Aside from traveling for business or because of family obligations, there are many reasons to travel.  However, with the threats, the delays, the escalating costs, it would sometimes appear that it would just be easier to stay at home.

So, again, why travel?

Pleasure is a major factor.  Honeymoons come to mind.  Vacations are another reason to travel. Go on vacation and see a new culture, country, environment.

Even the most fabled, luxurious vacation site has something new to learn, people to meet, experiences to know.  Travel can change your life.

Example: The current disaster in Haiti is changing many people’s perception of suffering and what other human beings endure.  As with Katrina and New Orleans, nothing is ever the same after you have experienced a tragedy of this magnitude.  New Orleans is personal to me since I’ve visited there twice – it’s more than just a spot on the map.

In more normal circumstances, travel can broaden you – and not just your hips from pigging out on food.  New places, faces and spaces can give you a profound respect and understanding of other ways of life.

Example: Many years ago, I Iived in Southern Germany.  Before I traveled there, I barely had time to get a passport, let alone learn the language, customs and culture.

My neighbor in Germany was a Swedish woman who was a very easy-going and well-educated person.  Another neighbor I had met, while in the local market, was a native German woman.

A custom of our host country was that people only called their close family members by their first names.  I was unaware of the custom, so when I met the German neighbor, I asked her first name. Startled at what she perceived as my rudeness, she told me.  I could tell that she was uncomfortable, but wasn’t sure why.  After all, Americans are very casual, know and use each other’s first names and rarely use last names except in extreme situations of deference.  Many people don’t even know someone’s last name.

At a luncheon that our Swedish neighbor hosted for the three of us, the German woman (whom I’ll call Frau Hoff), Ingrid Swenson and I wound up dealing with an extreme awkwardness.  I called myself by my first name, Ingrid introduced herself as “NIni,” and the German neighbor remained Mrs. Hoff.  What complicated things was that “Nini” was the oldest of the three of us; I was the youngest.  The luncheon had some of the most difficult silences – and those were not due to the language differences. (Both of them were fluent in English.)

Things never did warm up with my attempted friendship with the German neighbor and I did not find out the reason for many months.  My neighbor was offended by my, what she perceived as, unnatural intimacy by using her first name.

Moral of the story: Learn about where you’re going to have the best experience.  Know major phrases (won’t you want to know where the restroom is and be able to ask that and understand the answer?) I made a point of learning some key phrases and questions.  My biggest difficulty?  Understanding the answers of those who were kind enough to respond with directions I requested or other answers.  So, it didn’t help me that they answered me – for the life of me, I didn’t know what they were telling me – because they didn’t respond with the guidebook’s phrases in the exact words.

Other things I learned were the German advanced approach to conservation of energy.  They turned off lights they were not using and reused long before recycling became a common thing in the United States.  They packed their own groceries at the store.

When I returned to the United States, I was changed.  I expected to bag my own groceries and had become more aware of all of the waste.

Even if you don’t travel to a foreign country, you can learn new things about yourself and those around you.  On a snowy trip to my family’s new home in Minnesota, we stopped in a small city in Wisconsin named Eau Claire.  It happened to be Christmas Day and the only food we had with us was one loaf of raisin bread.  No stores appeared to be open.  My family of five was hungry, tired and needed to get off the road.  It had been a long day and it was already mid-evening.

We found a hotel open that provided food for us, even though the restaurant was officially closed for the evening. We had beds, a place to sleep and a friendly smile from the hotel staffer.

That one act of kindness has always predisposed me to have fond memories of Wisconsin.  I haven’t been in Wisconsin for years, but I think of the state as a place of kind people.

What did I learn?  That people can be caring, unselfish and help strangers; That a family can be together and manage, even in tough situations.

So, travel.  See the world, learn about others – and, even more, about yourself.

Next week:  Visit the Wild West, some majestic cacti and a B & B with a great view.

And, don’t forget to check out our shop where you can buy your own little piece of the scenic places we’ve highlighted.

