Carl's Blog

The threat of rain seems to have gone away on this day, July 15, 2026. This means the heat is returning, not that yesterday was all that cool. Today, I think I will visit the aquarium and insectarium followed by a bit more shopping. I’m still trying to find the store that was selling this via garlic forward hot sauce. I’m starting to get the idea it was one of the regular shops that sells NOLA merchandize since the 2 specialty shops I’ve looked at don’t have it. I guess it is possible that it is no longer being made or they changed up the label.

Breakfast this morning was at Majoria’s Commerce Restaurant, on Camp Street. This is a small dinner open for breakfast and lunch, which the menu says you can get both all day. I swear it’s bar had a better selection of whisky than most of the bars on Bourbon Street, but it’s 9:00 AM and too early for me to be drinking anything stronger than coffee. So, breakfast today was shrimp and grits.

One thing I want to remember for my next visit is the number of places there are to eat in this area. Now most of them are only open for breakfast and lunch and if they server dinner they close by 9 PM, which for me is perfect. There is pizza, old fashion diners, an Indian restaurant oh, and a Mediterranean one called Olive. I had thought about Olive, for dinner one night but for some reason thought it was multiple blocks from hotel, but it’s only a few, just in the opposite direction of the French Quarter.

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After a nice breakfast, it was a short walk down to the river and the Aquarium. I bought my ticket last night so I was able to skip the ticket line an go straight up the stairs to the first exhibit.

— Insects —

These exhibits were amazing. If you could have heard the excitement of the children I was having to dodge and wait patiently to clear away, you would have gotten excited too. I don’t think I heard any of them say, “that’s gross”, even if I heard a few adults say it.

— Butterflies —

To enter the butterfly garden you first are ushered into a closed room with a door behind a plastic green chain curtain. Once everyone is in the room, the usher closes the door and a short video plays. Once the “push here” button goes from Red to Green you can enter the exhibit. It was fun having butterflies all around you. I did notice most were near the plants near the windows and direct sunlight.

— Fish —

You maybe wondering how much did it cost? This experience cost me about $50. I’m not sure it was worth the price, but I do realize the upkeep on these exhibits is expensive, so I was willing to pay the fee. For an extra $10 you could also get a ticket to the Audubon Zoo in town, which is located about 40 minutes up the river. The best part was the butterfly garden, followed by walking through the underwater tunnel. Guess you know why those were videos and not pictures.

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I had to get a picture of the river boat on the Mississippi River. I did this 75 minute tour the last time I was here in New Orleans, and I recommend doing it at least once.

I continued along the riverwalk, down and past Cafe Du Mont and long the sidewalk leading to the French Market Area. Here you will find many different vendors selling a variety of items along with a variety of food or drink take aways. I wanted to give this place called Meals From the Heart Cafe, which had a complete vegan menu, a try. I selected the vegan gumbo, which had okra, mushrooms and zucchini with rice. It wasn’t bad, but I’ve had better. I felt it lacked the “punch” other gumbos have. Being vegan shouldn’t limit you on the spices.

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With some food in my belly it was time to wander off and find some good hot sauce and maybe some tea. My path did happen to take me past Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. It claims to be the oldest bar in the United States, being built between 1722 and 1732; however, I doubt that claim. I’ll give it that its and old building but it didn’t start out as a bar.

With my drink in hand, I got back on my quest to find tea and hot sauce.

If you wanted, you could sample everyone of the hot sauces, salsa and marinades the Pepper Palace makes. Be prepared for some of them to make you regret that choice. They do offer a flat fee of $5 shipping for mail orders and if you buy 3 your get the 4th bottle free. I’m stocked up now for a good amount of time.

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I wanted to get back to my hotel room before 2 PM to watch the England vs Argentina game, but I did want to get something else to eat and why not get another daiquiri. Last time I was here I tried Voodoo Chicken, so this time I went for Willies Chicken. Comparing the two, I do prefer Willies over Voodoo, and I think Willies daiquiri was better, but I didn’t get the same type, Willie Colada this time. It was pretty good, but it is made with 151 rum so it packs a kick.

So, that ends my adventures for today. I took it easy this afternoon, watching the game, and a few movies in my room.

On to tomorrow and my cooking class, followed by another museum – this one is free.