January 6, 2012 - January 10, 2012 : Bama - v - LSU
Tanya was off on Friday and was able to pack the car and be ready to leave as soon as Tim was off work. He arrive home around 12 pm and we were on the road before 1 pm. A new Barnes record. :)
We picked up Ivan, Pattie, and Jonathan at his apartment. We packed the car to the brim. We stopped in Ellisville, MS for dinner at Hardees. We arrived in NOLA at 8:30. Nephie was a great driver. The hotel is a hit. The room is very spacious and meets our needs. As we checked in, Tanya taught the lady at the desk how and when to say ROLL TIDE!
We decided to walk to the Rusty Nail. As we were leaving to go walk, the Duncan's arrived. We helped them unpack and then we all walked to the Rusty Nail. The lady at the desk gave us directions but only succeed in confusing us. The IPhone helped us out. There is a learning curve with the directions and the map feature but it was very helpful.
It was Elvis night at the Rusty Nail. Lucky for us. We met someone from Wetumpka, AL and her dog. We walked back to the hotel to settle in for the night.
Auntie had a coughing fit and woke up everyone at 4 am. Saturday morning we all met for breakfast. Kathy was experiencing some stomach problems so Marc and James had gone to the drug store. A quick phone call and they got Auntie some NyQuil so room 203 could plan to get some sleep on Saturday night.
After breakfast our first tour of NOLA began. We went to the French Quarter, Jackson Square, etc . We had beignet's at Cafe Du Monde'. Again, we used the Iphone to direct us. While walking to Jackson Square, we saw Branna Burns! We took a long route but saw lots sights.
After coffee and beignets we went back to Jackson Square and met up with John Rink, our tour guide for the weekend.
Then it was to Coops for lunch. What a great place to eat. We visited Margaritaville and then the French Market. We found an elephant painting we loved. We got the artists name and maybe we can order it later.
We all went to the BCS experience. We walked around and toured the city. On Burbon Street we see Jim Dunaway, and Ryan Brown. Tim has his picture made with Jim.
We are walking to the BCS experience and guess who we driving on Decatur street? Anne P and Taylor. They are just arriving. We walked to a Vendor in front of the Casino and we purchase Bama Ticket Lanyards, and BCS programs. Tim ran into Donna Jacobs. We bought Little Auby a new sweater. Little Auby's sweater that said, I wish I was Big AL was destroyed. Therefore he needs new clothing for his BCS experience.
The rest of the Duncan's have arrived. We walk back to Jackson Square to meet them and say goodbye to John for the day. The Duncan's finally arrive and we all walk to the Marriott on Canal Street, the Team Hotel. We want to check out the Saban show. Some of the crew stays and some goes.
Pattie, Ivan, Tim and Tanya stay for the show. The rest of the crew went to a restaurant. The Saban show began at 7 so Ivan, Tim and Tanya go look for food. Pattie holds ours seats. Ivan decides on Arbys and Tanya and Tim search for Huck Finns. 
Tim and Tanya ran into Trisha and Jon. They too were going to the Saban Show. The Saban show was terrific. Tanya stood in line to get a football signed by Coach Saban for Scrub Tech's son. Coach Saban signed the football and Tanya got to shake his hand and say "thank you Coach"!
Back to the hotel to rest for the next day. We walked at least 15 miles on Saturday.
Sunday morning we met for breakfast and Tim walked on the treadmill. Then it was time for another tour of the city. 
We began the day at the Riverwalk. Tim and Tanya bought new shirts because NOLA is warm this week and we brought clothes for cooler weather. Tim has washed his shorts and Columbia shirts daily so he could have something comfortable to wear while touring NOLA. Lunch was at Dragos at the Hilton Hotel. Rink met us again and served as our tour guide. Lunch was excellent. We wanted to take the Riverwalk to the French Market and walk back to the French Quarter. We bought Pralines. YUM...... 
