2026 March 16-20, Trip to New Orleans with the Club, Diamonds in the Rough, Diamond Tours

 Day 1: Monday, March 16: Travel Day 

For breakfast, we ate Sausage and biscuits at home.

We rode to the Club, met inside to pick up our name tags, and had a brief talk about the trip.

We loaded onto the bus by 8:30 and were on our way. 

Our driver's name was Jerome, on bus 334, Graylines Tennessee, with a mural of Nashville wrapped on the side. 

Our first stop was Loves in West Point, MS. Hubby bought a Diet Coke and some Sweet & salty trail mix; he spent $7.01.

For lunch, we stopped at Burger King, where we bought one Steakhouse Whopper, fries, and two Cokes, and spent $15.98

We stopped at Love's West Point, MS, for a restroom break. 

For dinner, we stopped at Golden Corral in Hattiesburg, MS, for a buffet. 

I got fish, okra, blueberry pie, corn on the cob, a Diet Coke, and seafood salad. 

We traveled through Heidelberg and Laurel, MS., into Slidell and New Orleans, LA. 

We arrived at our hotel, Sonesta ES Suites New Orleans,212 Loyal Ave, around 6 P.M.

Room 905.

Took a shower, worked on this journal, watched some TV, and went to bed. 

3257-3261 Love's West Point, MS @10:32 AM

3264- Macon, MS 

3265-3268 Burger King Maridian, MS 

3269-3272 Laurel and Heideburg, MS Loves

3273-3275 Golden Corral Hattiesburg, MS @5:15 PM

3277-3281 traveling through Slidell, LA @6:28

3282-3299 Traveling through New Orleans, LA @6:48

3300-3301 Room at Sonesta ES Suites, room 905 

Day 2: Tuesday, March 17: New Orleans 

Breakfast in the hotel where I ate egg, bacon, waffles, Waffle, yogare and cranberry juice.

We were on the bus by 8:15. 

Our first stop was to pick up our rep and head to Mardi Gras World. We arrived a little before 9 and stayed until 11. 

We watched a video and then toured the warehouse where floats for Mardi Gras are made and repaired. 

We got back on the bus at 11 and rode to Riverwalk Mall, where we shopped and had lunch.

Hubby and I shared lunch we bought at Pei Wei Asian Kitchen: orange chicken, Seaweed Chicken, and steak, with a Diet Coke.  

We took a group photo before boarding the Creole Paddlewheeler for a cruise to the Chalmette Battlefield and returning to the Riverwalk. 2-4:40 P.M.

We loaded onto the bus and rode to Landry's Seafood House, 620 Decatur St. 

We enjoyed fried shrimp, salad, fries, red velvet cake, and iced tea. Tim bought appetizers: crawfish bites and spinach-and-asparagus dip with chips. 

After dinner, we got back on the bus and headed for our hotel, but ended up getting caught up in the St. Patrick's Day Parade for 2 1/2 hours. We sat on the bus waiting for the parade to end. 

We sang and danced on the bus while we waited. 

It was late when we got back to the hotel, and everyone was exhausted 

3304 Breakfast at the hotel @ 7:15

3305-3357 Mardi Gras World @9:19-9:39 A.M. 

3358 Mural Mall 

3359 Lunch @11:18 AM

3360-3365 Riverwalk 

3366 Riverwalk Jester @4:38

3371-3377 Walking to Landry's @5:07 PM

3378-3383 Dinner at Landry's @ 5:13 

Big Camera

7221-7307 Mardi Gras World @8:59-8:55

7308-7311 Riverwalk @11;3-1:28

7312-7360 Chamette Battlefield @2:46-3:36

Bought two Mardi Gras T-shirts at Puma for 18.01

Day 3: Wednesday, March 18: New Orleans 

Breakfast at the hotel, I ate an egg, a sausage link, French Toast, and water. 

