On our way back!

     We are in Lake Charles now, and that means that we aren't too far from the Texas border. The Princess Bride is on in the bus, and the children are back on their phones for the first time since Monday. 

       In Houston, we will pick up a kosher lunch and continue in our way. If there aren't any traffic problems, we hope to be in just before the 5:00 hour. But we'll keep you updated. 

That History

            We had another efficient morning started with a hearty breakfast.  We headed directly for the National WWII Museum in Downtown New Orleans.  The docents cheerfully greeted us and were happy to see so many young people visiting their museum.  The first part of the vast museum was a train car in which each student sat and received a plastic dog tag of a real soldier whose story each student will follow through the exhibits.

            The first exhibit was “Fighting for the Right to Fight,” which explored the experiences of African American soldiers who risked their lives all over the globe from the US only to be greeted by segregation and other forms of institutionalized racism.  Treated as heroes and liberators abroad, they continued their fight for civil rights here.   We had the privilege of beginning our tour alongside a group of servicemen who would keep pace with us throughout our time in the museum.

           Next, we continued through to the permanent exhibit detailing the war as it unfolded in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific.  The museum space was made, floor to ceiling, to make us feel as though we were wandering through the mountains of Italy, the trenches of Normandy, and the islands of the Pacific lands.  We encountered palm trees, bamboo structures, and snowy hills as we read about the war and took in all the artifacts on display.

            The theater at the end was more like a planetarium to WWII history.  The story came off the screen in so many ways.  The nose of fighter jet descended from the ceiling and connected to the plane onscreen, making us feel as though we were peering into the jet.  Our comfy leather seats vibrated immensely to simulate flying in these early and tiny planes.  This was no doubt a full body experience.  Seriously, think planetarium. 

            After an intense morning, we were ready for lunch.  At the recommendation of Ms. Kantrowitz’s friend, we tried Waffles on Maple, a cute and kosher waffle house with SO much more in the Garden District.  The staff was super friendly and helpful.  We ate at tables on the sidewalk and enjoyed the relaxed feel of campus life.

            We were stuffed from so much goodness, so it made sense that we would relax in the bus as we crossed town for a tour through the Lower Ninth Ward.  From the bus, the three teachers co-taught the contemporary history of this part the city after Hurricane Katrina.  Our conversation touched on everything from social and racial (in)justice to engineering and architectural innovations to the high use of solar energy in the rebuilt homes of Lower Ninth Ward.  Our driver Anthony maneuvered these small streets with dexterity, allowing us to see the extent of the damage that still plagues the city some eleven years after the storm.

            Our final leg of the trip led us back to the heart of the city for walking and souvenir shopping in and around the French Quarter.  We explored shops and old buildings.  There was SO much to see, and we had the time to soak much more of it in.  

            Finally, we made our way back to our neighborhood where we enjoyed a tasty dinner at a kosher Moroccan restaurant.  It was much nicer than the places we had been eating.  Everyone left satisfied!  Our waitress was efficient and gracious all while waiting on other tables.  

            As soon as we returned to the hotel, the children packed their bags in anticipation of Thursday’s great (and early morning) schlep back to Austin.  They even had time to play a little soccer in the field before the sun went down.  Everyone is not safe and sound (and packed) in their rooms.  We will update from the bus, so check back here tomorrow.  Thanks for following our blog!

  

            

That Garden District

     After an amazing lunch at the Tulane Hillel (where a former USYer from Ms. Kantrowitz's youth advisor days coincidentally met us after her class right after our lunch), we made our way over to the historic Touro Synagogue. What a small Jewish world it is!  

     The ride on the bus was even more amazing today as the students were amazed at the elegant homes in the Garden District. There was a really awesome sukkah in the shul's courtyard, and the kids made their teachers proud proud when they could discuss how the sukkah might or might be kosher. 

      

     We went back toward the Tulane and Loyola campuses for some fun and sightseeing on their gorgeous grounds. We were also able to play old school style in the park adjacent to the impressive Audubon Zoo. Ms. Kantrowitz gave a lesson on the history of Tulane, and then the students played tag in the grass. 

      The children have been begging to spend a little bit more time at the hotel, which was not in the itinerary, so we decided to turn that into a pool party at the hotel followed by pizza dinner. We had spent so much time outside today that I think the sun finally wore them out. It was not hard to get them into the rooms are moving toward lights out. 

That Animal Life

      After a quiet night of sound sleeping, everyone made it up and to breakfast on time. Our bus driver got us through the NOLA traffic and to the aquarium on time. We were a little ahead of schedule, so we looked on at a ship sailing down the mighty Mississippi. 

      We watched an IMAX of life at the bottom of the ocean. When it's in 3-D, it's hard not to feel that we as the audience aren't imaging the space that belongs to the colorful marine life. 

        From the aquarium theater, we made our way through multiple exhibits from life in the Mississippi River to life in the tropical rainforests. We are say otters and penguins. There was even an exhibit dedicated entirely to jellyfish.

        It's much warmer today than it was when we arrived yesterday. SO ... we stopped for some chilly Pinkberry on the way back to meet Anthony. He brought us to HK NOLA, which is a kosher deli inside the Tulane University Hillel. The chicken tenders were BY FAR the most requested dish. Four of us ordered falafel, and in came with so many veggies. We are one happy bunch ready for an afternoon of more exploring.