louisiana // part three

^Jackson Square

It definitely smelled a lot worse than New Orleans square in Disneyland but it had its perks. 

We took refuge from the heat and, well.. I can't say that the humidity, under the canopy at Cafe Du Monde. We ate some delicious beignets and then just explored.

I saw lots of pretty doors and iron balconies. It's crazy how historic everything is down there. I took a million pictures but my iPhone photography wasn't that great so I'll spare you from looking at those.

We wandered down bourbon street and found a jazz club that we went to both nights we were there because the music was so good.. and it didn't hurt that they also offered virgin lava flows, mmmm. I preferred that over a $12 16oz diet coke which was our only option at a couple of places. No DP? what the? I guess that's what you get for being a teeny-bopper in the real world.

I thought I'd include this last photo of us riding the trolley home on our last night. It clearly expresses how we felt about the week. Tired, sweaty, and happy.

 I loved Louisiana but it definitely made me extra grateful for the lack of humidity in Utah. Hopefully we make it back in the future. Maybe we'll make it an annual tradition, probably during the cooler months though. This body can't handle that heat!

louisiana // part two

After our northern Louisiana tour, we drove down to Grand Isle (that little blue dot that looks like it's in the middle of the ocean)  to spend some time at my brother and sister-in-law's camp house.

We loved playing with these little guys too!

It was so  relaxing and it didn't hurt that they treated us to incredible food. ^ I still dream about the shrimp boil that Justin made for us.



We happened to be in Grand Isle at the same time that they were having a fish rodeo. It was there that I saw two of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my 22 years:

1. This 710 lb. Marlin that was reeled in for 8 hours straight by that champ standing next to it.

2. and this tattoo— amazing, right?

Louisiana

Let me start this post by giving you a little bit of background info. Cam, my husband/boyfriend's, mom and dad both come from a long line of Louisianians (that's probably not the right term but just go with it). Like really long. He is a direct descendant of Jefferson Davis. Yes, the Jefferson Davis. Anyways, he grew up there until about 7th grade and then they moved to Utah. So, because my family is all pretty much in the Utah/Idaho area, he met my family & entire extended family in about the first month that we started dating. I hadn't even met some of his siblings until our wedding day.

Back to the point.. we made a last minute decision to join his parents and brother to go to Louisiana. I was beyond excited because I had never been to the deep south and I had never met any of Cam's extended family. We basically went from the tip-top of the state to the most southern part that you can get to so I got a condensed state tour.

^team Gingerale

We flew into New Orleans and took a 5 hour drive up to Bossier City, LA which is where Cam's family lives. I loved going to the places that his parents had grown up going to and seeing the city through their eyes.

^Strawns, a local favorite

Here are a few fun facts about Natchitoches
1. Natchitoches is where Steel Magnolias "Drink ya juice Shelby!"was filmed
2. It was also the original capitol of Louisiana
3. If you look up there^^ at that amazing house, that is where Cam's grandpa was born and the surrounding streets are named after his ancestors.
4. It is the most charming place in the world..

..alright that last one is not an exact fact but I dare say that it was my favorite  part of our tour.
Also, if you are ever in Natchitoches and you don't get a meat pie at Lasyone's, you are missing out!

^Louisiana is also home of the Red Neck Rest Area.

See that blue dot in the middle of the Ocean ^^? That's where spent the weekend with Cam's brother's family at their camp house in Grand Isle... which I think I'll save for a louisiana part two so that you don't get pictured out!

until next time...