We were on the bus by 8:15 and picked up our guide, Wanda. We toured New Orleans, stopping at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Everyone got out to listen to our guided talk about the cemetery.

One of the Crypts was built like a castle, costing several thousand dollars. I guess she took her money to the grave with her. 

Our next stop was at New Orleans City Park Restaurant (Benya's Café Du Monde), where we enjoyed a beignet and Coke. I took a few photos. 

We boarded the bus, dropped off our guide (8:30-11), and rode to the French Quarter, where we shopped and had lunch.

We ate lunch at Frank's Restaurant, where Hubby and I shared a shrimp po' boy and Coke. 

I ate the shrimp because the bread was very dry. (11-1:30).

Our next stop was the WWI Museum, 1:30–5 P.M.

Our next stop was for dinner at Crescent City Brewhouse, 527 Decatur Street. Here we enjoyed pork chops, green beans, spring salad, rolls, mac & cheese, bread pudding, and iced tea.  

When we were walking through the French Quarter, an Oriental woman approached us, put a couple of bracelets on our wrists, then asked for money. She also handed me a necklace, and I handed it back. She told Hubby that she wanted $40, and he said no. He gave her a $5, she said $10, Hubby said no, and gave her another dollar. I tried to give back the bracelets, but she said no. As she walked away, Hubby heard her say, " Cheap ashole. 

3384-3391 Park @ 8:48 

3392-3415 St Louis Cemetery #5 @9:20-2:38 

3416-3420 City Park & Restaurant @10:17

3421-3424 French Quarters Park Jackson Square 

3425-3443 French Quarters @11:33-11:48

3444 Lunch at Frank's 12:10 

3445-3451 French Quarters 12:33-12:55

3452-3473 WWII Museum 1:44–2:30 P.M. 

3474-3480 New Orleans Headed to restaurant 5:-5 

3481-3483 Restaurant @5:24-6:15 P.M.

3484-3492 Hotel Receipts Room #905

Big Camera 

7361-7366  French Quarters @8:54-9:14

7357-7371 Cemetery @9:26

7372-7381 New Orleans City Park @9:56-11:25

7382-7428 WWII National Museum @2:4:36 P.M. PM

Day 4: Thursday, March 19: 

Breakfast at the hotel. I ate egg, French toast, and juice.

After breakfast, we rode to Caesar's Casino, where several people gambled. We decided to walk over to the Riverfront Mall. 8:30-11

Hubby sat on the steps outside while I walked along the riverfront, taking pictures.

When we got back, we went inside the mall, bought a beignet, and walked around.  

Lunch: at the French Quarter Market Bowl of Gumbo. World-famous N'awlins on N Peter St: spend $12.32. 11:30-3

We also got a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream in a cone at Southern Candy Makers, spent $4.35 cas.h 

At 3, we headed back to the hotel to rest.6 P.M.6 PM, we loaded onto the bus for dinner at Boomtown Casino & Hotel in Harvey, LA

At each table, we had a spring salad, rolls, butter, and water. 

One table at a time went to the buffet. There I got fish, green beans, beans and rice, gumbo, and bread pudding.

There was dancing and music, and we stayed until 8 P.M. 

Rode back to the hotel, packed, as we are leaving tomorrow. 

3493 Breakfast @7:35

3495-3519 Riverwalk @9:08-11:07

3520-3527 Jackson Square @11:47-12:14

3528-3529- Dinner Boomtown Casino 6:01

Back to the hotel by 8:30.

Day 5: Friday, March 20:

Breakfast at the hot:l, I ateggsgg, bacon, and a muffin.

We were on the bus by 8:30, headed home. 

We stopped at Arby's in Tuscaloosa for lunch. Hubby ordered their lunch special for $8, which included a sandwich, curly fries, cheese sticks, a pie, and a drink. 

I ordered a roast beef slider and a drink we spent $14.05

We stopped at Love's Poparville, MS, to fuel up.

