📍 hi everyone and welcome back to Travel Time Stories. I'm Shannon, your host from Texas. If this is your first time listening, be sure to check out my earlier episodes where I share travel adventures, lessons I've learned along the way and bits of my own personal story.
One episode at a time. 📍 Today's episode is extra special because I'm joined by someone you've heard me mention many times. She's the Frankie To My Grace, my sissy, my partner in Crime, my Ride, or Die, Ann Tuttle. Welcome to the show Ann.
Shannon, thank you so much for having me tonight. This is gonna be so much fun. I love talking about our trips.
Yes it is. This is long overdue. So everybody 📍 grab your favorite beverage, like us and settle in 'cause we're diving into our New Orleans adventures. The unforgettable and the unbelievable. Anne and I met back in 2009, and by 2012 we were planning our first girls trip to New Orleans. But first Anne, I think we should tell everyone how we actually became friends.
Oh, I think we should, first of all, when Shannon met me. She really hated me, but something told me she is gonna be your friend you need to befriend her. So that was my mission. I decided, okay, this girl does not like me, is not okay, because I like everyone. I am a people person. I will talk to anybody on the street in a restaurant.
I'm not particular. So, yeah, it took me a couple days to win her over, but she finally realized that, yeah, I did what I had to do to get a job,
that's right. We first met because I interviewed you for a job that I was leaving, but after you befriended me, on the day that I left for a job fair, I told you to come along so we could work together somewhere better, and it paid off. We both got hired at Comcast and left the other job behind.
Oh it did. Yes, definitely. It was a good change for us both.
as we became friends, I told you my adoption story and the town in Missouri where my birth mother lived. You asked if my birth mother's name was Susan, and when I said, yes, you told me you'd met her at the bank where you worked. That gave me goosebumps.
Well, and not only was I able, you know, did I tell you that I met her, but I was actually able to describe her to you. I mean, I had met her three or four times and yeah, I had no clue. That she was your mom until we were talking that day. And the chills that ran all over my body, I just could not believe that that link was there.
That means something. We were supposed to meet.
Yep, exactly. We were supposed to be sisters
yep.
Now our trips together are part of a. Our legacy, that first trip to Nola had it all. Lafitte's piano bar, the haunted history tour, and even a horticulture lesson at the Royal Sonesta. I mean, only us turning a party trip into a botany session.
It was wonderful. We did though, and we got pieces of a really cool bamboo plant. Mine of course, died. the next year. Shannon, actually, hers looked pretty good. It was getting big, you know, flowering and she repotted it. It had grown out of its pot and boom, it just did not appreciate that.
No it didn't. And as a matter of fact, it was a red ginger plant, not a bamboo plant.
That's right. You are right.
why you lied and said you were a horticulturalist so we could get a cutting of the plant.
Very rare plant by the way.
Yes. Let's talk about some of the wilder moments. There were pickpockets over-friendly bouncers and yes, the humping window guy. Oh, and of course our stay at the Creole Inn with Kim and Charlie. We also had our first Pedicab Ride. Our driver was so nice and a lot of fun.
Oh, in my first naked man. Hey, it was, that was the trip to remember. Let me tell you guys, I cannot wait to dive into this one.
Exactly that Creole Inn place had personality. I mean, there was a young tourist that got mug nearby. There was the mysterious hole in the wall left by Honeymooners, and then Charlie mad the naked
Yes.
cameo, of course. And then Kim hounding you about going to Walmart with her.
Yeah, she really wanted somebody to take her shopping, but you know, we were on vacation and I really didn't wanna go to Walmart, so, yeah.
Exactly. So let's elaborate on the mysterious hole in the wall left by the honeymooners. I seem to
A foot.
We figured out, yeah, it was made by a foot, but the positioning of the hole on the wall had us scratching our heads
Oh yeah.
to figure
out what position they must have been
Yeah.
in to create it
It was the best guys. We laughed so hard.
They were so embarrassed.
and I don't think we ever figured out what position they were in to make that hole.
No. No, we did not, because I don't know how he got his foot up that high on the wall. I, I mean, I just say it was, it was really way up there. Definitely a foot.
Well, all I can say is he was definitely had some skills and was able to bend to make that hole in the wall.
Yeah, somebody was flexible in that room. Let me tell you.
So Ann, tell everyone the story of Charlie's naked cameo. Just so everyone knows, preference Kim and Charlie were the husband and wife who managed the b and b that we stayed at in New Orleans.
