Due to unforeseen events, Sharaya and I ended up spending a full day exploring the glorious city of New Orleans. Because we are who we are, we went full glam. There's truly no other explanation other than "we were together".



One of the most important things about travelling with people is making sure you travel the same. Some people are up bright early to head to the beach and tan, or check off one of the ten tourist spots they have on the itinerary. I am very much a "get out in time for brunch and probably take a bath around 7PM" kind of traveler. Thank goodness my sister is too. So needless to say, we strolled. We walked from one end of Bourbon Street to the other. Walked the Garden district and all along the Riverwalk.





On our travels we happened upon a black cat, a house in full Halloween regalia (there was a soundtrack), and a tarot card reader. I sat back and watched Sharaya  get her cards read. As the reader went through every card and explained their meaning and relation to Sharaya's life, I realized it all related to me perfectly. Sadly Sharaya didn't get much out it. When the reading was over we were given cards with instructions to go to a jazz club on Bourbon Street. We were to find an employee and give them a secret message. Upon this exchange, the woman unlocked a large wooden door in the middle of the club, sent us up the stairs, and hastily locked the door behind us.





We found ourselves in a small hideaway above the chaos of Bourbon Street the Saturday before Halloween. We were given drinks made by a small British witch - the vodka was blood red, and the drinks were strong. We were serenaded by Sinatra while we lounged on velvet.



After a short reprieve, we ventured to the private balcony and admired the crowds. Men dressed in drag, women dressed as woodland creatures, and everything in between filled the landscape. The rhythms of pop, house music, and smooth jazz spilled out into the street with patrons crossing between clubs and bars and restaurants. And by 9PM, when the chaos reached new heights and the party crowd started rising from their slumbers, we were in bed watching the Kardashian's and eating chocolate. It was a magical day indeed.

About a year ago my boyfriend got me into riding bikes again - something I haven't done since Nixon was in office. Hugging the Delaware River is a canal path that runs up and down the Pennsylvania and New Jersey coast. When we want to go for a decent ride, this is where we go. It is beautiful, peaceful, and smooth. It has become one of my favorite workouts.

So when Sharaya and I were strolling down the street in New Orleans, on our way to VooDoo Festival, and we happened upon Blue Bikes, we couldn't say no. Literally. We stood there for a couple minutes toying with the idea before Sharaya pushed me over the edge.




Mind you, this one hasn't ridden a bike in the last two decades, and I haven't ridden on an actual road probably ever so the confidence here was completely unfounded.

We ended up in sketchy neighborhoods, major roadways, pothole-ridden parking lots, and -oh yeah!- the actual literal freeway.




Despite discussing packing it in and giving up, we ended up finding a nice bike path that brought us right to a gorgeous section of City Park. After a mini photo session, we returned the bikes to a nearby station and headed into the show.





The entire event really authenticated our "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" endeavor to get to the show. It had been just over two years since we saw our favorite band. After travelling by car, plane, bike, and by foot we finally made it to the front row for a truly amazing show.

It's finally time for my Girls Trip to New Orleans to experience Voodoo Festival with my sister! It's been just over three years since my last festival experience so I am very excited. My favorite band is playing, its Halloween themed and it's in Louisiana! One of the few states I have yet to visit!

Being as it's over a thousand miles away, a flight was necessary. I went with a budget airline so I compiled my carry-on slightly differently than normal. One of my top tips for air travel is to utilize seat map tool on Seat Guru. No matter which airline I am flying on, I check there to see if bringing my own entertainment, power, and beverages are necessary. In this case they definitely are!



1. iPad
Whether or not there is in-flight entertainment, my iPad is necessary. This is my main tool for schoolwork and freelance writing. I found laptops to be too bulky, so I bought an iPad case that comes with a keyboard that connects via Bluetooth. I highly recommend it!

2. Comb / Hair Accessories
I have long, coarse hair and a lot of it, so bringing something to clean up with after a three hour long up-right snooze is essential! If the flight is going to be extremely long, or I have a long itinerary after I land, I'll put my hair into a high bun so it doesn't lose it's volume before the action starts.

3. Makeup Remover wipes
The air in planes is so drying that my skin feels the affects pretty quickly. In order to prevent clogging my pores and adding some moisture to my face, I use these makeup remover wipes to give myself a nice refresh.

4. Wallet
Duh! But really though, I keep all my travel cards (Oyster for London, SEPTA for Philly, etc.) in my wallet just in case. Never know where you're gonna end up sometimes!

5. Sinus medication
The shift in air pressure really affects my ears. There have been times where I couldn't hear for a few hours after landing. Now I take a small dose of sinus medication roughly thirty minutes before departure - when boarding commences - and have found that my ears don't get clogged or sore at all. I highly recommend this one!

6. Noise-cancelling headphones
I've found myself moving away from earbuds in general, but this big guys have been my go-to for air travel for some time now. I have found my ears pop less, the music is less tonal and I can't hear the crying baby a few rows back. Win all around!

7. Portable charger
You never know when your flight is going to be delayed, or you have to sit on the tarmac for a few hours. Also better to be safe than sorry!

8. Granola Bar
There have been too many instances when I arrive at an airport so late that all the shops have been closed and there is no where to buy food. Or, I'm in flight with three hours to go and the hunger overtakes me. In my youth I packed Pop Tarts, but those crumble so easily. Larabars are my favorite any time of the day but I especially love them on trips when I might not be getting the fruits and veggies I should be.

Oh San Diego, you never disappoint...