We stopped at Walmart in Russellville for a restroom break

We arrive back at the Club around 6 P.M.

Hubby helped clean out the bus, and we loaded our luggage into our car and headed for home. 

We stopped at Hugos for a Shrimp Fajita for dinner. 

Washed clothes, uploaded some of my photos, and went to bed around 12.

2024 Nov 8-17 Carnival Liberty Crusie Trip (7 Cruise Days)(Train Ride) & (New Orleans) Montego Bay, Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman Islands, 3 Sea Days

AM-Train traveling from Tuscaloosa, AL, to New Orleans, LA. 

 Day 1: Friday, November 8, AM-Track ride from Tuscaloosa to New Orleans 

Hubby took me to Wanda's. 

Buck took us to Tuscaloosa. 

We ate lunch at Moe's Original BBQ in Tuscaloosa.

I ordered a BBQ sandwich with chips and a Diet Coke and spent $13.20

He took us to the depot and dropped us off. 

He headed back home while we waited for the train. 

It arrived around 2:22 P.M.

We rode the AM track and arrived in New Orleans around 9 P.M.

Two cars were full of Atlanta football fans heading to the New Orleans game on Sunday. 

We arrived at the depot, disembarked from the train, and had to wait for our luggage. 

I bought a Diet Coke and finished my BBQ and chips on the train. 

We sat in someone else's seats when we boarded the train, so we had to move to another one. 

We had to sit in different seats, not next to one another. 

I sat next to Bernard. 

He was going to visit his daughter in New Orleans. 

We talked for hours. 

The train stopped in Laurel, MS.

A family got off, so we got their seats and rode the rest of the way to New Orleans. 

We took a taxi from the depot to our hotel, which cost $25 in cash.

Hotel Blue Green Club LA.

Pension 115 Decatur Street, New Orleans, room 413.

We stayed in the French Quarter. 

Audubon New Orleans 

World War II Museum

Day 2: Saturday, November 8, New Orleans 

We ate a Chocolate Beignet for breakfast. 

We took the trolley to Audubon Park on St Charles Street.

We walked around, taking in the sights of all the birds and flowers. 

We saw tricolor Herons, American White Ibis, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, and some Mallards. 

We boarded the trolley again and rode to the World War II Museum, spending $33.42.

We ate lunch at the Soda Shop.

I ordered chicken, sausage gumbo, and orange mango water for $14.04.

The all-day trolley was $1.

We took the trolley back to Canal Street and then walked to Decatur Street. 

It began to rain, so we stayed at the hotel.

Later, we walked to Willie's to buy some chicken fingers and fries. 

Spent $20.

We returned our food to the hotel and didn't leave until the next day.

I watched some TV and went to bed early.

The chicken upset my tummy, and I had gas all night. 

I took a pill and was somewhat better the next day.

Breakfast Omelet and French Toast 

Cruise Director with Cat n Hat, Thing One, and Thing Two 

Day 3: Sunday, November 10: Boarding the Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship to Sail from November 10-17.

Today it rained. 

We called a taxi, and he came at 9:30 A.M.

We checked out of our hotel. 

Rode to the port. 

Boarded the Carnival Library. 

Went to the muster station D. 

Then we ate lunch. 

I ate Mongolian shrimp chicken, 

Peas, mushrooms, cabbage, and noodles.

I ate a bowl of vanilla yogurt with a couple of cake slices; one tasted like cheesecake, and the other had chocolate and peanut butter. 

We went to Deck 3 to wait until the room, specifically room 2314, was ready.

Went to our room at 1:30.

Came back to deck 4 for the sailaway party. 

It was raining, so everyone stayed inside or under the covering outside. 

We ate dinner in the dining room. 

I ordered Cornish hen with potatoes, carrots, and something crunchy 

Ice water and cheesecake for dessert. 

Bought a pink Lanyard. 

Went to bed early because we were both exhausted. 

Day 4: Monday, November 11, Sea Day

Today, Monday, is Veterans Day. 

