SBXLVII

I am back after 3 weeks from my yearly job working away from home for the NFL at the Super Bowl.  This year the host city was New Orleans.  It was my first time in New Orleans, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Here's a  look at night of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome where it all went down.

Working for the transportation department our office this year was placed under the viaduct adjacent to the Superdome a bit less glamorous than the inside.  I did get one chance while delivering golf carts inside the stadium to walk out and snap a quick photo of the 49ers end zone.

While most of the time we are working long days, the nice thing about New Orleans is that is somewhat like Vegas in that it is the city that never sleeps, so I did get a chance to tour some of the city even if most of it was very late at night.  You can't go to New Orleans and at least experience Bourbon street.....

Our Hotel was real close to the main downtown area and the buildings were always lined with beads.  This year they split Mardi Gras into two weeks, one week prior to Super Bowl and one week after so there literally was always a parade busting out somewhere. 

We were given tickets one night to see the New Orleans Hornets play in the arena right next to the Superdome.  I worked later that night, but we were able to see the last half of the game where they won to the Golden State Warriors.

We also took a ferry ride across the Mississippi river to the west bank....NOT the best place to visit after dark, but it was really pretty to look back across at the city all lit up with cruise ships lining the ports.

We walked the french quarter a few nights which is always lit up.  I loved this church and heard it was beautiful inside, but again getting off late made it virtually impossible to see everything.

Definite highlight of the french quarter was Cafe Du Monde where they serve Beignets 24 hours a day (thank goodness because at 2 a.m. they were delicious).

I noticed they had art everywhere in New Orleans, like on every street there seemed to be some kind of sculpture.  We ran into this particular one that was dedicated to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

We got a glimpse of a real Louisiana Bayou which if you look close you can even see the wild boars lining the banks of this swamp...the smell I may never forget.

 We walked what seemed like 15 miles one night to go the the famous Port of Call....

The burger looked amazing, but was totally over-rated.  In fact it rates up on the top of my list of overpriced, dull burgers.  Just saying if you ever go to New Orleans...eat a burger somewhere else!

As the sunset in New Orleans on one of my last nights, so did yet another Super Bowl.  So glad for the opportunity I had once again to work away from home, but so happy to be back where I really belong.