Orlando

Next it was off to Orlando to see my childhood best friend Kyle and her family. I hadn't seen her in a few years and she was definitely owed this trip.  I was only going to be there a day and a half, but she did not disappoint. We went on an abbreviated tour of the city as we caught up and reminisced about old times. 

Welcome to my Home! Discovering a Planned Community

First Kyle wanted to take me to the spot where she and her family had just bought a brand new home.  When we got to the neighborhood I saw a tractor trailer and a little sign that said "Purchased", but not one stitch of home. It seems that when Kyle told me she had bought a home in a planned community, the term "planned community" got lost in translation in this city girl's mind.  Ok, so let's back up. Basically there are acres of land where   

I couldn't help put feel that it was reminiscent of early settlers who came to stake claim in the blossoming cities of early America. I looked out at the vast land and imagined that in a few years there would be other houses there, other families. 

The site where Kyle's home will be built

Location where several other homes will be built

Planned Community Street with plots for purchase

My buddy next to her lot. In the back they are building her neighbor's home!

http://www.therealestatehomeguide.com/planned-communities/florida-real-estate/

Southern Love Bug

Having spent many of my childhood summers staying with relatives in parts of the rural South, I am no stranger to the crazy array of bugs that southern wilderness has to offer, palmetto bugs, chiggers, gnats, yellows jackets, earwigs. But on this trip to Orlando, I became acquainted with a very passionate species of insect who just can't seem to live without being in a relationship--The Love Bug.  I kept seeing these peculiar pairs of flies zooming around, glommed onto each other. I was confused. Were they stuck? In some sort of in-flight combat? Kyle informed me that I had arrived at the height of 'Love Bug" season. These little creatures also known as the honeymoon fly, kissingbug or double-headedbug, pair up at the start of the season, mate and then stay connected to one another for the duration of their short lives. They just fly everywhere attached literally at their rear ends.  But, as cute and romantic a species as they may seem to be, they quickly become  a nuisance for the folks in the South. They little drop like flies when they die…in swarms…on your steps, in the street, on your car!  The problem comes in when their acidic entrails begin to decay on your car getting stuck there like crazy glue within only hours. Their acidic bodies starts to etch away at the paint, destroying the finish. Business in Florida make money it seems trying to combat this problem. 

Love Bugs

Universal Studios

I didn't think I had enough time to go to any of the amusement parks, but you'd be surprised what can happen when a little focus and determination is involved. It had literally not been to Disney or Universal Studios since a youngster almost two decades ago. When I saw all those colors, rides and lights…I felt just like a kid again!

15 Minutes of Fame

As soon as we entered the park, we were greeting by the Universal Studios Promotions Department who noticed our shining exuberance and and asked us if we would became the new spokespeople for their advertising campaign! Ok, alright….maybe I am exaggerating just a little. But Kyle and I did get our 15 minutes of fame. It seems that TodayFM in Ireland was filming some promotional radio spots and asked it we would lend our voices.  Basically we had to recording into a microphone in our most cheerful voices "Hi! This is Kelynn and I'm at Universal Studios in Orlando Studios. When I wake up in the morning I like to listen to Sheryl Crow's All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun. So Wake Up Ireland and get out there and face the day!!!"  This was so incredibly corny, but yet so much fun! It was also nice to know that somewhere in Ireland someone woke up to our good old chipper American voices. :-) todayfm.com

Kyle gets interviewed by the TodayFM folks for the radio spot in Ireland

So Much To Do, So Little Time

With such a short visit I didn't have time to hit all of the spots that I would have like to. I made a list of the places I would love to return to when I pay my BFF another visit. Most of it revolves around food…which is what Kyle and I seem to do best when we get together. 

Seasons 52

From what Kyle told me Seasons 52 is an incredible restaurant that changes its menu almost every week. I guess the name would be indicative of that since their are 52 weeks in the year. 

