To the Big Easy and back!

While preparing for my trip I had time to finish “Night Rising” from “Vampire Babylon” series by Chris Marie Green. I loved the idea behind the plot. Have you ever wonder how some Hollywood Stars are a new someone? Like maybe Scarlet Johansson is the new Merlin Monroe? OK, what if someone told you that she is the same old Merlin Monroe who has not died and has lived these past few decades young and happy, and is going to stay young and happy forever? Haa? What do you think?
“Night Rising” is the story of Dawn daughter of a famous Hollywood actress who faces with the mystery of supposedly dead actors and actresses coming back (on and off the screen). What is happening in LA underground? Well my dears, you should read the book and wait anxiously for the second book to come out (like me!). As my chance had it, this book is (again) the first in the series! Lucky lucky me!
The second book I read was “Tiger Eye” from Marjorie M. Liu. It has some of the same characters as “Red Heart of Jade” and happens before that book. A beautiful artisan metal worker (Dela) buys a riddle box in a Chinese flee market and opens the box. A two thousand years old were-tiger (Hari) is freed but his true freedom is harder to achieve. They fall in love (naturally!) and set out to free Hari from the magi who imprisoned him in the first place. Some assassinations attempts on Dela’s life and few entanglement with Chinese mafia later; they get married and live happily ever after! Funny when you retell the story it sounds ridicules but when you read it, you are attracted. That is the power of author I guess! Still I stand firm for my opinion; story is way out there and not believable what’s so ever! It’s entertaining but hey, you don’t want to read it for the second time!
Our little trip to “Big Easy” was fun! Not so much in the way of shopping, only some fudge, a dress from “Ann Taylor LOFT” for $25.00 (a real bargain!) and a small pendant for my pendant collection; but fun never less! We walked for hours along the river and in French Quarter, tasted the local food and sweets, and visited a couple of museums! You can’t expect more from a three day trip! Can you?!
-What to take? If it’s summer, clothes made of silk, cotton, and linen. It is very humid there and man-made form fitting clothes are going to suffocate you! Even tight jeans are not suitable! A sun dress is the best. Ah, and comfortable shoes, Please; you’re gonna walk a lot! And a water repellant hoodie or umbrella (just to be on the safe side!)
-What to eat? Gumbo (and if you know about the history of this food, brace yourself; it tastes very original! Yup! Exactly like something made of kitchen leftovers!) And Jambalaya (more of the same!). Crawfish, catfish and shrimp if you like seafood, and for dessert have some King Cakes, café au lait and beignet (I fell in love with beignet! So very yummy!).
-Where to shop? Shops at Canal, River walk shops, French market and fair in French quarter.
-What to see? French quarter and its museums, Louisiana State museums, Jackson square, swamp tour and if you are into morbid or Goth stuff definitely go for a cemetery tour. And also Audubon aquarium and zoo.
A very good source of information is http://www.neworleansonline.com/ , have fun and forget to care!