A CAJUN BREAK

i've been realizing that the travel that needs to be done is oftentimes not far from home; it doesn't always have to be international, or even cross-country! with that in mind, New Orleans was a city i have always heard so much about, but never made my way over there. last week i mentioned to my friend, Shaley, that it would be so fun to take a day trip over there -- to explore the city, find good eats, and experience the New Orleans feel -- and she was totally on board! i love friends that respond well to my spontaneity :)
we conquered a quick 2.5 hour drive tuesday morning to get us there by 10am, leaving us with a full day to roam.

because both mine and Shaley's personalities are so chill, we had no structure for the day; we just wanted to have fun together, whatever that looked like! we walked so many miles, went in every antique store, shopped around, perused galleries, tasted every sample of pralines in the city, sweated buckets, and found some delicious hole-in-the-wall restaurants. 

lunch in an alley at La Divina was surprisingly fresh, fancy, and satisfying. 

 of course, Cafe du Mondé was a must with there fresh coffee and hot beignets. this place did not disappoint for an afternoon snack. for dinner, a local led us to a thai restaurant called Singhai. it was delicious.
overall, Shaley and i had a blast in this city -- it's funky, entertaining, and bustling. if you ever get a chance to head over to New Orleans, don't be shy, do it!

Africa posts will continue, but it's always good for a pause to break things up.