This past weekend, I packed my bags and met my friends in New Orleans for a Bachelorette Weekend.
After watching The Originals, needless to say I was excited.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’ve been to a few cities in my life, but none of them have quite been like New Orleans. The Big Easy. I thought if I had survived New York City by myself, I could survive New Orleans with five of my friends.
And for the most part, I was right.
I got to eat beignets at Café Du Monde, an open-air coffee shop in the French Market which opened in 1862. I walked around the beautiful Jackson Square, named after president Andrew Jackson and full of history. Not to mention the famed Bourbon Street, smells and drunken people included.
Here are some highlights from my adventures:
1. Beignets
Our first stop on our trip was Cafe Du Monde. The beignets were great, the line a little long, but well worth it to try some of New Orleans finest. Our last stop in New Orleans was to Cafe Beignet and I think these beignets were even better! They also have other breakfast items and coffees, but the line was still a little too long for my liking (well worth it, though.) If you go to New Orleans, you have to give one or both places a chance. Tiana from The Princess and the Frog would not lead you astray!
2. Cat's Meow
The World Famous Cats Meow of New Orleans was probably my favorite place we went to on Bourbon Street. It's a karaoke bar with a lot or drunk singers and a couple crazy MCs. MY first night, I found myself on stage with my friends, hula-hooping to Ariana Grande's Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored. Needless to say, it's a one of a kind experience, and it has a balcony on the second floor that overlooks Bourbon Street. AKA, where people throw beads at you.
3. Haunted History Tour
There are a ton of tours around New Orleans: mule drawn carriage tours, history tours, haunted tours...the list goes on and on. Our tour was the Haunted History Tour 5-in-1 and our tour guide took us around the streets of the Big Easy and talked to us about ghosts, vampires, witches, and pirates. It was amazing, as was our tour guide Sarahbelle! New Orleans has a long, fairly bloody history and I felt like I got a good sense of many of them.
4. Lafayette Cemetery #1
At first, it was weird to me thinking about going to a cemetery for fun. But, it was one of the highlights of my trip. Our tour was with Tours by Steven, our guide none other than Steven! He was amazing. The more you participate with him, the better time you'll have. I died of yellow fever at our first stop and by the end, I had effectively killed everyone in our group. Now THAT is how you leave a mark. But, as for the actual cemetery, it's where Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau is buried and also is the future resting place of Nicholas Cage in his pyramid tomb. Not to mention some cool historical figures.
5. Food!!!
Literally, the food in New Orleans is something else. There are so many places to go, it was so difficult to choose places to go. As I said before, we went to Cafe Du Monde and Cafe Beignet. We also ate at Cornet and Pat O'Brien's and both were so delicious. I'm not entirely sure you could choose a bad place there. Food was definitely worth the trip to New Orleans!
I had so much fun getting out of my comfort zone and welcoming New Orleans in, but I can’t lie and say it was all beignets and iced coffee. The one thing that disappointed me was the fact that I:
1. Couldn’t go anywhere without being yelled at about my age and the fact that I was getting married, and
2. Couldn’t walk around without getting cat called, harassed, or sexualized in some way.
How sad is it that group of girls can’t walk around without feeling like they can’t wear a crop top or tight pants? How sad is it that people think it’s okay to take the time out of their day to turn to me and say “You’re too young for that” or “Don’t do it”?
Not only did I feel uncomfortable, but strangers were telling me that my choices were bad! Now, I know some of them were probably kidding about the “don’t do it,” but calling me out on my age when I know I look 12 but I’m obviously in a bar so I have to be at least 21 thankyouverymuch is just rude.
But, I want to take the time to say thank you to the strangers that said congratulations and gave me Mardi Gras beads without having to show anything. There was no judgement, just kindness, excitement, and maybe more than a little alcohol in their blood. And that’s how it should be; that’s what I expected from New Orleans.
I’m 23, almost 24, and I should be able to enjoy a weekend out with my friends, especially one that celebrates marrying someone I love. When did the world become somewhere so judgmental and rude? (Yes, I’m talking to you, stranger from WV who said we looked 12 and said rude things to us in the middle of the day. You, sir, are a disgrace to my great Mountain State.)
End of rant.
New Orleans is great, and the people from there are kind and fun. It’s worth a trip there if you’ve never been; everyone should experience it at least once. Our tour guides were amazing, and if you find yourself taking the same tours we did, ask for our tour guides and you won’t regret it!
Shout out to my friends who came and my sister who made it all possible. You guys made this trip so fun and I couldn’t have asked for a better time. We saw so many amazing things, and things I never want to see again!
Until next time, New Orleans!