The best of New Orleans

Beignets and Cafe au Lait at the Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter ...

Looking back at New Orleans

So much I could say about my experience in New Orleans.

The food and the music were impressive.

Loved the beignets and cafe au lait at the Cafe du Monde.

Loved the sounds of jazz and blues from the French Quarter.

Encountered friendly, Southern hospitality everywhere I went.

And to boot, a pleasure even on board the plane, thanks to the satellite TV, snacks, and roomy seats.

Photo highlights to be posted later today ... :)

JFK's Terminal 5

Finally have a chance to enjoy JFK's Terminal 5, thanks to a 3-hr plus layover.

This is a the model all airports should use for their terminals.

Nice, bright, and a very cool central area.

The big windows give a great view of the airfield. Nice for plane watchers.

The complimentary WiFi and the numerous seating stations where you can plug in your laptop and work & eat, also deserves a big Hi5.

Even lots of dining options here. Love the look of the Deep Blue lounge.

The day in a nutshell.

Filing regular reports is proving to be a challenge.

Long day ... starting with New Orleans, the Garden District, then on to Mississippi and Alabama ... and finally back to the Big Easy.

Today's highlights:
1. cafe au lait and beignets @ the Cafe du Monde (a landmark that opened during the Civil War)
2. wandering through the Garden District.
3. Lunch buffet featuring fried chicken, biscuits, cornbread, mashed potatoes and gravy, and apple pie
4. checking out the beaches of Mississippi.
5. Touring the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library in Biloxi
6. Hitting the casino in Miss.
7. Monster break in Mobile, Ala.
8. A final stroll down Bourbon Street at night.

Tired ... zzzzzz.

Notes from LAX

NOTES FROM LAX

9:06 pm PDT – Terminal 6 Los Angeles International Airport

The All You Can Jet journey has begun.

Kicking off my experience with the good folks at JetBlue, at LAX’s Terminal 6, ready for the red-eye to New York JFK.

There’s a reasonable volume of people milling about tonight. Some of the Continental gates (the primary tenant at T6) are overflowing though. And I just heard a Frontier spokesman say they were looking for volunteers to give up their seats. Oops … oversold. So people are still flying.

The Home Turf Sports Bar is also filled, with fans glued to the TVs watching the Steelers and Titans square off.

I’ve opted for a quick coffee at Monet’s California, instead of the usual Starbucks.

Can’t help but wonder why are there no Coffee Bean outlets in this airport. Surely our hometown chain deserves a spot or two. Or perhaps Starbucks has some sort of exclusivity deal here?

Last time I was in this terminal was this past February. Since that time, it has become a construction zone.

Flight still on time, scheduled to leave at 10:21.

Just one beef - my longest-running beef with LAX – no complimentary WiFi.

JFK's T5 has it. New Orleans has it. Come on, LAX -- get in the game!

Ready for Lift-off!

Ready for launch!

Tonight: LAX-JFK (red-eye)
Tomorrow morning: JFK-MSY

Forecast for New Orleans:
Friday - 82, 50% chance of scattered t-storms.
Saturday - 81, 60% chance of scattered t-storms.

NYC weather:
Low 60, High 66 ... steady rain. Windy.

As always, weather is perfect for departure from LA.

36 Hours 'til Launch

36 hours 'til launch ... and a non-stop fill of music, food, and fun in New Orleans.

Bring on the jambalaya, gumbo, and everything chicken-fried. And throw in a pile of gravy.

And I want that accompanied by the sounds of New Orleans jazz, blues, cajun, and zydeco music.