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In just a few days, if the powers-that-be are feeling kind, the three of us—my cousin, my sister, and I—will be in New Orleans. Thanks to some serious wheeling and dealing on my part, we’ve managed to plan a mini vacation in the Big Easy.
Detecting a hint of skepticism in my tone? You’re absolutely right! We initially planned a cousins’ vacation a few years ago, but someone (not naming names) decided Cancun wasn’t safe at that particular time. Sure, there were incidents involving stray bullets and rival gangs. But considering this person had recently visited Kashmir and seems to have a knack for exploring other violence-prone areas, I wasn’t entirely convinced by her concerns.
On top of that, I’ve had a memorable (read: frustrating) experience with a travel agent who thought SHE knew better than I what I would like.
Let’s rewind twenty-five years, back to the days before the magic of online booking. My husband and I were consulting a travel advisor at a very reputable agency. I was excited—this would be our first vacation after marriage, our first vacation in the U.S.
New Orleans had always captured my imagination as a must-visit, not for the usual reasons but because of its rich history. I envisioned French and Spanish architecture intertwined with the mystique of the bayou.
But our travel agent had other ideas. She seemed convinced that exposing a couple of innocents like us to the wild party city of "letting the good times roll" wasn’t wise. Before we could protest, we were booked on a flight to Orlando, Florida, to visit the Universal Theme Parks?!
It wasn’t until nearly twenty years later that I finally visited the city I had longed to see. This time, our daughter joined us. We had a great time, and while much of it lived up to my expectations, I could also see the impact of Katrina and COVID-19 on what was once such a lively place.
We sampled beignets, strolled through the French Quarter, and while we weren’t there for the party scene, it was sad to see the bars and music joints nearly empty, struggling to recover from the hits of COVID-19 and Katrina. We visited the cemeteries (from the outside, as regulations were still tight) and admired the beautiful churches. I was lucky enough to snag an incredible selection of silver rings with semi-precious stones at a bargain price.
We took a day trip to Oak Alley Plantation and enjoyed a swamp tour. But the highlight was completely unexpected. On our way back to the hotel, I caught a glimpse of a marquee lit up with the name of an artist performing that evening. I pinched myself—no way Sarah Brightman was performing here! I Googled furiously and found it was true, and miraculously, great seats were still available. Hearing Sarah sing live and sharing that moment with my daughter is something I will never forget.
Looking back, while I wish I could have seen New Orleans in its past glory, I’m glad we experienced it when we did. And while I still haven’t forgiven that well-meaning but misguided travel agent for presuming to know what I would like, I’m guilty of doing the same by convincing my cousin and sister that they’ll enjoy it.
We’ll see if I’m right—assuming, of course, that there are no last-minute changes of heart impacting our travel plans this time!
That was awesome . Sarah brightman was a luck indeed .