New Orleans - The return

So, we're set!

Dave, Mia, Anne-Mette and myself are heading off for New Orleans in just under a week.

It will be fantastic to see the big easy again. Meet friends, revisit great food and music joints, and explore new ones.

A weekend in Monterey CA is planned, to see an old and dear friend from Beijing and take in the west coast. Oh, and some of that California sushi as well.

We'll try and keep you posted on the adventure unfolds.

Garden District detail from our last visit.

Goodbye Rock'n rollercoaster trip! Hello future.

We flew to Seattle and waited there for our next plane. I was feeling a might anxious, since at this time hurricane Gustav was raging back in New Orleans, and Dave had quite refused to evacuate himself, staying fortified at Coops along with the bar-family. He called while we were flying from San Fransisco, leaving a couple of severely drunk messages on Ivans phone, telling us not to worry, and some very cute and boozy stuff about missing me. Ivan laughed all the way through the terminal and going aaaaaaaaaw in our generel direction. We whiled away the hours in Seattle playing cards in front of the airport burger bar, with our wonderful dinosaur cards, purchased in the hotel shop in Utah. We were utterly tired, but had a lot of fun beating each other at 21.

Much time has passed now, and Ivan often sighs wistfully, "I miss our trip!" I miss it too. But other things have been on my mind. After half a year of writing, calling and chatting, Dave got on a plane and moved to Copenhagen. We are living together now and Dave seems to be happy with Copenhagen, in spite of the Danish "spring" weather. Being together again is absolutely great, and we intend to stay that way!

Sea Lions and strawberry cheesecake!

Along the warfs I went and suddenly stumbled upon something that is apparently a major attraction, but which I knew nothing about! The giant bed of sea lions! THis was of course completely awesome, and I hung around for quite a while looking at the big, soft things cuddling up with each other in the sun.

A sign stated that it was not at all ok to be mean to the sea lions.

The sea lions seemed quite capable of being viciously mean to each other though. When not cuddling they spent their time pushing each other off the comfortable wooden platforms, biting, barking and flashing their fangs.

Mostly though, they were cuddling and sunning themselves and looking cute. I was leaning against the railings and feeling very comfortable with the sun on my back, and somehow my thoughts kept turning back to Dave.

I finally shook myself and left the pier. I ventured through Chinatown, heading back towards the hotel, where I was supposed to meet up with Ivan. I had several hours still, so I stopped at a very nice, Italian cafe/restaurant place by the side of the road. I sat down by the sunny window, well placed for watching the San Fransiscans walking by and looked at the menu, with the intention of ordering tea. But my eyes fell on a lush description of Stawberry Cheesecake with a chokolate cake bottom. Graaaaaaarrrrhhhh! They recommended a glass of Pinot with this, and I got both. It was indescribably good. Heavenly. Awesome. So upon finishing, I promtly picked up the menu again and picked a clam and muscles in whitewine and butter dish. OH sweet mother of pearl! When I get back to San Fransisco, Im finding that place again!
Later I met up with Ivan and we had a nice but slightly tired last evening of our amazing journey. The next day, we headed for the airport.