Day 3 began much like day 2. The original plan was to wake up early and beat the rush to Cafe Du Monde, which is the Quarter's famous coffee and beignets cafe. However, we were too cozy to get up before 9.
We made it to the cafe around 10:30. We stood in line for about 10 minutes, which was much shorter than expected. We were ushered past the crowds inside to a small table that was surrounded by powdered sugar. We were hoping for a real breakfast, but apparently the place that's famous for beignets and coffee only sells beignets and coffee. It was fine. It wasn't the healthiest of breakfasts, but it was tasty. We also got to watch the service line that the waitresses picked up the food from. It was interesting and made for a quick turn around. It was no wonder the long line only took 10 minutes.
After a quick run through the french market, we had to rush back to the hotel to get ready for our Swamp Tour. The website for the tour told us to meet behind a sketchy bar just off the highway 45 minutes away, and we didn't want to be late. We pulled in right on time. The tour guide asked how comfortable we were in kayaks, and we told him we were basically experts. He had left the waiver at his office, so he made us raise our right hands and promise not to sue. We laughed, but we never explicitly promised not to sue. After that, we jumped in some kayaks and started paddling into the swamp.
Once again there were only 2 other people on the tour. Our guide didn't spend too much time blathering on. We kind of just rode the kayaks through the swamp for a few hours. He occasionally pointed out a few things of interest. An interesting flower here and there. A pretty looking bird. An alligator or two. A snake in a tree. You know, the usual swamp things. Our tour guide assured us that alligators weren't going to bite our boats in half, but we were still cautious. We always thought alligators were monsters that pretended to be logs, but then eat you. He liked to describe them as big cats that like to lay in the sun. All in all the tour was relaxing, informative, and a good workout. Going against the current was hard work.
We ended our tour back at the shady bar where we started, but by then a few more people were there. One of the bar patrons sitting on the back patio was accompanied by a beautiful blue pit bull. While waiting for the opportunity to tip our guide, Kaylea asked to pet the friendly dog. The old man nodded and Kaylea told the dog how pretty he was a few time before remembering people were watching.
After parting ways with the kayak group, we decided to head into the bar for a quick drink. The bar smelled like new construction, and the older gentleman from before confirmed that it had just been renovated. Apparently the man and his dog were regulars at the bar and had been for sometime. We ended up having a conversation with him and lady bar keep about the history of the bar while the pit bull, Dominique, adorably demanded that we pet and scratch him. The gentleman was an Army vet from Alabama who used to "jump out of perfectly good airplanes". He was also a trucker, so he knew a little about central Texas. He lived in a trailer parked next to the bar. As it turned out, the bar was kind of famous. It had been used in the filming of a few CSI episodes, as well as the first season of True Detective. HBO had turned the whole place into a biker bar for the show. Mathew McConaughey's character got in a fight right out back. Our bartender had a picture with Mathew McConaughey's stunt double, which is almost better than having a picture with the real Mathew McConaughey.
After finishing our drinks, we bid our companions a good afternoon and headed back to the Big Easy. We were so beat after kayaking upriver that we went straight back to the hotel to rest. We contemplated visiting Frenchmen Street, which had been recommended to us by a local, but we were too tired. Kaylea wanted jambalaya, so we settled on a restaurant near by, As fate would have it, the eatery we chose was closing and we were forced to find another option. While searching, we popped back into Preservation Hal to pick up a CD of the band we had heard the night before. We had to explain to the door-woman that we were former patrons just looking to make a quick purchase before she would let us cut the line to get in.
We got the CD and made our way toward Bourbon street, where we spotted a decent looking pub with a Fabio lookalike manning the entrance. He asked us if we were there for dinner and then pointed us upstairs. As we made our way to the upstairs hostess stand, we overheard the party ahead of us choosing to eat inside rather than wait 20 minutes for a table on the balcony. Just as we told the hostess we were willing to wait for a balcony spot, a group got up to leave. We were seated overlooking Bourbon with a nice view of the business district.
Dinner was delicious and entertaining. We sipped expensive cocktails while people watching. The pub is across the street from the Cat's Meow, which is a karaoke bar. We listened to people butcher songs, watch women dance awkwardly, and witness multiple goofy moments as people moved about the street.
We also caught glimpse of a neighborhood bike thief. We'd already seen him in action twice. Once the night before, and once that morning. It seems that he works at all hours. He even had work-attire. Every time we've seen him, he's been dressed in a long-sleeved, collared shirt and tie, with the shirt tucked into pants.
All-in-all it was a pretty good night. We were still tired and sore, so we went back to the hotel early. On the way back a lone woman we were passing said something to the effect of "you're tired" and Kaylea immediately yawned. We think it was voo-doo of sorts.