We went to the lido deck. 

Got a glass of juice and a pastry.

We walked around on the inside of Deck 5 because the outside areas were closed due to the wind. 

We sat for a few minutes on deck 5 indoors. 

We ate sea day brunch in the Silver Dining Room. 

Many people were waiting to dine.

I ordered an omelet and French toast, accompanied by cranberry juice.

We made a beaded necklace on deck 3.

We went to the Venetian Palace for the Fun Ashore giveaway 

Of course, we didn't win anything. 

We walked around on deck 10, looking for a nice, quiet spot. 

Walked down to deck 9 for some yogurt. 

Now, sitting on deck 10.

Went back to cabin 2314, walking down the eight floors of steps. 

Washed out a couple of tops. 

Tea time was from 3:00 to 4:00 in the Silver Dining Room. 

We were served hot tea, a couple of tiny pastries, and smoked salmon on tiny biscuits.

Dinner in the Silver Dining Room.

I ordered linguini Alfredo with mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, and grilled chicken.

Grilled Jumbo shrimp with fish cake,

Cauliflower, roasted Broccoli, and mashed peas.

Dessert: chocolate malt cake with vanilla ice cream.

We went to the photo area, where I got a gold Carnival pen.

We watched the show Flick.

The singing was good, but the show was a darkened performance.

After the show, we went to bed.

Day 5: Tuesday, November 12, Sea Day

I woke up early, dressed, and headed to Deck 9, also known as the Lido Deck.

I got some pastries and juice and found a window seat. There, I sat, working on this journal.

It is a beautiful day. The beginning of our cruise was questionable. 

The wind from the hurricane was near.

I ate breakfast on deck 9.

French toast and chocolate milk. 

Played Tavria on deck 3. 

We sat on the inside deck of deck 3 and talked to two couples from Mobile.

For lunch, we had a Guy's Burger and fries, accompanied by ice cream and cookies.s 

Booked two excursions to Rose Hall Great House and shopping 

Manteo Bay, Jamaica $59.99.

Amazing Turtle and Wildlife Adventure in Grand Caymans: $64.99.

Played games on deck 3.

Bought a bag for $12 and a bracelet for $10-$22.

Walked on decks 10 and 4.

Played games on deck 3.

Dinner in the Silver Dining Room. 

I ordered fish and shrimp cake with pork chops, gravy, and green beans. 

Key lime pie.

Went to a comedy show. 

I went to bed early. 

Set next to a couple from Indiana. 

We talked for a long time. 

Montego Bay

Day 6: Wednesday, November 13, Montego Bay, Jamaica 

I ate a pastry and chocolate milk. 

We disembarked around 8:30 A.M. 

Loaded onto bus # 1. 

Our tour guide was fascinating. 

We were given the history of the Great Rose Hall House upon our arrival. 

The most interesting part was about the White Witch, Rose. 

We walked through the two stories of the house, then down to the basement, also known as the dungeon. 

We were given refreshments. 

Then, loaded back onto the bus.

We stopped for some shopping. 

I rode through downtown, then back to the ship.

Loaded back onto the ship.

I dropped off my bag, which contained my camera. 

Went to Deck 9 for some Magnolia stir-fry.

Then, I made carrot and coconut cake with chocolate and strawberry yogurt. 

I took a few pictures, and then it started raining.

I came back to our cabin and worked on this journal. 

For dinner, I ate Steak with potatoes and Broccoli. For dessert, I ate Banana Cream Pie. 

Amazing Turtle and Wildlife Center 

Day 7: Wednesday, November 14, the Grand Cayman Islands

I got up early and took a few pictures of the hopefully sunrise. 

I ate pastries and juice for breakfast. 

Got ready for the shore excursion. 

We had to take a water shuttle to shore.

It poured rain on our trip over and at the port; needless to say, I got wet.

