My Dogs Are Barking

Jan. 3, 2020

Outer Journey: Food for Thought

After the very long train ride from Champaign, IL to New Orleans, LA, we stepped off the train onto the wet platform, engulfed in the fumes of the train exhaust, standing in the steady rainfall that lasted through most of the evening. The Uber dropped us off at the hotel and this began our real adventure. We finally got to step into our "home away from home". The room was a typical hotel room. The carpet had a textured pattern. The room had two beds each having the super, soft pillows I wish I had at home, a couch, and 2 cups for coffee which will clearly not be enough for the three of us who visit Starbucks on a regular basis. I started unpacking a few items I      would need for the upcoming Haunted History Tour.



Our group left the hotel and went down St. Peters Street towards the French Quarter. Within the first couple of blocks, there were the sounds of the busy streets. Car radios blasting music. Honking of horns. And many voices growing louder over those around them. The farther down we walk the closer we get to restaurants. And the smells began to make my mouth water. Only eating snack food on the train, I was ready to dive into some seafood. I could smell the smoke from the grills and the spices were floating through the air. Walking past the candy shops brought on the sweet, caramel smell of the well-known pralines. Our group arrives at Original Pierre Maspero’s for dinner. I had already been scoping out the menu on the train and thought I knew what I was ordering. Once I sat down in the historic building and could see all the freshly made plates passing the table, I then changed my mind.

After dinner we walked a few blocks to where we met our tour guide Ina. She gave us a gruesome walk through some of the history of the city. She told us of the fires on Charter Street, happening twice within 6 years of each other. Hundreds of houses were damaged in both fires. Ina also told us of the slave’s stories in Jackson Square where those who were murdered had their heads mounted on steaks and were left there until the skin and hair were eaten off or the skulls were completely decayed. During the tour a parade passed by, there were instruments playing loudly , singing, dancing and costumes.

Inner Journey: History lesson 1

Being completely exhausted from traveling in general, lack of sleep, and not eating real meals while on the train I have so many thoughts about what the rest of the day will be. I prefer to just go in the hotel room and sleep. Knowing that there was so much to do in the few days that I will be here, maybe just sleeping isn't wise. I can tell my body needs real food at this point, the fatigue is setting in and I am getting "hangry". There is so much history in this city. From the early days of the settlers to the present day, there is so much to learn from the people who live here. So much of the information that I will hear in the next few days will not be anything that is written in the history books in schools.

Taking our first walking tour, I have already heard stories of murder and tragedy. The second fire on Charter Street was said to have been set by the spirit of someone who died in the previous fire in almost the same location. I am not sure that I could actually believe that a spirit was able to set fire in a courtyard. Many people believe in spirits and that there are some strong forces amongst them. I have never had any personal encounters so the idea that good or evil things can be conjured from a spirit doesn't convince me. Walking around the French Quarter was an amazing site to see. Even though the area had seen devastating fires and many rebuilds that were not true to the original French styles, I love the columns and arches that came from the Spanish. 

Let the Good Times Roll

Jan. 2-3, 2020

Outer Journey: The Whistle Blows 

  

During the long, nauseating train ride there was plenty of excitement. The ride was not as smooth as I thought it would be. It took a long time to be able to fall asleep. The constant whooshing of the air in the background should be calming, like the hum of the ceiling fan in my bedroom. Having my seat near the front of the passenger car allowed for the loud, high-pitched squeaking of the sliding door to keep me awake. I can see the accordion style attachment in the narrow walkway, with a metal pole clanking against the sides. At all hours of the night people were passing between the train cars. The up and down of the train car on the rails was almost like riding a roller coaster. As the car sways back and forth and the whistle blows in a timely fashion, I imagine myself in an earlier era traveling by train cross-country. All of these noises are playing in their own musical rhythm. After 12 hours on this ride, I have embraced the soreness and let the song of the train ease my mind.

 

Around 0830, in the distance behind me I hear hooping and hollering, singing, and clapping. I turn around to see a group of folks in the aisle at the back of the train car dancing. The women with the spiked purple hair was very cheerful, and her voice was that of a song bird. As they had passed my seat several times already, I knew they were celebrating a gentleman’s 50^th birthday this weekend and were headed to party it up in New Orleans. Just seeing the good time they can make on this tin box stage, I picture them up and down the Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street as if they are their own partying marching band.

