goofball on a train

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This post does NOT express the views or opinions of my employer.**

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Due to an ongoing family emergency, there are times where I may post less regularly or with less content.
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The venue: Saenger Theatre


(stock images)

Covid Tests to Date: 17

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Monday. I woke up early. I always wake up early on travel days even if we're leaving late, because I'm EXCITED.
Same thing used to happen on the circus train. You'd hear those air brakes come off early Monday morning, and your heart rate would increase just the slightest bit. On to a new city and a new adventure.

I packed my luggage differently than usual, cramming more of the things from my backpack into my suitcases and keeping a tote bag out. All this because we'd been told we'd get to the hotel before our rooms would be ready, and I wanted to have everything I'd need to explore for a few hours without having a backpack full of junk I didn't need.

The bus came for us around 9am and we piled on, fighting traffic to Orlando International.
Our flight was more or less on time and very smooth, lovely weather for flying.
The pilot (or perhaps one of the flight attendants) was a big Broadway fan, so they announced on the plane that "The cast of TOOTSIE is flying with us today!" and made everyone clap for us. It was kiiiinda awkward, but also kinda sweet.

We arrived slightly late but not too bad, then once we'd retrieved our luggage it was a fight through traffic to get to our hotel, just one block off of Basin Street. Right in the middle of the action.

If you're a night person, you will LOVE downtown New Orleans. Bars and live music and ghost tours and booze and restaurants galore.
I am not a night person, and I'm very much an introvert. Plus, I've been here before with the circus and have done quite a lot of sightseeing at that time (those posts can be found HERE if you're interested). There are still things that I want to do and see here, just not at night when there are rowdy drunks all around. Not my scene.

So we got to the hotel, and as predicted they did not have all of the rooms ready. I was able to stash my luggage with the bellhop and--impatient and hungry, without waiting to see if anyone wanted to hang--went right back out the door and into the busy street.

See, this is why it's hard for me to make friends.

I walked to the nearest place where I knew I could find a muffuletta, which at that time of day was Cafe Beignet on Decatur Street.
I had breakfast at the airport, but now it was almost 2pm and I was very hungry!
Muffuletta isn't something I would normally crave. It's a sandwich made with a special 9" round bun topped with toasted sesame seeds. Inside are ham, salami, mortadella, mozzarella, provolone, and an olive salad (pickled olives and misc veggies). I usually try to avoid overly salty, fatty foods. But, well...you only live once, and I wanted to try it!


It was better than I expected! Sure it was salty, but not excessively. And the olive veggie blend on top really was something special. It gave the whole sandwich a tang and crispness that elevated it so much. Although I probably wouldn't eat these frequently, I'd certainly eat one again the next time I'm in NOLA.

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