So they told me that it gets warm here - but my god I didn't think it would be this hot. Maartje was over for a week in June - we had an amazing time but at one point while out discovering Coconut grove I thought I was about to pass out. Scorchio.
So when my friend Avgi delighted me with the news that she was coming over , I decided to warn her that it was pretty damn hot so maybe keep the agenda loose for the week in case the heat got a bit much. She responded telling me not to worry about the Greek in the heat. Fair enough.
So the lovely Avgi arrives, the rainstorms stay away and we have a lovely time together in Miami. We discover new rooftop bars - Sugar at the top of The east hotel is especially memorable - just the lift up there is enough to make you happy - and that's before you have seen the views....We had brunch at green street cafe in coconut grove. We ate tostadas at Dolce in little Havana, and enjoyed happy hour on the terrace of the Rusty Pelican. We loved drinks at Estefan kitchen in the design district, followed by dinner at a Michaels kitchen. So Avgi left Miami after seeing a pretty good portion of the city.
Next up was the city of New Orleans. The name to me conjured up images of men in the street playing the trumpet, sordid nights in dive bars and running into Brad Pitt. It turned out to be partly true.....
After an amusing taxi journey being called Sugar , and learning how the weather outside was smoking hot - we were dropped off at our base for the weekend - the troubador hotel downtown. A new space, we lucked out with a beautiful corner room with views out into the city. No time to dawdle - we had a walking tour of the garden district booked so off we went to see a bit of the French quarter first......
The first thing that strikes you in the summer is the heat, the second the smell and the third the sound of music being played in random spots. We made our way to one of the famous spots for beignets ( square ish doughnuts) , had an iced coffee - and started to walk towards our tour. Only I'd forgotten the time difference, and the heavens opened and the mother of all storms was unleashed. The combination of the two had us soaked and resigned to an afternoon back at the hotel.
Several hours later and dried out we head upstairs to the very cool roof of our hotel for the first of our New Orleans cocktails. The French quarter was calling again, and our reservation at Bayona. Two hours of impeccable service, gorgeous food and a banana butterscotch pie later we were back at the troubadour.
Sunday morning has us breakfasting at cafe du monde - the beignets here slightly softer so got our vote, followed by a guided walking tour of the French quarter. The heat all got a bit much for the ' don't worry about me with heat' Greek - but we managed a few hours. The rest of the afternoon was much more relaxing. Jazz brunch at the turquoise striped Commanders Palace. What a kitsch but fun time we had. In between cocktails ( sazerac for A, French 75 for me), gumbo and beef we requested Jeepers Creepers - and 3 jazz musicians appeared by our side. After pudding ( blueberry pie) A was treated to ' when you're smiling'. We left the restaurant with balloons giggling like school kids. A fun, fun place to spend an afternoon.
We should have spent the evening at a jazz bar, but that's the thing I like about New Orleans - you have to go with flow - don't plan things. It might mean that being spontaneous means you fall asleep post cocktails at 5pm - but hey when in NOLA....
We stayed:http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/louisiana/new-orleans-hotels/the-troubadour/
We ate:
http://www.commanderspalace.com
http://www.bayona.com
http://www.cafedumonde.com
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