April 2 - Day 17: On to Covington

We rise to another beautiful day, this one our 2nd of this visit to New Orleans. Amy runs while I wake up. When she returns, we prepare for departure after another stroll around the French Quarter (and the mandatory stop at Cafe du Monde).

Our next stop is the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain. For a long time, I have wanted to drive on the causeway across the lake, and that is what we will do today! But before we leave NO, we decide to drive around the Garden District and Tulane to see what we remember of our trip here in 2005 (college visit with Kevin).

There is a lot of construction going on, so we can't drive straight down St. Charles street. It is tough to get our bearings, but at one point, we recognize the neighborhood. We have stumbled onto Commander's Palace! We had a great lunch here in '05. It is getting close to lunch time, so we inquire whether they can accommodate us. Sorry, we don't permit shorts in the Dining Room. OK, we'll change!

Newly respectable after quick action in the restrooms, we sit down to another great lunch. Amy has the Fish Special and I have the Grilled Shrimp. Everything is just perfect, including the Pecan Pie that we share for dessert. Our recommendation: this is one of the finest restaurants we have ever eaten in. Classy service, too: about midway through our meal, they replaced our water glasses. One just cannot have an overly sweaty water glass at table!

Lunch done, we make one last stop just before getting on the Causeway. We buy some low-cut socks for me at the Dick's Sporting Goods, north New Orleans. (Inside, we spot a young man with a "Coleman" Seattle Seahawk Jersey on. We ask why he wears it, turns out he is a cousin. We tell him we are from Seattle and congratulate him on his fine choice of NFL gear.)

All errands done, we head across the Causeway, which does not disappoint. You cannot see the North Shore until you are about half-way across. Really interesting road. We check-in to Annadele's Plantation, sort-of. It is early season and they have nobody on the grounds today. They have left us a key and told us how to get in.

We rest up a little, then head next door to "The Chimes", a very nice neighborhood sports bar, for dinner. Amy has the Pork Chops while I have a Roast Beef Po'boy. We find our way back to our B&B and settle in for the night.