The pep rally is at 4. We went to the BCS experience for the pep rally. It was actually a dud. Little Auby went to the Pep Rally. He learned a lot about Bama and has become a Bama fan. Check out his sweater. We saw Nicolette. She is not staying for the game. Only here for the weekend. Tanya saw Angie Kelley. A teacher from White Plains Middle. She said Joe Dyar was in NOLA too. Pattie and Kathy skipped the pep rally and went Hard Rock . Tim and Jon joined them. We met up with
everyone in Hard Rock and who did we see there? Lauren Hulsey! Walking back to the hotel, we hear someone ask did we listen to Jox radio. We said yes, and it was Dr. Maureen Muecke who advertises on JOX and was proving her point that Bama fans listen to Jox.
Then it was back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. A quick stop at a local market for supplies. Tonight's dinner: Mulates. Great dinner! The atmosphere was terrific.
It was the place to be. When we sat down at our table, the band took a break and played songs from a CD. They played the Bama Fight song and cheers. Everyone sang along with Yea Alabama and the did the cheers. The RV game from Coleman also came to Mulate's to eat. We saw Ginger and Candy MaHaffey to name a couple. We saw Barbara Smith from AMSTI UA. The waiter had a tough time seperating the tickets. It took an hour for him to get them right and only after each person wrote what they ordered on post it notes, furnished by Auntie.
Back to the hotel. We sat outside in the courtyard for a while and watched the crowd. We met several pups staying at the hotel. The cutest was Beaker who was a Hurricane Katrina Survivor. She toured the city in a rolling ice chest. Too CUTE!
Little Auby got to make the trip to Mother's. GAME DAY! It's Monday and game day is finally here. We again met for breakfast. Some went for another walk and some hung out at the hotel. We met up for lunch at Mother's restaurant.
It was good and a neat experience.
Then back to the Riverwalk for one last beignet before going back to the hotel to get ready for THE GAME, THE REMATCH! On the way to the Riverwalk we saw Ken and Christie Renfroe. It's finally game time and we began our walk to the Superdome. We met in the hotel lobby at 4. The pre game begins at 7 but it is at least a 30 minute walk to the Superdome.
The LSU fans are out in the streets. Lining the all the streets to the Superdome. They are loud and confident and cocky. It is almost 5 by the time we get to the Superdome and we get in line to go in. The doors didn't open until 5:30 but it was a good thing we are in line early. Everyone was frisked before entering so the getting in too a while. The place is massive.
Little Auby missed curfew on Sunday night and therefore didn't get to go to the game. Besides that, he couldn't afford a ticket.
We found the ramp to our level and we all part ways to to to our own sections. All of us are in different sections. The steps are massive. They are taller than normal steps and the steepness is incredible. Five LSU fans are to Tanya's right. LSU fans in front and in back of us AND we are in the BAMA section. There were Bama shakers on every seat. The LSU fans threw them off the seats like they would get a disease if they touched an Alabama Shaker. 
Finally it is game time! During half time, we saw Eddy Kimbrough and Dr. Jeff Collins.
Bama dominated the game. Bama won 21-0. The Celebration was GREAT! We met up with the crew at Gate C. Tim saw Breeze and Tray. The walk back to the hotel was fabulous. People at home were texting all of us. It was a great experience. By now it is midnight and we are starving. WE attempt to order a pizza and find out 45 minutes later that Dominos will not deliver there. Tim, the thinking one in the group goes to the hotel desk and gets a menu from a pizza place two blocks away. Magainze pizza. We called and it would be 1 1/2 hours to deliver but you can pick up in 20 minutes. We chose to pick up. Tanya, Jonathan and Ivan walked to Magazine Pizza. I'm sure we were hungry, but that was the best pizza I have ever had.
Back at the hotel, we watched the game on ESPN. It was great to watch the game and not be nervous. By this time it is 2:30 AM. We are so excited that we can't sleep.
Tuesday morning we pack up and head back to Alabama and Georgia. We were going to attempt to have breakfast at a cafe close to the hotel but gave up when we couldn't find a place to park. So we continued our journey home. We stopped for breakfast at Waffle House in Slidell, LA. Again, we were starving. Winning championships makes you hungry!
No problems on the trip to Tuscaloosa to drop off Jonathan, Ivan and Pattie and no trouble returning to Anniston.
What a great time with great friends and family.
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