McDonald's Bistro

I love McDonald's…..McHmmmm.  Yeah, yeah, I know that That Supersize Me guy is The crisp golden fries.  Finally a  McDonalds where I DON'T know what's on the menu. Crepes for breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffles for http://www.mcfun.com/bistro

You might say it's just another McDonald's 

Love is a plant- prune it, water it sunlight leave it alone

Photos again

New Orleans

The Freshness of New Orleans 

We were only in New Orleans for two days but there was something about his city that intrigued and fascinated us to the point where we walked away with so much to express, explore and think about. Both of us had been to New Orleans in the past; Eric before Hurricane Katrina to visit friends and Kelynn a few years after the storm in a volunteer effort to help rebuild and repair homes. However, this time there was a certain something that sparked an emotion in us strong enough to want to delve deeper into the history and culture of a city so unique to the United States that at times it is like you have travelled to another country altogether--the mixture of cultures, African, French, Spanish, Caribbean, Native American and European--the people, the history, the folklore, the mystery, the myth, the intrigue. Even though we had been to New Orleans before, during this trip, we saw --and felt--New Orleans with fresh new eyes.  

Eric and Kelynn's New Orleans VIP Tour 

Our super cool tour guide Louis

Having your own personal tour guide is definitely the way to go if you can swing it! We were extremely fortunate to have Louis Bardel, show us  the nooks and crannies of this vibrant city. He is Kelynn's friend from New York, but he recently moved back to New Orleans to start up his own tourism company. Years ago, he lived and worked in New Orleans, but moved out of the state like so many others did following Hurricane Katrina. Just before we arrived, he received word that he had passed the test to become a legal, licensed, certified and bona fide New Orleans tour guide! Congratulations Louie!  So, technically, I guess you could say that we were his first "official" clients. The trip wouldn't have been the same without his intimate understanding of the city's history, knowledge of its hotspots and interesting anecdotes of famous New Orleanians past and present. Louis is also an accomplished writer, educator and all around "bon vivant"...If you are ever in New Orleans and want a supercool guide to show you around and give you the lowdown on the happenings in the city, make sure to look him up. Check out his website at  www.stageandscreenwriters.com.

The French Quarter

Our first stop was the French Quarter also known as Vieux Carre or the "The Old Square".  The beautiful architecture in the French Quarter with its cast-iron embellishments can transport you back to times long ago almost instantly.  You might be led to believe that because of the city's French history that the beautiful tiered balconies are indicative of French architecture. But, in fact,  many of these homes are of Spanish influence. New Orleans was hard hit by two devastating fires that blazed through the city in 1788 then again in 1794 and all but destroyed all of the original French traditional style buildings. The city was under Spanish rule at this time, therefore, the reconstruction efforts were organized with Spanish influence in mind. Even still, today New Orleans boosts an eclectic mix of architectural styles from the Spanish style balconies of homes in the French Quarter, the Victorian mansions of St. Charles Street to the Creole cottages. 


New Orleans Street Fight: One interesting thing about New Orleans is how the street names tell a tale of the 18th century rivalry between the French and the Americans. Canal Street divides the French section of the city from the American section. Apparently, the original French and Spanish wanted no parts of the American settlers who set up shop in the city after the Louisiana Purchase, so they built a street down the middle to keep the two cultures separated.  If you walk  down the French Royal Street and cross Canal you will soon find that you are now on American St. Charles Street. The first time Kelynn went to New Orleans she stood on a street corner confused as to how she wound up on a completely different street having never made a turn. So much drama in a name! 

Beautiful Architecture

Horse and Carriage

Cafe Beignet on Bourbon Street

Brangelina's House

We would have walked right past this unassuming house near the French Quarter without a second glance had not Louis pointed out that this was Brad Pitt and Angelina's Jolie's home. Louis says that he sometimes sees body guards sit outside giving an indication that the mega stars are lounging inside. However, that night it was quiet and dark so there would be star gazing that night.  

This is the House that Brad Built: Brad Pitt is not just a homeowner in New Orleans, he is also a home builder, contributing to the efforts to rebuild and restore parts of the city devastated by the hurricane.  His organization Make It Right has built 50 beautiful new homes in the Lower Ninth Ward, which has helped about 200 displaced New Orleanians  find their way back home.  

