The Terrific3 travel blog

It is spring break, and time for another family trip. Our last one was the famed December one to Italy that ended oh so…badly…. Unless you think finally getting home in a Depends diaper is the way to travel!

We arrived here yesterday afternoon and promptly went out to get beignets (to the initial disappointment of my kids who wanted to explore the hotel the whole evening)

But these expressions changed soon with some sugar on their faces…and the rest of their bodies…

Today we found some breakfast at Mother’s cafe, went to the World war 2 museum (excellent, and we spent 6+ hours there as did many avoiding the rain), enjoyed the gym, weights, pool at the hotel, and are now relaxing in the evening by the pool.

A few reflections as this is my first time in NOLA and my kids’ first time in the South. They first thought it was a different country! Yes that was their initial impression. For me, it’s nice to see more diversity in races outside of white portland. But the food—not my favorite as a vegetarian/vegan who’s been spoiled in portland. People literally look at me funny if I ask if there is Greek yogurt on a breakfast menu or other vegetarian options for lunch. And frankly, the rates of obesity here reflect how poorly people eat—everything is meaty, high fat, lots of butter and cheese, and few veggies. I looked that up to make sure I wasn’t making it up and out of 100 U.S. cities, NOLA is 18 in top obesity rates. Portland is somewhere near 90. The health of so much of our country is ruled by the culture of what food people like and is available but it’s so sad to me. That having been said, there is a growing vegan and vegetarian movement here and now that I have a list of those restaurants, that’s who we will support.

The WW2 museum was fantastic and I’m so glad my kids were interested and engaged. It also made me so sad…for the lives lost then…for those who don’t read history and watch the world move towards fascism yet again. For the use of the atomic bomb, the creation of which was intertwined by minds from my college Alma mater.

Ah and travel with kids. Each time I do it, I realize how exhausting it is. And almost curse myself for having forgotten from the last time. Though of course it is getting easier with time, it is still harder than watching kids at home, where they have their friends, activities and routines. But I also appreciate that this is a problem I create for myself as I value creating these types of memories with my boys, and value showing them the world at this age, and hope it will shape who they are much as travel shaped me.

Tomorrow, we have tickets to preservation hall and that will be fun.

I leave you with a gallery of a few more photos.