We woke up and got out fairly late (as is our habit, it would seem) and called upon Port of Call on Esplanade for lunch. I’ve been there several times over the last couple of decades and they always deliver a decent burger. The options are limited — basically a burger, cheeseburger, mushroom burger, or mushroom cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. No bacon or anything fancy. Burgers are served with baked potatoes, not fries, on which they offer butter, sour cream, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, chives, and bacon bits. The place is neat, it really does feel like some dive a sailor would visit — dimly lit, uneven wooden floor, netting hiding the AC duct work on the ceiling. I had a mushroom and swiss cheeseburger with a baked potato with cheese, chives, and bacon bits. It was yummy.
Avast! There arrrrr great burgers at Port of Call!
We headed back to the unit immediately after to wash out and drop off the plastic Port of Call cups that Addison and Genetta got with their meals. Almost immediately headed back to the French Quarter, walking along the river all the way to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas on the far side (near Canal Street). Along the way we saw a large tanker heading downriver as well as the impressive bridge spanning the Mississippi as well as a docked cruise ship. The Natchez was also about to disembark and the area immediately around it was abuzz with activity.
Tanker heading downriver on the mighty Mississippi
Streetcar stop along the river front
Jackson Brewery as seen from the Moonwalk, the walk along the Mississippi
River boat Natchez preparing for its afternoon cruise
Impressive US-90 bridge across the Mississippi River
We purchased tickets for both the aquarium and an IMAX movie about great white sharks. We saw about half the aquarium before the movie started and were pretty impressed by it. First was a “walk through” tank presented as a Mayan reef — basically the Mayan part was just window dressing scattered about the tank and the other smaller tanks to be seen elsewhere in the exhibit. Next up was the Amazon rainforest exhibit. That one was interesting as they had the different habitats including the more upstream area complete with waterfalls and a elevated “tree top” walkway where we saw a few exotic looking birds. They had piranhas, of course. Next up were penguins, including a particular one that kept staring at a nook in the fake rock wall — guessing he was anticipating feeding time or something. They also had the requisite anemone display with “Nemo” and “Dori” fish. Soon after came seahorses, remarkable creatures, as well as a frog that had its hands held together like Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.
Entrance to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
"Mayan" reef tank
Beautiful exotic bird in the Amazon exhibit
Nemo
Awesome black seahorse
Ehhhhxcellent...
As it was nearly 3p we got our hands stamped for eventual re-entry and headed out to the attached IMAX building. The movie was interesting, if a bit loud. It was in 3D but it wasn’t super annoying so that’s good at least. It was about understanding and protecting great white sharks, a species that is apparently in trouble due to over hunting for their fins.
After the movie we headed back into the museum and enjoyed the rest of the aquarium. There were a few tanks of jellyfish including a variety of “upside down” jellyfish that have their dome resting on the ground and their tendrils sticking up as well as a species that kept moving its tendrils such that it reflected light like some kind of string of moving bulbs. We learned that electric eels that shock too much actually go blind due to cataracts forming in their eyes. There was a tank with sharks and rays in them that represented the habitat around the oil rigs in the gulf as well as information on the artificial reef “balls” sunk in Lake Pontchartrain. They also had a nifty diving suit that allowed the operator to operate for up to 72 hours in case of emergency and rapidly ascend if needed. Additionally, there was information about the Lewis and Clark expedition and a white alligator.
Beautiful jellyfish
Dive suit allowing a diver to stay submerged for 72 hours if needed
Crawfish!
Really neat fish scale water fountain in the aquarium's lobby
An exhibit also talked about wetland loss. Eighty percent of wetland loss in the United States is in Louisiana. The state loses an acre every twenty-five minutes, or 25 square miles a year. By breaching levies in the delta the wetlands are able to be restored a bit as sediment pours through the breach. After a quick stop by the restroom and the gift shop we exited the aquarium and walked up Canal Street, turning right on North Peters Street and proceeding past Jackson Square to Cafe Du Monde.
Exterior of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Street cars on Canal in the later afternoon sun
Buggies parked in front of Jackson Square
We found a seat quickly at Cafe Du Monde though it took a bit before one of the waitresses spotted us waiting to order. We got four orders of beignets (so, twelve total) and some drinks (I had cafe au lait, coffee with milk). It was quite yummy. On our way out we quickly watched the workers making beignets by cutting them out rapidly on a table then tossing them in a fryer behind them. Headed into the French Market and bought some candy (including a few more pralines) at Southern Candymakers and also stopped by the Christmas store for Genetta. Headed back to the unit and rested a tiny bit.
Interior of Cafe Du Monde
Beignets at Cafe Du Monde
Making beignets at Cafe Du Monde
About 6:30p the six of us headed off to Mona Lisa pizza just a couple of blocks away on Royal Street. I had a garbage pizza (a “supreme” at Pizza Hut — ham, sausage, pepperoni, onion, green peppers, mushrooms, etc.) and it was excellent. The garlic bread we had for an appetizer was great too.
Headed back to talk with the parents, blog, etc. but then decided to investigate some music that was coming from down the street. Across from Praline Connection on Frenchmen Street there was a band playing for a couple of hours and the whole intersection was crowded with people watching, drinking, and dancing. Just one of those things that happens in New Orleans that you see on TV but can’t believe really happens. It does, though, and it is pretty amazing to see such a celebration of music at 10p on a Monday. Wonderful.
Night-time street corner concert on Frenchmen Street, Marigny