Landed in New Orleans yesterday, a.k.a. The Crescent City and The Big Easy. I had been planning the trip for the past month to spend time with my friend Jewelee and her husband Scott, their kiddos, and her family of choice, Virginia, Chris, Karen, Loreen and Ron; who know this place like the backs of their hands. They were my tour guides, pointing out all kinds of interesting factoids and drawing my attention to stuff I might have otherwise missed, since I felt like a kid in a candy store. Drinking it all in; the people dressed in outrageous garb, the Mardi Gras beads tossed over electrical wires and trees, the enticing aromas wafting from restaurant and café doors.

I  had never been to Jazz Fest, so that was a draw as well. Eager to hear concerts tomorrow and Friday. Today, I found myself strolling through streets strangely familiar, even though I have never set foot on the sidewalks lined with French and Spanish architecture, gas lights and music resonating from bars and on street corners. More tarot card readers per square inch in Jackson Square, as we meandered through. Sky writer designing imagery across the puffy cloud cerulean expanse. The letters spelled out the words-  love, pray, respect, coexist and honor. Was dancin’ in the streets at a block party, and found a colorful parasol sold by a woman who told us that it was formed from recycled bicycle spokes and rainbow hued fabric with mirrors embedded it. On a porch sat a man who was celebrating his 91st birthday. The daughters of my friends Jewelee and Scott and Virginia adeptly spun hula hoops around their waists, in ways that I can recall doing when I was young. I marveled at their energy and ability to keep them going. These days, I can manage a few spins around, before it falls to the ground. Way to go, Vanessa and Sophia! When I asked her about her favorite part of the day, 8 year Vanessa said that it was riding on the street car that would most remain with her since she had never done it before. Although I have been on one, somehow knowing that I was in a most magical place made it that much more fun. Feeling the breeze on my face as it buzzed past ancient trees and more modern buildings. Since it was not at the height of tourist season, nor at night, the streets were less crowded than I imagined, but could still imagine the revelry that goes on during Mardi Gras.

One of my favorite books, called Jitterbug Perfume written by Tom Robbins was situated in Seattle, Paris and New Orleans, so I could visualize the places about which he wrote.

Even though I am on vacay, I managed to find healthy food options in the home of fried nearly everything. Kale salad yesterday for dinner, green smoothie for lunch today and avocado, shrimp and crab salad for dinner tonight. Walked 12,424 steps according to the pedometer in my phone. No wonder I am feeling a bit wiped at the moment.

To be in NOLA is to be seduced by the city itself.  It is a full sensory experience, with so much to taste, touch, smell, hear and feel on this warm mid spring day. The people seem friendly and welcoming. The music ranges from Blues and Jazz to Cajun, Creole and Zydeco. Irresistible to this country girl who can’t help but shake it to the tones emanating from all sorts of instruments and voices in a place that oozes charm and beckons with finger crooked in allurement.