The Wandering Disciple

An Atlantic Sea Nettle swims through a reef tank at the Aquarium of the Americas.  The Atlantic Sea Nettle is a jellyfish found along the Atlantic coast of the United States.  It is a protected by tentacles containing thousands of cnidocytes that deliver a toxic venom to its prey.  The Atlantic Sea Nettle defense mechanism limits its predators to mainly sea turtles and other jellyfish.  The jellyfish is one of the 500 plus species on display at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas located along the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans.  (Photo: November 20. 2017)

New Orleans, Louisiana: Along the banks of the Mississippi River sits one of the newest additions to the New Orleans riverfront, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Under the watchful care of the Audubon Nature Institute, the aquarium is home to over 10,000 marine animals spanning over 500 species. Your journey through the two story aquarium begins with an underwater journey to a sunken Mayan city. A walk through the tunnel surrounded by colorful fish leads you to a world filled with lion fish, eels, spiny lobsters and more sea creatures that live around the submerged city. The trip though the Great Mayan Reef and the sunken city leads you upstairs and transplants you right into the middle of the Amazon Rainforest. This humid oasis is home to many jungle critters transported right from the rainforest into southeast Louisiana. In the canopy of the rainforest trees you get to listen to the sound of the macaws while walking through exhibits filled with piranhas, pacu fish an...

An African Penguin takes a swim at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.  The African Penguin is the only species of penguins that can live in warm weather.  They are primarily found in Southern Africa.  The African Penguin exhibit is one of the many marine life exhibits found at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas located along the Mississippi River waterfront in downtown New Orleans.  (Photo: November 20, 2017)

New Orleans, Louisiana:  Last year when we were planning our summer road trip, we had anticipated going to New Orleans.  I did all the planning but when it came down to it, I made a last minute change to go back to the mountains and we went to Asheville instead.  But the New Orleans trip was only delayed until Thanksgiving break. As with all of our trips, I had planned on doing a road trip.  We would have crossed a few new states off the list and made some stops along the way.  But the more and more I looked into driving, the more hesitant I was with the cost of parking at the hotel, the limited parking in the city, the length of the drive.  A few weeks ago, I happened to check airfare and found rates low enough on Southwest, it was cheaper to fly than drive.  So I booked us a flight and away we went. It has been a long time since I have flown, 2009 to be exact.  Being an airplane nerd, I was really happy to be flying.  Our flight to...