Brangelina's New Orleans Home

"Make it Right" Home in the Lower Ninth Ward from Kelynn's first trip to N.O.

"Make it Right" has helped many families come back to New Orleans

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

This bridge gives new meaning to the old adage "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"!  In fact, the thought of crossing The Lake Pontchartain Causeway made Kelynn's knees knock even though its clear that people travel back and forth on that bridge every day. Thing is, the bridge fades out into the distance so far it looks like it evaporates into nothing. The causeway actually consists of two parallel bridges that cross Lake Pontchartrain and connect the cities of Mandeville and Metaire. The longest of the two stretches about 24 miles  and is the longest in the country, possibly the world.

Louis told us that the psychological effect of traveling across water with no sight of dry land on either side has  caused some drivers to panic and sit stranded on the bridge until help comes to escort them off. We  found no article to verify this claim, but we did find that this bridge is listed on several scary bridge sites including MSNBC's Scariest Bridges in the World. Let's just say that was more than enough to convince us. 

Look very closely, and you can see the bridge span the length of the horizon

Louis looks out onto Lake Ponchartrain

Lake Pontchartrian Bridge aerial view from Interesting fact website

"Fixin to Make Groceries" and other Nawlins Speak
***We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post to figure out why certain New Orleanians sound like they come from Brooklyn. ***

Judging by the fantastically varied number of accents that this city boasts, I can only imagine that the city of New Orleans is  a linguists dream. Even before I stepped foot into New Orleans I had my own fantasy about what all New Orleanians must sound like. I imagined all the older men with an accent like Cajun chef, Justin Wilson (you know the guy that ended almost every sentence with "I Gar-ron-tee!") and the younger ones sounding something like Harry Connick Jr. As a person fascinated by how the region, neighborhood and family you come from determines how you sound to the rest of the world, I perked up when my Northern ears heard a Southern shop keeper ask me "Howya like it cheer in Nawlins Lee-zee-ana?"  But in reality, New Orlean's linguistic history is quite eclectic and complex with French, Spanish, English, Caribbean and African influences just to name a few.

Cultures weaved in and out of each other, co-mingling at times, isolated at other times; the languages evolving simultaneously in both clusters and in groups. What an interesting product...or should I say product(s) this process has created so far. Some folks sound distinctly "southern", some have interesting twangs and drawls, and yet strangely enough some sound like a hybrid between New Yorkers from Brooklyn and natives of Boston Massachussetts. (It seems some pockets of New Orleanian subculture share an Irish and Italian heritage and as a result share a similar linguistic evolution as Irish-Italian Americans in New York.)  In New Orleans, much like in New York, you can tell the neighborhood a person is from and the socio-economic group they are in just from the cadence and intonation of their speech. Add to the mix that several borrowed French words like banquette and lagniappe are included in New Orleanian's common everyday speech.  I found this very interesting excerpt from an hour documentary called "Yeah You Rite" which showcases the many varieties of New Orlean's accents:

New Orleans Cemeteries aka "Cities of the Dead"

Our next stop was one of New Orlean's Cemeteries .  In New Orleans, with its swampy marshland and unpredictable flooding, burying bodies underground is a really big no-no. In the earlier years, settlers would try to weigh now coffins with rocks before burying them, but flood waters would still also unearth them.  Eventually the city solved the problem by adapting the Spanish custom of interring the dead in vaults above ground. Because these tombs resemble clusters of small houses with walkways in between them laid out like streets, New Orleans cemeteries have been called Cities of the Dead

These tombs often house the remains of families

It was quite interesting to see the many tombs in the cemeteries, several dating back to the 18th century. Families are usually interred together. So it was not uncommon to see that one tomb held an entire families remains. Some of the famous New Orleanians we passed by were:

Claude Treme

The oldest African American neighborhood in America "The Faubourg Treme" got its name from model hat maker and real estate developer Claude Treme. Treme migrated from to New Orleans from France in 1783.  He seemed to have no qualms about doing business with free people of color and sold much of his property to blacks who eventually formed this "faubourg" or "neighborhood". 

