Our First Adventure In New Orleans

Outer Journey

Finally, we have begun our journey in New Orleans. We had to wait a few minutes until we received our bags, but when we did, we requested an Uber and began journeying outside of the train station. Once we were outside, we walked towards the taxis. Our Uber driver was driving a silver Dodge Caravan, whose name was Keith. He was older in his late 60’s/early 70’s, short white hair, glasses, with jeans and a button up shirt. Keith had a strong Louisiana accent. While we were talking to him, he said that he was born and raised here in New Orleans. Our hotel was about a 5-minute drive, less than a mile away from the train station. When we got to the hotel, he pulled in towards the parking garage and helped us get our things out of the van. 

Around 4pm, Kate, Brynna, Lindsey, and I got to our hotel room. Although, it was quite the adventure to walk to the room because it was the farthest room from the elevator and my suitcase would not properly roll on the carpet once we exited the elevator. My bags fell over a couple of times which was pretty funny because I almost fell over the bags too. While we were in the room, we each jumped in the shower one after another to rinse off before heading out to the lobby to meet the class.

Street Car

When we were in the lobby, we headed out to the street cars so we could go to Jackson Square and walk to Pierre Maspero for dinner. We walked towards Farrah’s and waited for 10 minutes until the streetcar arrived. Although, the streetcar we got onto was very full so Kate, Brynna, Lindsey, and I sat facing towards the front in the very front row next to a lady who asked where we were heading. She began to tell us a story that her and her husband were in Jackson Square this morning and he was taking a picture of her when this lady accused him of taking a picture of her. Well, they began to argue and the lady threw water onto his wife’s face and then stabbed the husband. She was telling us because she wanted us to be careful if we were going there but, she said that she did not want to walk through that area alone because she had to go that way to get to her hotel and she was terrified. We asked her if her husband was ok, and she informed us that he was and he had to have surgery but he would be fine. Well she got off at Jackson Square and the four of us were unsure of what stop we were going to so we watched her get off the front of the streetcar, meanwhile our entire class got off the back of the streetcar at Jackson Square. By the time we realized it, we were at the next stop. We jumped off and talked to Colleen to find out where we should head. We used our GPS and walked towards Jackson Square and we came out by Café Du Monde. Well, we were only half way down the street from the class. 

We walked through Jackson Square and passed the pharmacy that we are going to tour later this week. It began raining when we started walking toward the Andrew Jackson statue. While we were in the restaurant, it began pouring so we rescheduled our ghost tour for another day. But we decided to venture to Bourbon Street in the rain to see a Jazz Band. Although, the band was didn’t plan for another hour and a half, so we ventured to Café Du Monde with the other part of our class. I had a beignet which tastes similar to a funnel cake. They are square and have three on a plate with lots of powder sugar. They tasted pretty good too!

Chicken and waffles

Beignet

After we left Café Du Monde, we walked to the street car and came back to the hotel. It was raining so hard at this point that I couldn’t see anything because my glasses were so wet. I thought to myself, it would be nice to have some windshield wipers on my glasses. I was so cold and wet by the time we got back to the hotel that I took a shower to warm up. 

Overall, it has been a great first day in New Orleans and I can’t wait to go out venturing and learning more about the culture and history here. 

Inner Journey

I was beyond excited to get off the train and walk around on a ground that isn’t moving while I am trying to move. The best thing about getting off the train was I could sleep in a normal bed and truly stretch out. Additionally, I was happy that I knew we would start learning more about the culture and history here in New Orleans for our own eyes. 

Walking to the street cars

Another fantastic feeling was getting into the hotel and being able to rinse off after being on the train for so long. Although, we had to rush to get ready and head to dinner and meet the class. I ended up forgetting my umbrella which was terrible because I got so wet from it raining so hard. It was also extremely cold after that. 

At the streetcar, we met a woman who said her husband had been stabbed earlier in the day at Jackson Square. When I heard this, it made me very nervous because I know we are going there tomorrow. Honestly, it makes me want to be even more aware of my surroundings while we are there and not take my phone out of my pocket to take pictures because that is what the woman said the dispute started over. Although, we have not found an article about this proving that it happened so we are all wondering if that lady told us the truth. 