Okay, so, you know, pretty helpless folks here. Their internet kept going out and we needed internet. So we go down and ask about the internet and Kim's like, well, you know, it's gone out again. I don't know how to fix it, and I gotta go somewhere. and Shannon's like, well, we can fix it for you, you know? We used to do that for a living she was like, oh, that would be fantastic.
Just go in the office, the desk is right there. Just go, go in, yell at Charlie. You know Charlie will be in there and just go ahead and fix it. You're like, okay. So Shannon's up under the desk, you know, getting everything hooked up and fixed. I'm like, okay, well I'll go let Charlie know that. We got it going.
You know, we have internet. Yay so yeah, I started walking towards the kitchen between the office and the kitchen there is a bathroom. 📍 Charlie was in the bathroom with no clothes on. and he didn't like turn around backwards when I was like going.
No, he just stood there too and looked at me and went, so we both stood there for a minute and went, and I went, the Internet's fixed and I took off. I was so embarrassed. I didn't wanna go down for coffee the next morning. I was so humiliated.
That was so great
I rarely get embarrassed, guys. So yeah, this one really got me.
And don't forget, the girl there auditioning for American Idol. She didn't make it, but she made
the blooper reel and the food
Oh man
in New Orleans was incredible. I tried an alligator
burger at Le Booze and then we went to the upscale Restaurant R'evolution. That was wonderful
Oh. It was fabulous.
then you ended up with food poisoning
Absolutely.
at the local spot, which we won't name names on that one.
Yes. No, we will not. That was not fun. We had, we had some hiccups on this trip. Little ghosty things, some food poisoning, a few other little things.
Exactly. what was your favorite place at the French market, Ann? That we had to visit every single day
Oh guys, I'm telling you, they had this sangria that was the best I've ever had. No joke. Even Shannon agrees. and then she had these Spanish manchego cheese sandwiches with Serrano ham on them. She would grill them up. Oh, I was addicted. I literally would tell people and they would walk around, they would go, we just dunno where to eat.
I would be like, uh, guys, come over here. It's so good.
Yeah. I crave that place to this day.
Yeah, you definitely gave them some free advertising and so will I right now because the name of the place, it's at the French market in New Orleans, so if you go, please visit them. It's Alberto's Cheese and Wine Bistro and it's a husband and wife team. It's Chef Juan and his wife is Antonia, and their food is a Mediterranean flavors and it's to die for.
It really is, guys, try it out.
also let us not forget, you can't go to New Orleans without stopping at Cafe DuMonde for those beignets.
Oh, and the coffee. Yes. So good.
Exactly,
Powdered Sugar everywhere and nobody cared.
we also met head chef and owner Matt Murphy at the Irish House restaurant. He had been un chopped and won. 📍 And that was the best food I've ever had in my life. Hands down, I am not joking and I'm so sad that it closed, but I did
Yes.
and his family move back to Ireland. So when we make our trip to Ireland, we will be going around the island to find chef Matt Murphy.
Yes, we will. That was the best food ever. I don't think I've ever eaten that much food in my life. I was so miserable. But it was all so good. You couldn't stop.
Exactly. We ordered so much too because it all looked so good
Oh yeah.
on the menu. We couldn't decide, so we just started ordering a whole bunch of random things off the menu. I think that's probably one of the reasons why Chef Matt came out and talked to us. 'cause we ordered so much freaking food.
Yeah, and we kept telling the waitress, oh my gosh, that was so fabulous. yeah, it was wonderful. He came out, spent some time with us, we chatted with him. he told us that he'd been un chopped and he couldn't tell us the outcomes. So of course, soon as we got home.
Exactly. We found the episode and watched it.
Yes. So we would know.
Yep.
Fabulous food
Exactly, and at another restaurant there was the chicken fried steak incident where a chef was less than thrilled with you, sissy
we are not going to discuss. That was a little hangry.
Shame on you.
And we also took the haunted history tour, which was spooky but fascinating
Oh,
it was.
We also visited the insectarium where yes, I ate bugs,
She did,
She had to try all the bugs, all the crispies
Exactly.
I passed
how about our photos we took on the haunted history tour, sissy.
We got fabulous photos. tons of orps in New Orleans. Never had that before. So, yeah, it was, it was quite an experience. We really enjoyed the Ghost tour and our, the guy that led it for us was fabulous.
