Day 16

We started our day with Howard's pilgrimage to Avery Island, LA to visit the factory where they make Tobasco sauce.  Very interesting.  A large delegation of employees and executives met us to thank him for single handedly keeping the company afloat all these years.  He's a real job creator when it comes to Tobasco.  As we were leaving the sky opened up and it poured.  Thunder, lightning, the whole works.  We drove out from under it, but it followed us.  We got to New Orleans early in the afternoon, checked into our hotel and relaxed for a while.  Then off in search of fine dining and live music.

New Orleans hosted the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball Tournament this year.  Lots of people here.  120,000 at the Final last night, the rest were with us.  We took a cab to the French Quarter and found Bourbon Street.  By the time we got there, the storm had caught up with us.  Had to walk from where the cab dropped us off, no umbrella so we got soaked.  Found the seafood restaurant that was recommended and had a good dinner.  Still raining when we finished so back into the deluge.  Walked several blocks to The House of Blues.  No music there, they were watching the game on all their TV's.  Back to Bourbon St. and most of the places we checked out were also showing the game.  Then we stumbled on a bar with a kick ass band and went in to dry out.  The band was really good and they played a really long set.  Mainly rock & roll but some good musicians and a couple of good singers.  They knew every song ever written I think.  Stayed until about midnight and since it was still raining, decided to call it a night.  The post game revelers began to trickle in around 11, so I don't think they missed us.