United States

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Winter in New Orleans, Louisiana

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As we look forward to a full year of traveling abroad, Alex and I took one last opportunity to visit someplace new to us, here in the U.S. Always drawn to food and music, our choice was easy: New Orleans!

Let me tell you... it was amazing! The food was delicious, and everywhere we went, the people were so incredibly friendly. Neither of us have travelled to the South before. Does Arlington, Virginia count? (Actually, Alex travelled to North Carolina for a work trip once.) Anyway, this was our first true experience in the South, and it was just charming.

Sure, New Orleans is a large city, with over 9 million visitors a year, but it still has a very local feel. There’s no doubt that you have to walk through the French Quarter and Garden District, and eat beignets at Cafe du Monde... but there are so many other places to see and things to do away from the crowds of people in the streets with drinks in hand. It all starts with staying in the Tremé — the historic neighborhood that's the center of the city’s African-American and Créole culture.

We arrived at our Airbnb close to midnight, and the owner was throwing a little tango “shindig,” as he says. I had just re-watched “Midnight in Paris” (love Owen Wilson!), and it truly felt like a scene out of that movie. I mean, here we are in our jeans and yoga pants, entering an enchanting party set in the 1920s: a beautifully weathered historical house, with high ceilings, distressed walls, and chandeliers, tango music playing, dancers dancing, and the warm, humid, Louisiana breeze blowing softly through the open windows. They said to help ourselves to wine, so we grabbed a glass, walked throughout the house, and sat outside on the porch well past midnight.

The rest of the trip was magical in different ways, but mainly, that first night was a glimpse of the random, unexpected moments that we look forward to stumbling upon and sharing with you throughout the upcoming year. 

Before we leave you with some recommendations, we wanted to highlight a standout for food and experience: Cochon in the Lower Garden District. Without reservations it would have been an hour-plus wait, however a local and regular named Rosalind (and her husband), very smoothly gave us their bar seats. So sweet and so charming, they recommended their favorites to order and asked if we’d ever tried Catdaddy Moonshine. Neither of us had, so she insisted on paying for a round. (So good — smooth and slightly sweet.) Anyway, if you have a chance to visit Cochon, you’ll see Rosalind in a photo collage that she made, sitting on the left side of the bar. Thank you Rosalind! Oh... and yes, the food was delicious! Loved the fried boudin with pickled peppers.
 

RESTAURANTS & BARS


COFFEE SHOPS


SITES

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Land & Water in Maui, Hawaii | Part II

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Original photos from January 2013.

After spending the first part of our trip to Maui on the Road to Hana, we decided to head to the water for a few days of diving. Even in January, the water temp was surprisingly warm, and more calm than I remember Oahu’s waters to be a few years back. The best dive started before sunrise. We took a boat out to Molokini, a “crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater,” and intercepted a handful of humpback whales crossing the channel. The amazing thing was finally diving in the pristine waters protected by the crater, and listening to the whales sing to each other underwater, which you can apparently hear from up to seven miles away.

Next visit, we hope to dive the pretty Lanai Cathedrals and do the Haleakala Volcano sunrise hike. Also, here are a few recommendations: Maui Dive Shop, Airbnb in Kihei, Coconut’s Fish Cafe, Da Kitchen.