Heading Home

Monday was our last day--we relaxed and did some shopping to pass the time. It is now 1:50am on Tuesday and we are about to head out of Mobile for the last time this trip. It is a two and a half hour drive to New Orleans. We will be leaving here shortly.

Once we drop the rental car off, they will shuttle us over to the airport. The plane leaves at 6:30am yay!! ..end sarcasm.. :P

Day 7 - Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras!

We went to Spanish Plaza in Mobile, AL today for Joe Cain Day. Joe Cain resurrected Mardi Gras after the civil war; without him, we would not have this festive event today. Something else that a lot of people did not know is that Mardi Gras started in Mobile before it started in New Orleans!

The daytime parades started with the Harley-Davidson parade and ended with the famous Joe Cain parade. We caught two shopping bags full of beads, moon pies, footballs and cups! Jen also got a stuffed bear with the help of Uncle Chris.

We headed home for an hour or so, then headed back for the MOT (Mystics of Time) parade. It had...

DRAGONS!!

Day 6 - Rainy Day

It was very rainy and wet today, so we didn't do much. A Sears location was going out of business, so we stopped by there and got 25% off of Rock Band 3 (game only). We came back and played that quite a bit. It was a lot of fun!

Now we are playing Scrabble. Tomorrow will be a lot more fun; we will be downtown doing Mardi Gras--Finally!!

Day 5 - Dauphin Island/Foley

Today was a very fun but tiring day (which is why I am posting this a day late). We started off by heading to Dauphin Island to see all the changes since Hurricane Katrina destroyed it 7 years ago. There were a lot of changes!

We then went to the Estuarium and Sea Lab, which was very fascinating! We learned how all sea life in the Gulf starts in the Mobile Delta and Mobile Bay. And saw lots of interesting live sea life, including puffer fish and moon jelly fish.

We then rode the ferry across Mobile Bay to Foley and we ate at Lambert's Café, home of throwed rolls. Jen had never eaten there before and had a blast! I did catch all the rolls thrown to me!

We were so stuffed from eating so much, we headed back home to relax.

Day 4 - Biloxi

Went to Biloxi, MS today for lunch at The Isle Casino. We got a really good deal--all you can eat buffet for three people, for under $15.

Afterwards, I played some video poker for a while. Then we came back and made tacos for dinner.

We were going to do Mardi Gras tonight, but going to save that for tomorrow night.

Day 3 - Mobile

Got up early today to take mom to work. Then Jennifer and I went driving around. We went by my old University and got an "awesome souvenir" there! Then we drove by where I used to work and headed back to pick mom up from work about an hour or two later.

We stopped by a Mardi Gras store and then Krystal because I really missed those little cheeseburgers! And then we came back home. I will be taking a nap here soon, before we need to go to my Grandparents for a cookout this afternoon.

Day 2 - New Orleans to Mobile

So, we landed in New Orleans 15 minutes early..how awesome is that?? Things have already begun to get better for us..until..yep, Manny Randazzo was SOLD OUT of King Cakes! Not happy at all about that..but let me back up a bit.

As soon as we landed, I bought some pralines (cannot go to New Orleans without buying some them), and then we got our luggage and took a shuttle to Enterprise Rent-A-Car where we had awesome service! The sales person, Jason, was very helpful and put in a 2011 Dodge Avenger. It is a pretty sweet car.

Then we took a little tour around Kenner and Metairie, Louisiana, concluded by driving over the 28-mile bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. We stopped for lunch at Chick-Fil-A and then headed to Mobile.

Once we arrived at Mom's, all three of us went to buy some groceries and stuff. We had Jen's awesome lasagna and now I'm about ready for bed. Had an allergic reaction and the two Benedryl I took are zonking me out.

What a long day it has been!

Day 2 - Chicago/Airport

Neither Jen or I got very much sleep last night. Jen is still feeling under the weather and was awake coughing. Hopefully we can get her some more antibiotics today.

We woke up especially early, and left the hotel about 7:30 this morning. Then, we drove up to the parking lot and this Russian guy that seemed to fresh off the boat shuttled us to the Airport. This is Jen's first airport experience and she was selected for extra screening LOL

We arrived WAY too early. It is only 8:50 and we have been at the gate for about 30 minutes now. Another hour until we leave.

Day 1 - Chicago

The drive to Chicago was rather ahem..interesting..

The first few hours were pretty uneventful. We took Ohio 15 through Bryan OH to the turnpike (which is a toll road). In Indiana, things started to get crazy. This Volvo from Illinois decided to drive like a mad person in congested traffic. Ugh!

By the time we got to Chicago (and $15 in tolls later..) our wonderful GPS brought us right through a very sketchy part of town. Will have to find a different route next time!

We reached the hotel and it's really nice. Just relaxing now, waiting on our food from Lena's to be delivered.

Day 1 - Drive to Chicago

The car is all packed up and ready to go. Time for our 3.5 hour drive to Chicago. Wish us luck!

Baloo wants to go too!

Baloo climbed in Jen's bag.. He doesn't want to be left behind!

Itinerary

February 2012 - Trip Itinerary

February 13
Check in - Hilton Garden Inn - 3 PM#
Chicago/Midway Airport
6530 S. Cicero Ave.
Bedford Park, IL 60638
(708) 496-2700

February 14
Parking - Airport Parking Express - 7:45 AM
Chicago Midway Int Airport
4832 W. 47th Street
Chicago, IL
(773) 585-0200

Fly to New Orleans

Flight - Southwest Airlines - 8:30 AM
Chicago Midway (MDW)
Flight 277 - 10:05 AM

Arrive New Orleans - 12:25 PM

Rental Car - 12:30 PM
Enterprise Rent A Car
New Orleans, LA - MSY

Pick up:
King Cake
Beignets
Brees Jersey

Drive to Mom’s
Charlene Rains
6583 Lincolnshire Rd.
Mobile, AL 36619

February 15
Cookout - 3:00 PM
The Lombard’s
Shady Maple RV Park
2500 Old Military Rd.
Mobile, AL 36605

February 16
Casinos for Lunch - 2:00 PM
Biloxi, MS

February 17
Parade - 6:30 PM
Fairhope, AL

February 18
Parade - 6:30 PM
Mobile, AL

February 19 - 7:00 AM
Joe Cain Day
Mobile, AL

February 21
Fly to Chicago

Flight - Southwest Airlines - 5:00 AM

New Orleans (MSY)

Flight 2256 - 6:30 AM

Drive Home - 10:00 AM

Day 1 - Getting Ready

Bags are packed and car is Cleaned out. This afternoon, we head for Chicago where we will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn and having Deep Dish Pizza for dinner!

I hope I remembered everything..I actually have room to pack some clothes, with all my electronics!

This is actually the first big trip, in the last 10 years, that I have NOT traveled with a Laptop Computer. Trying out using an iPad/Tablet exclusively to save room. I have faith it will go well.

Let's go!