Arrived home around 2 today. It feels great to be back. I guess I should finish our NOLA story….
After my last post we headed out to get Layton some late lunch (as he had awoken too late for our 11 am breakfast). Found a little store with a lunch counter that bills itself as the home of the muffaleta. Layton and Bobby bought a muffaleta to split and we headed across the street to listen to a band while enjoying the late lunch and drinks. I do not like olives and thus have never liked the muffaleta (which is always packed with olives). I was apprehensive to give it a try but after hearing all the orgasmic moans and groans from the rest of the group, I decided to give it a go. It was damn good! It had a lot of olives but their flavor blended so well with everything else. Needless to say, I joined in on the groaning.
After we finished we decided to stroll through the French Market which is more of a flea market. Not much of interest there, though I did buy Bobby a ring. He had been wanting something with a celtic flair. We found a place with a really good selection and decent prices. The purchase looks very nice on him 
We decided to head back to the hotel after our little outing. On the way back, Chris and I noticed that our voodoo brews were wearing off and we needed a recharge. We ducked into a dark, little bar to get new drinks. The place was not a bar I would normally stop into to, but it turned out to be okay. The bartender was a sweet older woman and the prices were cheap! I think it was the prices that made me like it so. Anyway, with drinks in hand we headed to the hotel pool. Spent the next hour or so swimming in the pool, sipping our cocktails. James (who had been working on a school paper in the room through the afternoon) came out to join us. And being the sweet boy he is, he offered (or did we force him) to head back to the bar and get refills.
After much conversation and laughing, we finally headed out of the pool to shower and dress for the evening. We finally ended up at a little Italian place called Angeli’s. I ordered a pizza that was covered in grilled onions, feta cheese, and whole cloves of roasted garlic. I was in heaven! I scarfed the whole thing down and regretted it afterwards. I was stuffed! After that we did some strolling down Canal, looking at the people, trying to decide on a bar. Part of the group decided to head back to the hotel and the other part decided to stop in a bar and listen to jazz. I was in the mood for dancing and drinking at Oz or Parade (I’m not much for the overpriced jazz bars on Canal). Since I would be alone, I decided to head back to the hotel with the others. I was in bed by 1.
The early night turned out to be a good idea as Bobby and I had to wake up at 8. We got to the airport with plenty of time to waste before our flight. We learned this trip that New Orleans is one of American Airline’s busiest destinations. On our trip from DFW, we got bumped from our first flight and were lucky to make it on the second. On our flight back to DFW, we were full of tension, wondering if we would make the flight. At the last minute (literally) they called out our names. We ran to the desk, grabbed our tickets (first class - yeah!), and jumped on the plane. We were the last to board.
Once back in DFW, we picked up the boys from the kennel. Now we are all home just resting. The boys are passed out on their beds and Bobby and I laying on the couch watching some TV. It’s nice getting back early after a trip. Gives you time to recuperate from your vacation 
NOLA ended up being a great vacation. It was only 3 nights/2 full days in the city, but it seemed like a week. It was a vacation I very much needed. So thanks to my fellow travelers for making it so great!