New Orleans Birthday Trip - August '12

So, I decided that I wanted to go back to New Orleans for my birthday this past year. My boyfriend was supposed to go with me and another couple but couldn't make it because of work. I was totally going to be the third wheel, but then I asked my very best friend, Lyndse and she said she'd LOVE to come!! So, to NOLA we went and a grand time was had by all!! Here are the pictures.

We stayed at the Andrew Jackson Hotel in the French Quarter. It was the perfect location, really!!

This is the balcony to our room looking down on the courtyard



The lovely little courtyard that we didn't really use very much. We were too busy running around the Quarter.



Our lovely little group on Bourbon St.

Random toilet on the sidewalk. Sure, why not?!

Our group on Bourbon St. with our daquiris

Lyndse's new boyfriend (Pat O'Brien's leprechaun)

The morning after... Yikes!

It rained a lot the second day. That's Cafe Du Monde across the street.

We went to Evergreen Plantation on Day 2. I loved this bench, all covered in moss.

And this swing, which some brat kid subsequently broke after I took this picture. What part of this swing says "Please let your brat try to swing on me!!"?? The rope and wood were obviously rotten.

Evergreen Plantation

Black and white makes it extra spooky and haunted-looking, I think.

Lovely staircase in the front of the house

The slave quarters. It was raining cats and dogs and we were EATEN ALIVE by mosquitoes back here so we cut the tour short with a big fat F*%# this!!

Tree-lined driveway

Soaked to bone and possibly infected with West Nile Virus. Damn mosquitoes!!

Playing with candles at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

On the patio at Lafitte's.

Kevin and Helen



More fun on Bourbon St. with the ladies. Obligatory mask purchased!!



Lyndse and her boyfriend again

Me and Lyndse

Me and Kevin

Nothing to see here... Just taking a water break...

Me and Lyndse at my birthday dinner and K-Paul's.

Street performer working for tips

ANDDDD, last but not least, the strippers who wouldn't let us take their picture!! I can't imagine why?!

Cozumel - May 2012

So, my best friend is kinda having a mid-life crisis, or so she calls it. Long story, DON'T ask. We both want to travel around the world. This is our first trip of many more in the future. This came about because I've been wanting to travel and have no one who really is committed to spending that kinda dough to see the world. LoLa volunteered, thankfully. :o)

Me and my bestie <3

We travelled separately, me from Austin and her from Columbia, SC, and met up at the airport in Cozumel. She was already drunk from her flight being delayed and having to sit in the airport in SC for a couple of hours. Of course, she met a new friend who was also going to Cozumel, so they sat in the airport and drank beer at 8 in the morning!! This is the story of our lives, me having coffee for breakfast and her having beer. She's a regular drinker and I barely am. Sometimes I just don't have the stomach for alcohol, which seemed to be the case during this trip.

View from the plane coming into Cozumel...

We grabbed a taxi to the hotel/resort, and what do you know?! They greet us at the front door with a drink!! I like this place, already!! We get all checked in and immediately go stick our toes in the beautiful blue waters. You just would not believe how clear the water is. It's beautiful down there and neither one of us wanted to come home!

Drink?? Why yes, please!!

There are iguanas just chilling EVERYWHERE!! I almost stepped on a few in the early morning when I was half asleep and not paying attention.





There were 8 or 9 iguanas just hanging out!!





He said F&%$ it!!



Carlos, the pimp daddy iguana...



Well, helllloooo there, ladies... How YOU doin'..?



Our cute little cabana with a hammock on the front porch...

Our view from the bar while it was POURING down rain...

Isn't that the most beautiful water you've ever seen??

We're on the beach!! Holllllaaaa!!!

Wading in...

Soooo blue!!

Waiting for LoLa to get changed

My fat toes in the sand...

One of the few times I got to relax on the beach... LoL

It's an all-inclusive resort, so naturally LoLa's very drunk!!

Palm tree lined walkway to the beach

LoLa trying to teach me how to play chess.. She's a sucky teacher!!

She's such a poser...

We made lots of new friends... Us with Jaime...



Time for a taxi ride!!



We signed up for a time share! Many, many more vacations to come!!

A celebratory spanking!!

"Take a picture" she says...

Welllll shit...

Take #2

Oh, SO drunk!!

Another new friend, Kim!!



Frisky Freddy... He was a little TOO friendly!!




We found this little friend in our shower!! He was safely released back into the wild after he pissed all over her!!



LoLa and her non-fiance fiance, Eduardo... We saw him EVERY damn day!!

We got a 4 hour yacht rental... Here she is with the starfish the captain went and fetched for us to check out...

I'm on a BOAT!!

She's on a BOAT!!

Cute!!

More of that gorgeous blue-green water...

Love her!!

As an added bonus, we got to tow a broken-down boat back to the dock at the end of the day!!

LoLa decided to learn the merengue... Here she is telling me to come dance... Didn't happen!!

This is what they like to call a "High-quality Mexican"!!

We took a Jeep tour around the island. First stop was Punta Sur.

View from the top of the lighthouse

Another view from the top

Me at the top of the lighthouse

On to another location on the Jeep tour

Red, white and blue shot with some folks at the bar!! Salud America!!

SHOTS!!

Shots with my bestie!! <3

Tulum

Tulum

Tulum

View from the top of the cliffs at Tulum

Another view from the top

It was pouring down rain during our tour at Tulum...

Dinner with our friends on the last night on the island... Mariachi band!!

We also checked out a local bar and local band on our last night... Ass and cymbals?! Sure!!

He made an excellent dance partner... He was twirling her all around the floor!!

Cindy getting down with her bad self!!

Me and the infamous Tiger...

Me and Cindy

LoLa singing with the band

Now, for some shots of our lovely resort... It had this awesome Moraccan feel to it with all the domed ceilings and lanterns and fountains... Truly a beautiful place to vacation. (Occidental Grand Cozumel)

We had the most amazing vacation and can't wait to go back and visit all of our friends again... We were trying to figure out how we could move there!! LoL