Exactly, oh. let us not forget the unforgettable bridesmaids moment. No, we
Oh, oh.
poop in the street, but it was way too close for comfort.
It's close. We were duck walking. It was not pretty. And I started laughing and the more I laughed, the more she hit and yelled at me. The more she yelled, the more I laughed. And the worse it got was so bad. We made it. We made it.
Exactly. We did make it we have to tell the story of the humping window guy and you tell it best sissy. So this one's on you.
All right, so we were just tooling around, right? Just checking out a lot of little side streets and whatnot, we were on this one side street and this guy was standing there and. Shannon's, like, let's cross the sidewalk. Okay. So we cross the street and she's like, ready to go. And I'm like, oh, no, no, no, no, no.
He's up to something. I gotta check this out. So we hang out at the corner, right? We're watching him there's a restaurant It's on a corner. And so this restaurant happens to have glass that literally comes together for its corners, no wood, completely open, right? With a ledge restaurant's full of people.
'cause I'm checking it out, right? And the guy walks over to the ledge and he whips out a dollar bill and he rolls it up and then he gets. Powder and puts it on the window Ledge and snorts that up. Then he stumbles a little bit and then he does it again. At this point, people in the restaurant are noticing, so nobody's eating, they're all watching this man.
And so, you know, it's, again, this is a corner restaurant. Total glass except for the little waist height ledge he goes over, you know, to the corner and he starts humping it like a dog. Yeah, it was very embarrassing. But he did that. And at this point, the people in the restaurant were all.
Just mouths open. Just watching and we're watching this and why I did not film this. I, Shannon, I will never know. I think I was just couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was awesome. then, you know, he just stumbled on his way
exactly.
Classic New Orleans though.
Oh, we saw some stuff.
exactly. We saw plenty of stuff
Yes.
tell everyone about the pickpocket.
Oh, guys, I had no idea, right? Shannon had warned me. But Shannon was talking to Jeff on the phone. We were by Lafitte's Bar, which super excited to visit and see that it was so awesome in there. Any who? I'm standing there waiting for Shannon to get off the phone with Jeff and the nicest looking kid walks up and he looks at me and he just smiles like an angel.
And I smiled back and I think he's gonna ask me something. No, no. He comes up and starts feeling my front pockets. Now, honestly, I was so stunned that I couldn't even react for a minute. when he saw that I was going to react, he of course took off quickly. But yeah, that happened. I'm glad that my money was not in my pockets, if you know what I mean.
Ladies.
Great travel tip to don't keep your money in your pockets.
Yes. And you know, don't go by looks. If they look like angels and they're smiling at you, still be careful.
Exactly. And I saw it happening while I was on the phone and told Jeff I had to go because I thought someone was trying to pickpocket Ann and I was ready to take this kid down if he had grabbed her purse.
Mm-hmm. I don't think we had purses or anything.
I don't remember if we had purses or
Mm-hmm. We had everything tucked out of the way because we were gonna be down there on the street and it was pretty crowded.
So thank God you
warned me and told me to tuck everything away. listen to my sister.
I had forgotten about that
She knows what she's talking about.
Ann, I always ask guests to share a travel tip. So what have you learned from our trips?
I have learned, of course, you know, guys, I bring my suitcase. Shannon does all the work and I do feel a little guilty about that. But really she doesn't want me planning anyway. I know that if you want to, like, we're getting ready to go in October, so we wanna hit the steakhouse up on the first night.
So we have already made our reservations for that. You need to reserve specialty dining early. especially a popular place. The steakhouse is always popular. yeah, so just, you know, reserve early and, you know, with your excursions, uh, Shannon has proven to me you do not always have to book through the cruise line.
There are a lot of good companies out there, and she's familiar with quite a few of them now. So, yeah. those are my tips today.
Some of the best excursions we've had have not been through the cruise line, have been things
Mm-hmm.
for us independently.
All the best ones. Yes, for sure.
I will have to say that the one time that we were pier runners was not due to an excursion that we had booked. Okay. People so
No.
don't think that was the reason. It was not.
No, it was not.
That was just us in port losing track of time while we're out shopping. So yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. We were shopping hard. I had to leave something behind so I could run.
like Anne said, she doesn't have to plan anything when she comes with me. And I love planning trips from start to finish. So all my travel buddies, all they have to do is show up, bring your bags, show up, everything's done.
And it's gonna be fabulous every time.
So Anne, what would you say was the most memorable moment for you on this trip for to New Orleans? Either something we've already mentioned or something that we haven't.