I loaded onto the bus and headed to see the Amazing Turtles and Wildlife Adventure. There was a busload of us. Bus one, Boss.

On bus 2, they were getting a meal and snorkeling. 

We were given the turtle's history. 

There were several large tanks filled with breaded turtles. 

We got to pet the small turtle after we washed our hands with soap and water. 

Several people got inside the water to pet the smaller turtles.

I walked through the aviary and saw a few birds. 

The butterfly house was closed. 

I saw at least three sharks swimming with the turtles and larger fish.

Walked around the area at least two times.

I ate a bowl of Macaroni and cheese and drank a Diet Pepsi at the park.

I didn't see anything else on the menu that was not greasy. 

I walked through the gift shop but didn't buy anything. 

I walked across the highway to the dolphin area.

I walked to the wall of the Caribbean Sea.

Headed back to the ship at 12:30.

I took a shower and rested. 

I ate some yogurt and cake.

I worked on this journal and coded my pictures. 

For dinner, I ordered 

Spinach salad, lobster tails, creamed potatoes, and crème brûlée. 

Went to a show. 

It's Be: er O'Clock at Amicos Cozumel 

Day 9: Thursday, November 15, Cozumel, Mexico 

Breakfast pastries and juice.

Lunch was at Mr. Sancha's, Featuring Coconut shrimp, chips, cheese dip, Diet Coke, and three additional drinks.

We sat under an umbrella and rested.

We saw a couple of macaws. 

An iguana and several prominent blackbirds. 

We took several pictures in Cozumel. 

For dinner, I ordered stuffed mushrooms and Mississippi catfish.

Mac & cheese, greens. 

Chocolate melt cake with ice cream. 

I went to bed early. 

My stomach was not happy all night. 

The light on my Fitbit stopped working, and it will not turn on, but the stats still appear on my cell phone. 

While I was on the beach, a young man approached me. He was selling a bracelet. 

I was busy on my phone, and he scared me.

He apologized several times. 

A young woman approached us and asked if we were friends and how long we had known each other.

I told her we met several years ago in a writing class and had been friends since.

She said she had a childhood friend who had cancer and hoped she lived a long life, and they could do things together like us.

Went to a show.

Cat n Hat 

Green Eggs and Ham 

Day 9: Saturday, November 16, Sea Day

Breakfast with the Cat &The Hat is at 9:30 A.M. in the Golden Dining Room.

I went to the Lido deck, got some juice, and wrote in this journal. 

We were going out on deck 3, but it was too windy, so we returned to our cabin to wait for our meal, which included green eggs and ham, served with a cat and a hat.

No lunch. 

We went to the VIP show at 5. Tried to drink a Marigretta. 

I ate Caesar salad and brisket for dinner and Baked Alaska for dessert. 

No show tonight. 

Day 10: Sunday, November 17, Docking and Traveling Home

We were up early, finished our packing, and headed to the Lido deck for breakfast.

I got a couple of pastries and some juice. We went to the Theater with other VIP members to wait to disembark.

We disembarked around 7:30 A.M., called our taxi driver, and waited for him to arrive. He took us to the AM-Track Train Station.

We checked in and waited for our train to arrive. I bought a Diet Coke and some chips. We were due to leave around 9:15.

We were called by our destination; first was Birmingham, with a large number of people, and next was Tuscaloosa. 

The other destinations were Laurel, Meridian, and  Hattiesburg. 

We sat in seats 7 & 8. I sat next to the window so I could take pictures.

We traveled from 9:15 to 3:30 P.M.

Hubby picked us up after we got our luggage.

We stopped at Jack's just outside of Tuscaloosa. We all got the special. 

Chicken fingers, fries, fried Coke, and apple pie.

We saw a beautiful moon in the sky as we traveled home. 

It was dark when we dropped off Wanda. 

Finally, we arrived home and took my luggage inside.

Took a shower and went to bed. Everything else can wait until morning. 

Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, New Orleans