A couple of weeks ago, we loaded up the car and began an epic journey to Louisiana to visit our families and attend a friend's wedding. Any trip to Louisiana involves a lot of driving, but this one was particularly grueling in the automobile department as we covered over 2000 miles in ten days, and "the kids" were so adorably good in their little back seat nest.
Because we had just spent a few weeks with my parents on the cruise, and I'll be seeing them again in April and May, we decided that we would spend the bulk of our time with Colby's parents. Ellie for one was thrilled to be out of the car. I kind of feel like maybe I should have edited this photo for vulgarity--oh well, let's just pretend we're European.
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Global Wildlife Center in Robert, Louisiana. When I was a child, it never struck me as strange to have a safari just down the road in a tiny rural town, but it is a bit surprising to be driving down a country road then suddenly come across herds of giraffe, zebras, and camels. Still, we had a grand old time feeding the animals and scratching their cute little noses. We also went to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, and I was amazed at how far they've come since they opened just about a decade ago. And of course, we had to squeeze in a day of New Orleans eating, so on a beautiful Sunday morning, we joined some friends for a decadent brunch at Brennan's, creators of the world famous bananas foster!
The beauty of the Louisiana bayou. We were sad to see how many of the cypress trees were dying as salt water seeps into the fresh. There's nothing like driving through the bayou at sunset, the cypress trees and Spanish moss silouehetted against the purply red sky of twilight. In all of the bad press that comes out of Louisiana, it's easy to forget how stunning it can be.
After a marvelous week with our families and reconnecting with old friends, we loaded ourselves back into the car, and headed north to Shreveport for my friend Jessica's wedding. I met Jessica when I was a little baby 18-year-old, studying abroad at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. We connected immediately, along with my other dear friend Annie who I also met while abroad, and have remained steadfast "Irish Friends" in the subsequent ten years. We've always talked about going back to Dublin together some day, but in the meantime, we try to get together every time I go home to catch up and relive the good old days. Now we're all married, Annie is working on her second baby, and we're separated by geography, but somehow we always manage to pick up exactly where we left off.
It was a fantastic trip home, and I always leave wanting more. I don't know that we'll ever move back to Louisiana, but in its own, unique way, it will always be home. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
You certainly captured the beauty of our fair state. Thanks for reminding me to never take it for granted!
Posted by: wordnerd | March 02, 2011 at 04:48 PM
I'm ready to hang out again. And go to Dublin. And go to that wildlife center. I told Matt we HAVE to take a Europe trip before he makes me have kids (lol) and he wants to do Switzerland but MAAAAYBE we can convince him to go to Ireland, where they speak our language ;)
Posted by: Jessica | March 02, 2011 at 04:52 PM
we are flying into dublin in april and then going to try and work our way to galway, any suggestions what we need to see or do? :)
Posted by: ria | March 02, 2011 at 05:08 PM
*Sigh*...I love those pics of the bayou - it really is so pretty.
And you and Colby are looking swanky in that picture! LOVE your dress. :)
Posted by: Julie | March 02, 2011 at 06:18 PM
aw looks like such a fun trip and seriously LOVE your dress at the wedding, i mean seriously girl, wowza, haha.
Posted by: katelin | March 03, 2011 at 12:17 AM
Love cute couple pic!
Also, is your black and white dog a border collie? They are so cute I want to reach through the screen and scratch their ears!
Posted by: Jen | March 03, 2011 at 04:58 AM
Such a cute picture of you guys! Your pup is adorable too.
Posted by: Jessica | March 04, 2011 at 04:11 AM
I miss so much about living in Louisiana! It's a special place.
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Well, I mean, I wouldn't totally reject Switzerland, either, ha!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Oh dear... it's been ten years, but I'll see if I can come up with some recommendations!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:14 PM
Thanks lady!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:14 PM
Haha, nothing like a sequin dress to make a girl feel pretty ;)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:14 PM
He's at least half border collie, and we think part chow as well. He's super adorable and sweet, but he doesn't exactly have the smarts of a border collie ;) We love him to bits though!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:15 PM
Thanks! Yeah, we think they're pretty great :)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 04, 2011 at 04:16 PM
Oh, Louisiana. I love that place... and I love that y'all got to spend some great time there with friends and family. I hope things are going well! (And I hope that once W and I move to Baton Rouge, I can finally meet you!)
Posted by: E.P. | March 06, 2011 at 02:44 AM
That would be so awesome--I didn't know y'all were moving back!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | March 07, 2011 at 03:37 PM