Wasted away in Margaritaville

The Wombat freely admits that he's not very familiar with Jimmy Buffett and his music. But one of his most famous songs is called 'Margaritaville', and that's led to a US-wide chain of bar-restaurants.


Even if it's a bit gimmicky... they do make damn fine margaritas!


This shot was taken after The Wombat had finished his margarita. He definitely needed to just lie down for a while.

Flavours of New Orleans

Food is such an important part of New Orleans culture, and The Wombat wanted to try everything! He gorged on jambalaya, shrimp etoufee, and especially gumbo... Here he is at the Gumbo Shop restaurant.


New Orleans is famous for its cocktails as well as its Cajun and Creole food. The Sazerac was invented in New Orleans, and another popular cocktail is the Hurricane, which was invented at Pat O'Brien's Irish pub. The Wombat liked Hurricanes.


One of the MUST-DO things for visitors to New Orleans is to have coffee and beignets at Café Du Monde. The coffee's made with chicory, and the beignets are fresh-made doughnuts covered in powdered sugar.


The Wombat really enjoyed his beignet.

Louisiana yard-dogs and more

With the swamps of Louisiana right outside New Orleans, The Wombat definitely wanted to go in a swamp boat to see the alligators.

He went with Dr. Wagner's Honey Island swamp tour, and saw El Whoppo the 15-foot alligator... although El Whoppo was being shy and didn't want to come over for his marshmallows. (Probably just as well, since The Wombat would have made a very small mouthful for him.)


He got to see alligators close up at the Audubon Aquarium, and then meet a much safer one at the Insectarium.


At the Insectarium, he also saw lots of bugs, including this VW love-bug...


And he got up close and personal with some more (static) nature at the Audubon Zoo.


He never did find out what a Louisiana yard-dog is though.

Sightseeing in New Orleans

There's so much to see and do in New Orleans, that these are just a few photos from The Wombat's trip!

First off, here he is at the entrance to the French Market. (It's actually daylight; there was something wrong with the exposure, ooops.)


Here he's admiring the St Louis Cathedral from across Jackson Square.


He did get to go on an evening dinner cruise on the steamboat Natchez! (He was a bit wobbly getting off, after drinking too many Hurricanes.)


He also had more than a few drinks up and down Bourbon Street, and brought home the Mardi Gras beads to prove it!