When we were at Pierre Maspero, Lindsey and I split chicken and waffles which was very good. The chicken had a lot of flavor. This was enough food for me and left enough room for me to get a beignet from Café Du Monde afterwards. I learned that the beignet was very similar to funnel cakes. 

Eating at Pierre Maspero

Overall, I felt like I have learned a lot about how watch my surroundings already being here and watch for my group at all times. 

Lindsey and I waiting for the streetcar.

New Orleans Bound!

Outer Journey

Honestly, thus far I have learned that I’m really a 95-year old woman living in an almost 23-year old body. The aches and pains I feel in my back are quite terrible. I have had lower back pain from work, but sitting in these chairs trying to sleep made it worse because I kept sliding downward in the chair meaning that I had no back support in my lower back. Throughout most the night, I couldn’t get comfortable unless I was like on my side which eventually hurt my hip, and I had to rest my head on my roommate, Lindsey. Then, after laying on my side for so long, I would get this pain in my knees from being bent and hanging off the foot rest. Even though, it seems like a pretty big space, I still felt too big for it and too old. 

All of our stuff in the seat.

Our chair in a sitting position. 

                             

Our chair laid out ready to sleep.

Furthermore, it was unbearable hot to the point where I considered pulling up my pant legs and taking my socks off. Personally, it is strange that I get that hot because I’m typically very cold and I don’t like any weather that is less than 75 degrees and sunny. After a while, they finally turned the heat down and turned up the air so it cooled off and felt good on the train. I was able to lay on my side won top of my pillow laying my head on Lindsey’s arm with my blanket over top of me. 

Surprisingly, the train ride over night was quiet, there wasn’t anyone talking and if they were you couldn’t hear it. The train was not very loud when it would blow the horn either, but maybe that is because we are in the very last car that you couldn’t really hear it. Regardless, the environment was calm and everyone was very respectful of the people around them. 

I decided to get some breakfast on the train this morning, although there was a big variety of options. There was a blueberry muffin and cinnamon roll ($2.25), and a Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich ($4.75). They had coffee and hot tea or hot chocolate ($2.25), pop, water, and some other drinks (about $2.25 and up). I choose to get the cinnamon roll which was premade by Sara Lee and it was alright, it was a little dry and hard though. Then, I got hot tea which happens to be my favorite. Overall, I spent $5.50 for my breakfast and I was not all that impressed by it but it was good enough to fill me up and tie me over. 

Breakfast on the train.

When you try to walk on the train, it is very difficult. Because the train is swaying back and forth, it makes it hard to walk straight. Another way to describe this is as if you are extremely drunk and have no control over your legs while someone is pushing you over. I was walking to the observation car and on my way there, I was walking between cars and one of the doors came sliding back out at me hitting me and causing me to hit something else with my ribs which hurt so bad. It felt like I got punched full force in the ribs. It is quite the experience and I get afraid for the elderly people on the train who are trying to walk around. In fact, it makes me nervous like I need to carry them to their seat. Overall, I believe that the people on the train all seem very nice and when walking by them, we say hi to one another or smile. Everyone seems to mind their own business and that they are happy to be on here looking out the windows and talking to the person next to them. 

Next stop, New Orleans!

Getting ready to work on my blog in the Observation car.

Inner Journey

Like I said before, I truly learned that I feel like a 95-year old woman because of how sore my back is from trying to sleep in these chairs. But I have enjoyed getting to experience the train again. I took the train to New York City when I was going into 7^thgrade which was a two-day long trip and wasn’t as bad because I was younger and didn’t have the aches and pains that I do now. I could also sleep a lot better back then but, now any small noise tends to wake me up because I am such a paranoid person that I can’t get myself to fully fall asleep. 

All my luggage!

I learned that it is very difficult to go to the bathroom while the train is moving because you are trying not to fall over and get pee on yourself, but I don’t want my butt on the seat either. Therefore, I try to go to the bathroom while the train is stopped. 

By talking to this gentleman on the train, he gave us tips on what to do in New Orleans and what not to do. He said “don’t give your phone to anyone” and “don’t sit your drinks down”, “keep your money situated on you because they can steal your bags”. But, the most important thing he said to us was “stay together, don’t go anywhere by yourself and be in groups of at least 3”. Then he talked about this Cajun food that we should try. He told us different bars to try or to avoid. 

