tomorrow, we'll be heading for the train station for the trip home. More when I can.

2017 Jan 08 Ruby Slipper, Garden District, Voodoo Museum

Today's pics start out with a few of our balcony at the "1870 Banana Courtyard" B&B. It's an old place, cluttered, but clean, and it kind of grows on you. The owners, Hugh and Mary, are great people.

After taking the trolley for breakfast at the Ruby Slipper, we jumped back on the trolley for the 10 minute ride to the Garden district. While there, we strolled through the Lafayette Cemetery which is undergoing a much needed renovation.

Then it was back on the trolley for a ride to the corner of Rampart and  Dumaine Streets and a 4-block walk to the Voodoo Museum. Actually, we had to transfer trolleys, so there were three in all for this ride. We're getting pretty good at this! The museum was small, but interesting.

As we left the museum, we headed down Dumaine, deeper into the French quarter all the way to Jackson Square where we went into the Corner Oyster House for dinner. Then it was the now familiar walk back to the B&B.