New Orleans – Totally Worth the Hype! 😍

You could easily spend two full days and nights exploring downtown NOLA 🏙️✨. By day, soak in the historic vibe of the French colonial quarter; once the sun sets, the energy transforms — bars, jazz, dancing, neon lights — it’s a sensory feast 🎷💃🍸! This trip was all about the food 🍽️❤️. We dined at Jewel of the South, a top-5 U.S. bar with incredible French-inspired dishes 🥂🇫🇷. The beef tongue was the standout — unbelievably tender and thick, unlike anything I’ve tried before! The duck neck sausage was the priciest but richly flavorful — a bit salty but beautifully presented. The foie gras (not seared, but spread on bread) was also delightful! And their drink menu is extensive and creative 🍹. Another highlight: charcoal-grilled oysters from the Hilton hotel’s ground-floor restaurant 🦪🔥. We went for a late-night snack and ended up ordering round after round — so addictive! We also had beignets three times, gumbo twice, jambalaya twice, and fried chicken twice 🍗🍛🍩. Southern comfort food is just too good — I love “soul food”! ❤️ We visited a swamp tour to see baby alligators 🐊. The Louisiana gators are much smaller than Florida’s — and this tour didn’t allow holding them, so it was just okay. The real stars were the wild pigs 🐗 — fast, loud, with long snouts perfect for digging in the water! The riverside next to the French Market is stunning — perfect for photos on a sunny day 📸🌊. #NOLA #NewOrleans 🌆🎺✨