Claude Treme's Tomb

Claude Treme's wife, Julie Moro, was laid to rest with him

Marie Laveau

In St. Louis Cemetery #1 you will find the reported gravesite of the famed Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau. Born some time around 1801, Marie Laveau was the most famous and most powerful voodoo priestess in New Orleans with folks calling upon her to cast spells for love and money. Some scholars contest the fact that this the the final resting place of Marie Laveau. However, since this is the family tomb for her husband's family the Glapions, this seems like the most likely spot.  Marie still gets many visits from tourists who mark "X's" on her grave in hopes that she will ask grant them a wish. 

Famous Painting of Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau

The reported tomb of Marie Laveau

Plaque on Marie Laveau's Tomb

Vistors leave offerings and mark her grave with "X" marks. 

New Orleans Art Tour

Kelynn says: Louis, knowing my intense, almost obsessive love of the arts, and having an appreciate for the arts himself structured a very lovely and extensive New Orleans Art Tour for me. The plan was to go around the city and hit all of the major museums and hotspots. This was an real treat and I was incredibly appreciative to have an all day tour structured around my interests. Thank you Louis!  Eric, who was involved in several athletic endeavors  at home decided to keep up his fitness program and  stayed back at the hotel to get in a good work out and do some running. Louis picked me up and we were on our way.

Love in the Garden 

Our first stop was the The Syndney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden next to the New Orleans Museum of Art. We had actually attempted to visit the garden the evening before, but it was just after dusk and it was closed. Through the locked wrought iron gates we could see beautiful ponds, lush green grass, majestic trees. It was so beautiful, I was almost enticed to want to hope the fence!.

The next day when we returned, we noticed a crew of people feverishly setting up tables, chairs and decorations; and testing speakers and microphones. A gentleman with a voice like Pavarotti belted out operatic tunes that carried throughout the garden to make sure the sound system was in working order. Turns out they were setting up for a gala event called Love in the Garden that would take place that evening. Supporters of the museum could purchase a ticket to meet several of the sculptors and artists, while enjoying delicious Louisiana cuisine and live music all night long.

African American Museum

The African American Museum is located in the Treme neighborhood and contained inside a house built in 1828 in the style of of a Creole Villa.

Entrance to the African American Museum

Mural in museum garden

Barack inside the gallery

Many paintings depicted the South's slave history

Inside the gallery

"Red Star Gallerie" and the Modern Marie

Perhaps the most intriguing of the many museums I visited while in New Orleans was the Red Star Gallerie. It is a   charming pink and white building on Bayou Road that stands unassuming, sweet and exuding a quaint charm.  Louis told me about Red Gallerie the moment I arrived in New Orleans.  He said the gallery was showcasing artwork depicting the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. He gave me a wink and a smile and said that the gallery owner herself was well versed in the art of Voodoo...oh, and by the way, she was very beautiful. Hmmm. Yes of course.  Louis had his reasons for wanting to visit Red Star, but I definitely had mine. I am passionate about the arts, spirituality, culture and history, and this  seemed to combine them all. Jackpot.

Louis said there was a chance the gallery was still open, so Eric, Louis and I hopped in the car and sped off to meet the, the modern day Marie...the gallery's owner and "magico religious- practitioner" Ms. Gina Marie Bernal. 

Exhibition Announcement

We pulled up and I hopped out energetic and eager. But to both Louis' and my chagrin, Ms. Bernal was not there. The gallery was locked, dark and vacant. I peeked inside the window, the summer's late sunset reflected in its pane's and  saw a set of offerings: candles, cakes, flowers and candy, carefully displayed in the same way the Dominican women in the street's of Washington Heights make shrines to fallen loved ones on the streets of New York City. A statue of Madonna and Child stood at the center. I have always been fascinated with the contradictory way that Catholicism  has co-mingled with African tradition of Voodoo. I saw a sign on the door that said "We will be back at 7. " It was 8:30 PM.

Louis and I returned the next afternoon sans Eric who decided to go for a run. It was brood daylight around 4pm, but the gallery was still locked. We went around the block to the artsy Community Coffee House to regroup. I sat sipping a cup of hot java bummed that I would have to go back to New York City with my curiosity unquenched.