Inner Journey: I Can't Fight This Feeling

Once this train got moving, I was almost immediately nauseous. Only one time have I ever experienced motion sickness. That incident was on the wide open, aqua blue ocean 7 miles off the coast of Aruba on a small fishing boat on a deep-sea excursion. My stomach is very uneasy, and a pounding in my head. I can’t stop thinking about my children that I left only a few hours ago. Knowing that my son has a stomach bug, I am hoping that I am not heading in that direction.

My nerves are increasing as the anxiety of leaving my home, my children, my spouse….. everything I know has now become real. During the car ride to Champaign, I was reassuring my two passengers Cassie and Kaytlen that we had nothing to worry about and that this trip was going to be an opportunity of a lifetime with all the sites and tours we would be experiencing. As soon as we walked out onto the platform my gut was turning. Was it the German dinner I enjoyed with my husband for his birthday before departing Peoria or was it fear of the unknown for the week ahead? So many things are going through my head. Have I gotten everything arranged for my children while I am gone since they will be going back to school on Monday? Did I pack everything, extra socks, shoes, a toothbrush? So many thoughts.

The excitement of this trip built up more and more over the last few weeks. There is so much to learn during this trip. Having all the tours and sites already arranged is going to allow me to take in so much history of the city of New Orleans. Our first thing to do is tonight, going on the Haunted History Tour. To me this is the best way to start off this adventure! I am looking forward to a few chills and thrills on our first walk down the streets of New Orleans. 

So It Begins

Dec. 30, 2019

Outer Journey- preparations

As the departure date gets closer and closer the excitement has grown immensely. My top priority in getting ready for my time away is making arrangements for my children while I am gone. I have an 11-year-old and 8-year-old. My husband, their stepdad still has to work (I’m laughing on the inside) so I had to make sure someone was able to watch them during the day. When I found out about this travel course, I immediately talked to my husband about going. He was on board and I got my spot reserved! I went on a trip to Germany in high school many moons ago, so I am familiar with long train rides and living in a hotel room with unfamiliar people. There will also be many people and sites that I have never seen and that is ok with me.

Over the last week or two, I have looked up things that are near the hotel, mostly places to eat because I love food and am so excited to have Cajun and seafood every day if I wanted to. There are a few things I have come across that I may want to explore on our free day. I love all things scary so the haunted tour has me ecstatic. I am looking forward to learning about the history and architecture of the city. I was in New Orleans with my family when I was about 14 years-old and do not remember much, mostly the sights that we are warned about that stick in your head anyhow.

Since I still have to work 2 more days before we leave, I have not packed because I’m sure I still have laundry to do in the next 2-3 days. Packing is always a last minute thing for me, it does not excite me and usually I hope it just happens on its own. I have a list of things to bring in my backpack for our daily tours, definitely snacks, water, extra socks and shoes and a poncho in case we get wet and my tablet. I purchased a smaller notebook for taking notes and such for my blog posts. This blogging is all new to me, as I love just a pen and paper.

Inner Journey- expectations

I love to travel, my husband and I try to make short trips when time allows and we also plan one big family trip each year. Being able to take a travel course to a place known for art, music, culture and of course food is going to be an awesome opportunity. Looking at the itinerary, there seems to be so much we are doing. I hope that my feet can handle it! The art and music experiences are going to be what I am most looking forward to. I enjoy all types of music and this will be a city that opens my eyes to many new types. I do remember all the street players when I went when I was younger.

I am not sure what to actually expect while on this trip. There will be so many new things I will experience. I am not good at taking pictures, my children can attest to that. Hopefully I will remember to have my phone or camera out A LOT so that I can share all the sights and memories with family and friends when I return home. Once I get used to the blog, I think it will be my friend as far as sharing and expressing all of my encounters while in the city of New Orleans.

This trip is going to be different for me personally, I have left my kids for traveling but always with my husband. I do have good nursing friends attending this trip with me but I am not going to be in a familiar place with anyone that I have been around for more than a 2-3-hour lecture or clinical time. I want to learn all about the history of the city and enjoy myself. This will be an awesome learning experience since it is not a vacation that I planned that would mostly consist of relaxation and some sight-seeing. Having so many places we are touring will be the best learning experience. If I was traveling on my own, I would just walk through places and not get information from a guide or historian. I hope to come back from this trip with a better understanding of history and culture. I will be completely worn out but excited about that at the same time.