The man with all the advice

Overall, I’m excited for the experience we will have and the food we will try while we are there. 

Kate, Brynna, myself, and Lindsey

Preparing for New Orleans 2019

Outer Journey 

There are so many things to think about when preparing for a trip, but planning the time to go shopping for food, packing clothes, making arrangements with family for the dogs or cats can be overwhelming. Although, I have really put off preparing for this trip because the last few weeks I have been in Houston, Texas visiting my boyfriend . But I flew home for the holidays so, I just unpacked all of my clothes on Wednesday, December  26^th. Then, I had to work for three days and came back to visit my parents in DeKalb, Illinois for a few days until New Year’s Eve then go back to Peoria for work. Since I have been so busy, I probably won’t pack my suitcase until New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day after work. Usually, I pack things just before I leave because I have a better idea of what the weather will be like. Therefore, I can’t tell say what all is packed in my bags yet. 

            My parents and I plan on going grocery shopping this weekend and getting snacks and drinks for the trip so I won’t have to buy too many things on the train. Some of the drinks that I will get include, pop (or soda for some of you), water, and body armor which is a sports drink. Personally, the drinks are easier to prepare and think about bringing. I plan on making some caramel Chex mix to bring with. I will get some chips, bread, and peanut butter and jelly to make a sandwich while on the train. However, to get the “full train experience” I plan on having one meal on the train with my peers. As far as sleeping on the train, I am going to take my pillow and blanket, but I hope that it is comfortable. When I was younger, I took the train with my brother and grandma from Chicago to New York City and that was two very long days on the train. 

            I have not done too much research on the trip other than looking over the itinerary, going through our D2L page, and preparing my E-Travel Guide for the class. I have been trying to keep an eye on the weather there for the next 10-days so I have an idea of the clothes that need to be packed. I feel like I am pretty prepared for the class because I have done the assignments for the course and Mrs. Karn gave us a lot of good information prior to our trip. 

            Personally, I do not have to make any arrangements for my “normal” life because I do not own my own place, I do not have any pets that I need to worry about while I’m gone, and I don’t have children. This makes things a little bit easier for me when planning for a trip because it is less stress for me and it gives me the ability to just get up and go whenever. Overall, I believe that this experience is going to be wonderful and I am excited for all the things I will get to learn. Stay tuned for future posts about our trip and the experience with food, the culture, and different sites I get to see. 

Inner Journey

New Orleans, Louisiana is a destination that I have always wanted to go. You hear about the unique culture there and how fun people’s experiences are. When I heard of the opportunity to get three credits for a week course in New Orleans, I was so excited. I contacted a classmate and told her that we had to go hear what it was like and while I was sitting in the meeting, I text my dad and said “I’m going to New Orleans, I hope this is ok. It will cost $750 plus the cost of the course, but I get three credits for my last upper gen ed”, he said “we’ll talk about it later”. Well, later for me was calling him when the meeting was over and convincing him how great it would be and all the things that would happen and he said “ok that’s fine, you can go”. Therefore, I went and wrote a check for the security deposit to secure my position on the trip. I thought about the different things that we would do and how I would have the opportunity to go on a “vacation” with my close friends from nursing school in my last semester at Methodist College and all the wonderful memories we would get to make. 

To me, the travel course would be extremely fun and I would have the opportunity to learn hands-on which is how I learn best. I had always wanted to take a travel course in college and go somewhere that I had never been with an individual that has been there because they could teach me so many things. When I was in 8^thgrade, I went to Washington D.C. on our class trip and I had a wonderful time visiting an area that has so much history and I truly enjoyed the learning experience. Although, another thing that got me excited about the New Orleans travel course was when I talked to peers that went on the trip last year and they all talked about how much fun they had and how it was such a great experience. 

I can’t say there is one thing I am more excited for than another on this trip because I have never been there and I don’t really know what to expect with each thing we do. Overall, I am very excited for the trip and the learning experience. I believe it will be interesting to see another culture and the unique things that they do there. Although, I will admit I’m very nervous to try some of the food there because I’m a picky eater. I’m not a fan of seafood or lots of beef so it will be a unique experience for me in that aspect of the trip. Stay tuned for future posts about our trip to see how I feel about the food and places we visit.