French Quarter street scene, early in the day

Although, I’ve been to New Orleans twice, I haven’t seen everything yet. But, even though I’ve been there, any visit is not complete until you visit the French Quarter, which is the quintessential place where everything comes together. There is music, excess, great food and amazing architecture.

Saint Louis Cathedral, overlooking Jackson Square, French Quarter

Food fun in New Orleans

New Orleans food has a special spiciness and flair to their cooking and their friendliness. Their foods have names you won’t find elsewhere, too. Muffalettas, po’boys and beignets are all great to try and have followings. Muffalettas are huge round sandwiches with an abundance of bread, meats and an olive mix. The bread is crusty outside and fluffy inside, which soaks in the flavors.

 
Po’boys are crusty, submarine-like sandwiches with hot, fried meats or fish inside. We trotted all the way to a restaurant named Uglesich’s to experience a prime po’boy. It was a ride, a walk and a wait, but well worth it!

 
The beignet is a humongous doughnut-like confection that is showered with confectioner’s sugar – abundantly. A sugar high from eating a beignet is not uncommon. I watched my husband eat a beignet. Every morsel and sugar crumb disappeared, a good sign that it was fabulous.

 
Upscale restaurants abound and I had memorable experiences at Brennan’s (reviewed on May 6, 2009). The Court of Two Sisters also provided a terrific culinary choice, with a jazz brunch. But, every meal in New Orleans was an occasion.

Music in N’Awlins

Walking the French Quarter, there’s a good chance you will hear music pouring out of a club or wafting out from a restaurant.
New Orleans is synonymous with jazz and you will hear the catchy, upbeat, wails of the bands as you travel the French Quarter.
On St. Peter Street in the French Quarter, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs nightly. Even though they charge an admission to come in and listen, you can hear the music as you walk by. They’re an institution and a terrific group.

RECIPES

While I was attending a convention, I stayed an extra day and had the good fortune to attend the Cookin’ Cajun Cooking School. They are only selling their products now and not operating their school, but at the time  they shared two very typical N’Awlins recipes, Bananas Foster and Shrimp Etoufee. You’ll find them following   –

(Save your calories, because these are not for people on diets – New Orleans natives love their butter!) Recipes courtesy of Cookin’ Cajun Cooking School.

www.cookincajun.com

Bananas Foster

½ stick butter
¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup banana liqueur
3 bananas, quartered
½ cup rum
½ tsp cinnamon or Cindy’ Voodoo Dust, optional
6 servings vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Melt butter in a skillet or sauté pan.
Blend in brown sugar, stirring until it forms a thick paste.
Add vanilla and banana liqueur – stir well and cook for three minutes.
Add bananas and cook over medium heat, basting the bananas with the butter and sugar mixture.
Heat the rum in a very small saucepan or metal cup.
Ignite the rum and pour over the bananas. For added drama, sprinkle cinnamon or Voodoo Dust into flame.
Stir well and serve over ice cream. Makes 6 servings.

Shrimp Etoufee

1 stick butter
½ cup flour
2 cups onions, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 cup each red and green bell peppers, finely chopped or dried
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 ounces tomato paste
1 quart fish stock
1 teaspoon liquid Crab and Shrimp Boil (similar to the Old Bay brand)
3 cups shrimp, peeled and deveined
lemon zest, optional
1 bunch green onions, chopped
½ bunch parsley, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon spicy seasoning – (white and red peppers with herbs like basil and thyme)
4 cups cooked rice – popcorn or basmati rice preferred

Directions:

Melt butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven.
When butter begins to foam, add flour, stirring constantly.
Cook for about 10 minutes to form a light brown peanut-colored roux.
Add vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
Add tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes.
Then add stock and crab boil.
Add shrimp, lemon zest (if using), and simmer, covered for 10 minnutes.
Add the green onions, parsley and spice Blend (Cookin’ Cajun has their own brand of this).
Simmer 10 minutes more, remove from heat and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
Reheat, if necessary and serve over rice.
Serves 8. (Be careful about holding shrimp at room temperature so it does not spoil.

Tomorrow – Tune in for a visit to Santa Fe…