* The people of NOLA are genuinely grateful to have visitors.
* Emeril Lagasse sure can cook!
* Drago's in NOLA has some kind of fabulous chargrilled oysters!
* Despite common thought, NOLA is an awfully long way from the gulf--8 hours on the cruise ship on the Mississippi until you get to the mouth of the gulf.
* There are some very large, scary people at the buffet lines on cruises. Stay away from them or you could be trampled.
* Staring at the ocean with a vodka on the rocks can be habit forming.
* The Mayans were/are amazing people.
* The St. Louis Cardinals have a large following - on cruise ships (at least ours) and in Mexico.
* Technology is amazing--nothing like driving in the middle of nowhere and being able to use the iPad to surf the net!
* Thank goodness more people have not discovered SGI! shhh don't tell anyone...
* Eddie Teach's Raw Oyster Bar on SGI is one of the most welcoming/weirdest places on the face of the planet. And Pat the bartender is one of the best ever anywhere. His wife is great, too.
* Nothing like 4 or 5 beers, a bunch of crazed 10-16 year olds, and an underwater swimming pool torpedo to loosen you up.
* Did I mention that looking at the ocean and sipping on a vodka is habit forming?
* You smell pretty bad after you BBQ 2 dozen burgers and a dozen hot dogs when it is 95 degrees with 80 percent humidity.
* Alabama has about the most varied terrain of any state. From seashore to mountains.
* I could do this vacation thing for a living.
Too bad I guess. Back to reality.
