New Orleans Travelogue, Day 5

We tried to cram in as much as possible into our last few hours in New Orleans. Despite the late night before, we all got up at 8am. Warren and I were hot to take another bike ride and this time we insisted that Satchel join us.

We ate a big breakfast before heading out so we didn't need to stop at Cafe Du Monde, Central Grocery, or Verti Mart. Instead we went in search of the Artist Market/Flea Market we'd been hearing about.

While browsing the (mostly unexciting wares), we saw several people with balloon animals.

"Find out where the balloon man is!" Satchel ordered.

We eventually found him back near Jackson Square. However, the BM wasn't taking special orders. (A few days earlier Satchel had wanted a purple monkey. Today he wanted a black bat.)

The BM gave each of the boys a...sword.



Satchel was not at all happy with this, and even less happy two seconds later when he popped his on my bike tire. Being the sucker that I am, I circled back and asked the BM if he could give us another one. For Satchel's sake, I did once again try to get a black bat. I even flapped my arms so that he would know that Satchel wanted a flying bat, not a baseball bat. But no, it seemed the BM was only making swords.

Again, Satchel popped his on the tire, but only part of it, and I sternly warned him to hold it up. He did, but pouted the entire time. He went into a full blown tantrum when the sword flew out of his hands and landed in a busy street.

#$@!%!

After locating an ATM and getting a few snacks for the train we decided to call it quits and headed back to the house to prepare for our 1:45pm departure. One forty-five was so much nicer than 6:30am.

Reluctantly, we said good-bye to the most awesome Cousin Nancy and her most awesome husband Dick and the most awesome house/apartment/dormitory ever.



As if they hadn't done enough, Nancy & Dick gave the kids a portable DVD player and a stack of DVDs for the train ride home. "Trust us," they said. "It will make a world of difference."

The later departure time, the DVD player, and the not-so-newness of the train combined for a truly lovely ride home.





Warren even spotted an alligator out the window!



Oh, New Orleans, we'll miss you!