We made it to the cafe around 10:30. We stood in line for about 10 minutes, which was much shorter than expected. We were ushered past the crowds inside to a small table that was surrounded by powdered sugar. We were hoping for a real breakfast, but apparently the place that's famous for beignets and coffee only sells beignets and coffee. It was fine. It wasn't the healthiest of breakfasts, but it was tasty. We also got to watch the service line that the waitresses picked up the food from. It was interesting and made for a quick turn around. It was no wonder the long line only took 10 minutes.
After a quick run through the french market, we had to rush back to the hotel to get ready for our Swamp Tour. The website for the tour told us to meet behind a sketchy bar just off the highway 45 minutes away, and we didn't want to be late. We pulled in right on time. The tour guide asked how comfortable we were in kayaks, and we told him we were basically experts. He had left the waiver at his office, so he made us raise our right hands and promise not to sue. We laughed, but we never explicitly promised not to sue. After that, we jumped in some kayaks and started paddling into the swamp.
Once again there were only 2 other people on the tour. Our guide didn't spend too much time blathering on. We kind of just rode the kayaks through the swamp for a few hours. He occasionally pointed out a few things of interest. An interesting flower here and there. A pretty looking bird. An alligator or two. A snake in a tree. You know, the usual swamp things. Our tour guide assured us that alligators weren't going to bite our boats in half, but we were still cautious. We always thought alligators were monsters that pretended to be logs, but then eat you. He liked to describe them as big cats that like to lay in the sun. All in all the tour was relaxing, informative, and a good workout. Going against the current was hard work.
We ended our tour back at the shady bar where we started, but by then a few more people were there. One of the bar patrons sitting on the back patio was accompanied by a beautiful blue pit bull. While waiting for the opportunity to tip our guide, Kaylea asked to pet the friendly dog. The old man nodded and Kaylea told the dog how pretty he was a few time before remembering people were watching.
After parting ways with the kayak group, we decided to head into the bar for a quick drink. The bar smelled like new construction, and the older gentleman from before confirmed that it had just been renovated. Apparently the man and his dog were regulars at the bar and had been for sometime. We ended up having a conversation with him and lady bar keep about the history of the bar while the pit bull, Dominique, adorably demanded that we pet and scratch him. The gentleman was an Army vet from Alabama who used to "jump out of perfectly good airplanes". He was also a trucker, so he knew a little about central Texas. He lived in a trailer parked next to the bar. As it turned out, the bar was kind of famous. It had been used in the filming of a few CSI episodes, as well as the first season of True Detective. HBO had turned the whole place into a biker bar for the show. Mathew McConaughey's character got in a fight right out back. Our bartender had a picture with Mathew McConaughey's stunt double, which is almost better than having a picture with the real Mathew McConaughey.
After finishing our drinks, we bid our companions a good afternoon and headed back to the Big Easy. We were so beat after kayaking upriver that we went straight back to the hotel to rest. We contemplated visiting Frenchmen Street, which had been recommended to us by a local, but we were too tired. Kaylea wanted jambalaya, so we settled on a restaurant near by, As fate would have it, the eatery we chose was closing and we were forced to find another option. While searching, we popped back into Preservation Hal to pick up a CD of the band we had heard the night before. We had to explain to the door-woman that we were former patrons just looking to make a quick purchase before she would let us cut the line to get in.
We got the CD and made our way toward Bourbon street, where we spotted a decent looking pub with a Fabio lookalike manning the entrance. He asked us if we were there for dinner and then pointed us upstairs. As we made our way to the upstairs hostess stand, we overheard the party ahead of us choosing to eat inside rather than wait 20 minutes for a table on the balcony. Just as we told the hostess we were willing to wait for a balcony spot, a group got up to leave. We were seated overlooking Bourbon with a nice view of the business district.
Dinner was delicious and entertaining. We sipped expensive cocktails while people watching. The pub is across the street from the Cat's Meow, which is a karaoke bar. We listened to people butcher songs, watch women dance awkwardly, and witness multiple goofy moments as people moved about the street.
(Fabio pictured here)
We also caught glimpse of a neighborhood bike thief. We'd already seen him in action twice. Once the night before, and once that morning. It seems that he works at all hours. He even had work-attire. Every time we've seen him, he's been dressed in a long-sleeved, collared shirt and tie, with the shirt tucked into pants.
All-in-all it was a pretty good night. We were still tired and sore, so we went back to the hotel early. On the way back a lone woman we were passing said something to the effect of "you're tired" and Kaylea immediately yawned. We think it was voo-doo of sorts.
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