But fate has a way of working things out when they are meant to be. Just that moment a somewhat tall, slender young woman who looked in her mid twenties with a big bushel of curly black hair and flawless cafe au lait skin came through the door, walked directly past our table and stopped at the to the coffee counter to place an order. .

Gina Marie opened the door and greeted us with a lovely and distinctive New Orleans drawl that made me wonder just what part of the she was from.

Gina tells us that she commissioned artists from around New Orleans to paint their renditions of Marie Laveau. Around the gallery are several vibrant and colorful . A few of them share a striking resemblance to the Ms. Bernal herself. Ms. Bernal tells us that the true likeness of Marie Laveau was never captured. During Marie Laveau's time, woman would sit and have their portraits painted, but apparently Marie Laveau never would sit and thus know one could really know what she looks like. In fact, there are many faces. Therefore, no one knew what she really looked like.

(INSERT)

She calls RedStar not only a gallery but a spiritual center. She is also a "magico religious-practitioner" who reads tarot cards and helps those torn over love, life or finances to work out their problems spiritual.  Sometimes people need to learn whatever lesson they need to learn.

(INSERT)

"Do you know how many people come in here and believe that they are Marie Laveau?"  We talked about the concept that perhaps Marie Laveau's spirit was so powerful that it had in fact have broken into several pieces and dispersed itself into many new modern day incarnations. 

Ms. Bernal suggests that I visit Priestess Miriam at the Voodoo Temple on xxxx. I inquire as to whether I could get a tarot card reading. Ms. Bernal tells me that she'd be shocked if the High Priestess gave me a reading right there on the spot. Apparently she is in high demand and selective about her clientle. 

Ms. Bernal is also a Catholic 

So many people came to support the opening that she thought the cops where going to close her down. I wished I where there to experience the celebration. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Voodoo . 

New Orleans Museum of Arts 

New Orleans Museum

http://www.noma.org/ 

An exhibition on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

One of several pictures depicting the graffitti messages people scrawled on their homes

Louis at the museum

Ogden Museum

http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/

The Doors of New Orleans

Kelynn's passion for photography gripped her once again in New Orleans. She has a thing for architecture, in particular doors and windows, so that was the photo theme of the day.

"Industrial Blue" 

"Red in French Quarter"

"Just Lucy's" 

"Orange" 

"Gospel in the Quarter"

"Cezar Magi on Chartres"

Renaissance Hotel

While in New Orleans we stayed at the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel. This beautiful place is an art lover's dream. It was one part hotel, one part art gallery. Original artwork filled the lobby and graced the walls throughout the hotel. The carpet stood out with its  funky colorful graphic design. An interesting sculpture garden was on the second floor and a gorgeous mural behind the concierge desk.

View of lobby from hotel balcony

Sculpture garden on second floor

Painting in lobby

Water Fountain

Piano in lobby

Alligator Sausage 

Beignets and gumbo are top on the list of New Orleans cuisine, but one thing that neither of us have ever tried was Alligator Sausage.  I can't even remember the name of the restaurant  that served us this unique dish, but this reptile was served up spicy with remoulade sauce. We both agreed that it was meaty and tasted somewhat like a cross between fish and… chicken!

This is a picture I "borrowed" 

Here's an alligator sausage recipe to try for those with an adventurous palate...and those who have access to alligator (Do they sell that at Whole Foods?)

Lucy's Restaurant 

This gem of a restaurant called Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar & Restaurant stared us right in the face for the two days we were in New Orleans. It was directly across the street from our hotel, but it took us until our last meal in New Orleans to try it out. Aren't we glad we did! They had the best seafood omelette, home fried potatoes, grits, sausage, french toast…and Blue Whale specialty drink!. The restaurant's laid back California surfer ambiance and decor mixed with the exuberance and Southern charm of the customers and wait staff was amusing and fun. Lucy's was right on target.  Of course what you are looking for is usually staring you right in the face. 

Lucy's Restaurant