Arrived in New Orleans on Sunday, June 29. Directions to hotel were inaccurate, and we missed our exit off I-10. After riding around in the rain for a few minutes, we arrived at the hotel around 2:30 p.m. We chose the Drury Inn because we could have our dog, and the $89. rate for a suite, breakfast included. The lobby is beautiful with marble floors and beautiful stained wood. Our room was not yet ready, so I took my elderly parents to the French Market. Dad, who has dementia, decided to stay in the car while Mom and I shopped in the market. After about 20 minutes, it began to rain again, so we headed back to the car. Dad was gone! I searched for him, and soon found him walking around the area. We rode around by the cruise terminals, in the Warehouse District and up Esplanade in the rain so that I could show them some changes to the area. (They had been to New Orleans before, but hadn't been back since the World's Fair.) By this time, our room is ready, and it is lovely with more marble floors and a microwave, refrigerator, recliner and sofa. We take a nap, but are awakend by a loud noise. A storm has come through and a wooden banner outside our fifth floor window is banging furiously against the wall. The rain is coming down in sheets.
After the rain ends, we drive to the French Quarter for dinner. We had planned to dine at Acme Oyster bar, but there was a long line, so we chose to dine at Felix's, recommended by the clerk at the hotel. Although the restaurant wasn't busy, the service was terribly poor. We learned that they were short two wait staff. I had a delicious Cajun Sampler of Crawfish Etoufee (sp), Jambalaya, and Red beans and Rice. My father did not care for his Seafood Gumbo. The prices were very reasonable (less than $14. for most dishes.) A family at a nearby table ordered the boiled Crawfish, and said they had eaten there many times, but this time the crawfish were much too spicy. After dinner, we walked along Bourbon and Royal Streets. My 81 year old father soon became anxious to get back to the car, as he had not worn comfortable shoes. Didn't he realize that we would be doing a lot of walking? We noticed fire trucks and the area was cordoned off with police tape. It appeared that whatever work the fire trucks had done was over, but the tape was still in place. I noticed a few brave souls cross the tape, so I told my parents to wait and I would bring the car to them. Of course they ignored me and followed me. Although none of the firemen said anything to me, they did stop my parents. Apparently, my father smarted off. I was a block away, but I saw a fireman writing in a book and I could tell my father was showing him his ID. My father denied receiving a ticket, but he may have been too embarrassed to admit it to me. We then went to Cafe DuMond, where I picked up beignets to go. They were hot and so good! Three for $1.50. We spent the rest of the evening watching TV in our room for updates on Tropical Storm Bill. We also learned there had been a fire at the Acme Oyster bar earlier that evening! Due to the appraching tropical storm, we decided it would be best to head home the next morning. We had a good complementary breakfast and we were on the road by 9:00 am. Traffic was backed up for several minutes, and it rained the whole way home back to northwest Florida. In all, we spent less than 18 hours in New Orleans.

Umm...sounds like a pretty stressful trip (sorry). But hey, at least you got some beignets!

Is this report for real? I find it curious that you would leave your father in a car by himself if he has dementia. Maybe I'm just missing something here? Also, what did you do with your dog during this trip? It sounds like you brought the dog along b/c of the hotel??

Lee4, yes this report is for real. My Dad is in the early stages of dementia, in fact he still drives and manages his business affairs. So, leaving him in a car for a few minutes didn't seem to be a problem, as he hasn't goten to the stage of wandering yet. However, it did concern me that he had left the car. I spotted him less than 50 yards from the car.
As far as the dog, the only time he wasn't with us was the two hours while we were at dinner. My parents take this dog everywhere, so we picked the hotel because it allowed dogs with no fee. We actually found the hotel to be very convenient. It was only about six blocks from the French Quarter. We drove our car around only because of the weather and the fact that there were very few tourists out and about on that Sunday evening, so parking in the Quarter was not a problem.
I take lots of trips with my parents. They are 76 and 81. Most of the time we have some stresses, but that is just par for the course and we roll with it. I am so thankful they still want to get out and about.

Hi Gracie
I hope I didn't offend you with my question (you certainly answered nicely if I did--thanks!). I understand a little more now since your dad is in the early stages. My grandfather had Alzheimer's so I was just curious b/c of what we went through in my own family.

It's great that you take your parents on trips--and even let them bring the dog! I hope the next time you go to NO, you don't have a tropical storm to deal with.

Lee4 -- no offense taken. I realize you know what I am dealing with because of your own experiences with your grandfather.
I try to get Mom to leave the dog at home, but she would rather have the dog than me! We often take the dog, and if we are somewhere where we will be out and about for a while, we board him in that location. For example, we have boarded him in Las Vegas and Baltimore. Only time we haven't been able to take him is when we flew to Calofornia and Europe a few years ago. Now if I could just find a cruise that would allow dogs!