Well, I mean, come on. I cannot get the image of that man humping that building out of my mind. I mean, it has burned into me forever. but I did love the silver man. You know, we've all seen the Silver man that rides around New Orleans. We would walk to the French market from our BB every morning. It was a gorgeous walk.
And every morning he would see us, he would ride his little bicycle up, he would grab my hand and kiss my hand, I loved it. I'm just gonna say,
That was a good moment. Yeah. I would have to say that. the one that burns most in my memory, aside from the guy humping the window. I mean, that's, that's hands down number one. But I would say the bouncer chasing you down the street for taking pictures of the girls standing outside
oh,
Larry Flint's
yeah
Hustler
Club. I mean I'm not lie
the hustler guy, and you left me.
I left you high and dry. I wasn't going to jail in New Orleans, and I had to make sure that if you went to jail there was someone to bail you out. So that's why I took off.
That's what she always tells me. Somebody has to bail you out, so I have to get out of the way. So, you know, just in case, so our hotel was right across the street from Hustler. Right. the girls would come out in these little bitty in. Very tiny, sparkly, little bikinis and whatnot, and they would stand around on the sidewalk and, you know, yell out to people and whatnot.
we were across the street, so I raised my phone to take a picture, so I snapped a couple pictures in the bouncer, yelled at me. You can't take pictures of my girls. So I yelled back then they shouldn't be standing on the street. I'm taking pictures. Snap, snap, snap. Well, here he comes, starting to cross the street.
Girl, I'm telling you, my tail moved out of there so quick. I ran to the hotel lobby and there's Shannon standing at the door watching.
Yeah, that's how that went.
Well, I have to tell you guys that every trip we go on, Ann gets in some kind of little trouble or. Almost trouble. And so yeah, I have to be the one that doesn't get in trouble so that I can help her out. I mean, otherwise, if we both get in trouble, what are we gonna do? I mean, we have nobody else to rely on. I mean, our husbands would probably say hell leave them in jail.
Yeah, for sure they would. Both of them.
I mean, we would do the same. If was them.
This is true. This is true. Yeah. It goes both ways.
Yeah.
So, Ann, thank you so much for joining me tonight. We have to do this again soon, maybe with Kristen next time, and definitely during our upcoming
would be wonderful.
14 day cruise.
Yes, we definitely need to do, a live blog or something and show you guys the ship and where we're at, what we're doing, and yeah. Sounds awesome.
Exactly if we can get enough people to subscribe. Right now, we currently only have 12 subscribers, so everybody share with your friends. Let's get some people subscribing to our channel, and if we get enough before we sail on our cruise, then we'll come to you live from the ship on our cruise. It is a 14 day cruise. We. Are gonna be on Carnival Dream 📍 it's a Journeys cruise, which is different than your typical cruise. They have all different activities that you normally don't see on a regular cruise, so we would be able to bring y'all those activities live from the ship checking out the wonderful ports that we're gonna see.
We're gonna be hitting the Virgin Islands. San Juan maybe. I mean, with Hurricane Erin, who knows now if we're gonna see San Juan.
I'm a little worried about that. This will be the second time.
Exactly. We were supposed to see San Juan a couple of ago and the itinerary got changed at the last minute, so we were unable to go. And now this time, who knows, it might change again, but hopefully not.
don't say that.
I know right.
I really wanna see it.
📍 📍 So guys, if you would like us to go live, from the ship and show you what a 14 day journey cruise is all about and show you some of the beautiful ports that we're gonna be stopping in along the way, please help us get those subscriber numbers up. Let's throw a number out there, sissy.
We're at 12 right now. What number do we wanna be at to do a live for everybody?
Well, we need to be at, you know, 50 or more, I would imagine. Come on guys, just hit the subscribe button.
Exactly. So let's say 50 is our ultimate goal, but if we can get at least 25, if we can get up to 25. We'll do a live from the ship for y'all. So please, everybody, help us make that goal. To everyone listening, thanks for tuning in tonight. Please give us a thumbs up. Hit the subscribe button, it's free, and share this podcast with your friends. My goal is to help you make memories for life through travel. So leave a comment or a message. Tell us what your favorite New Orleans memory is, if you've been or share your own travel story, and I might read it on the show or even invite you on as a guest. Until next time, I'm Shannon, and this has been travel time, stories keep making memories for life. Bye everyone.
Bye.
