Arrival.....finally

Outer Journey

Well that was quite the first experience!  The train ride was long and exhausting, but we finally made it.  We got off the train and waited for our luggage.  I could not find my luggage, but I figured it would show up somewhere, but I was wrong.  My luggage was dropped off at the wrong location.  That was not the way I wanted to start this trip, especially after a very long train ride.  I tried to stay calm, and gave the gentleman that was helping me my phone number and off we went to the hotel.  We called an Uber driver and that was the first time I had ever taken an Uber.  It was a very pleasant experience.  The driver was nice and funny and he drove a nice car and helped us load and unload our luggage.  We arrived at the hotel and checked into our room.  We had about twenty minutes to put our stuff done and freshen up to go eat. We had decided to walk to the restaurant, which was a nice change after being on a train.  I quickly noticed that I felt a little dizzy after riding a train.  That was a weird feeling that I did not expect.  We walked to the Original Pierre Maspero’s to try some authentic New Orleans food.  On the walk to the restaurant the streets were not as crowded as I expected, but it was cold outside.  I was looking around and some of the places looked familiar after the research we had done.   We arrived at the restaurant and waited for our tables.  I decided to use that time to run to a nearby H&M store to get a few items of clothes so that I could have fresh clothes to wear.  Luckily, I have great friends and one of them went with me to get clothes and rush back to the restaurant.  We sat at our table and looked over the menu.  I was not sure what to order, but I wanted to try some good New Orleans food.  I ordered something called the Crescent City Sampler which consisted of Cajun-Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffe and Chicken and Andouille Gumbo.  It was definitely food that I was not used to eating, but I was glad that I tried something new.  The atmosphere was cool and different.  Unfortunately, we had to reschedule the ghost tour because of the delays on the train, but I was exhausted and ready for bed.  After dinner, we walked to Café du Monde to try an infamous beignet.  Before the café, we stopped in the French Quarter to see where we would be meeting the next day to see the St. Louis Cathedral.  From what I could see, it is beautiful.  So we finally made it to the face and the beignet was really good, but I was toast.  I was ready to go to the hotel, shower, blog, and hit the hay!  I look forward to seeing so many amazing things on this trip, but for now I am looking forward to sleeping in a bed for hopefully more than a few hours. 

 We made it!

                                                                                               The Crescent City Sampler

Inner Journey

That was the longest trip ever.  OK, maybe not, but it felt like it.  I could feel myself starting to get antsy to get off of the train and get to the hotel.  I honestly felt like we had been on the train for days.  I learned that my patience wears very thin when I am tired.  When we arrived, and I found out that my luggage had been taken off of the train and was an hour away and I was not going to have my clothes until the next day, I could feel my emotions rising to the surface.  I was angry and upset, and just wanted to cry.  How did this happen?  Who messed up?  Why me?  Ughhhhh!!  I understood mistakes happen, but I just wanted to shower and put clean clothes on, which was now impossible without buying new clothes.  I tried to take a deep breath and let it go.   I really wanted to scream at someone, but I could not let this dictate how this trip was going to go.  I was proud of myself for staying calm and not freaking out or getting angry at anyone.  I have come to realize that lashing out does not good for anyone.  Making someone feel bad for an honest mistake would have done more harm than good and then I would have felt bad for getting angry at someone.  Once again, I felt like this was a good growing opportunity for me and a good time for me to test my patience.  😊 We took an Uber to the hotel, and that was my first experience with an Uber.  I think I had it in my head that Uber drivers were scary or weird, but our driver was awesome.  I often realize that I have a preconceived image in my head of things and how they are going to be.  I try to be very open minded, but I still find myself judging others by looks or by a stereotype.  Many times, I am reminded that there are so many layers to people and so many people surprise me.  I think New Orleans is a great place to find diversity and uniqueness and I look forward to learning and exploring.  I would say this day was trying and tested everyone’s patience.  We had a lot of setbacks and frustrations, and everyone was ready to be off the train and ready to be in New Orleans!  Being on a train for that long, people tend to wear on you and I was glad we arrived when we did.  I am missing my husband and boys a lot and found myself wanting to text and call them a lot today.  Although, I am strong and independent, I am a mom and a wife and that is the identity that I have known for so long.  Being away from my family has been challenging already.  Tomorrow is a new day, and I hope to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to explore New Orleans.