Day 3 Wedding Day (Carnival Triumph)!!!

We got ready pretty quickly Thursday morning seeing that we would need to be at the port at 10 am. We had booked the concierge level which included breakfast so Q, Marc and I headed up there after we got dressed. Nicki was doing the mother of the grooms make up so Marc took some food down to her while she was working.

Waiting for the über driver (our first time)!! Which by the way has been the best experience ever!!! 

Arriving at the port!! 

The groom arriving!! 

We called this "hurry up and wait"! lol

The process went a lot smoother then I was expecting considering none of us knew where to go or what to do!! lol 

Since most of us were not even going on the cruise we didn't even know what ship we were going to board!! lol 

The Carnival Triumph! 

Nicki and I had actually been on a cruise a few years ago so we knew what to expect once we got onboard and since they allowed us to tour the ship we took Marc and Q around so they could see it. Q kept saying she felt like she was being teased and that this just made her want to take a trip even more!

We "explored" until it came close to the time for the ceremony. At one point we were even able to grab a quick burrito at one of the food bars!

Getting their early really helped because it allowed us to see the ship before it became crowded with all of the passengers streaming in for their cruise. 

Day 2

We got up early Wednesday morning. Had a leisurely breakfast with our friends and then Marc and I went looking for clothes to wear to the wedding. Originally we were going to have a friend deliver the clothing I left behind to another family friend to bring who would be coming by plane the morning of the wedding. But after a bit of back and forth Marc and I decided to just purchase something else to wear. We had been under the impression it was an all white wedding (which made shopping challenging at best) but later found out there had been some miscommunication. 

We eventually found something to wear just before leaving for New Orleans that afternoon. 

We arrived late that evening and checked into the Marriott Downtown New Orleans Convention Center.

Nicki who had driven the last few hours of the trip was tired and went to her room for the rest of the night. Marc, Q and I decided to explore. Plus Marc was hungry since our last meal had been lunch around 2 o'clock and it was now 10 at night. 

We were directly across the street from River Walk Mall but it was to late to go in there. 

A lot of the restaurants near by were closed or looked like they were about to close.

The Casino was hopping though lol

Lots of hotels to choose from.

And we were pretty close to most of the sites!

We eventually made our way unto Canal Street and after some time we found an IHOP of all places!!

After we ate we made our way back to the hotel (explored a bit more), and then hit the sack so we would be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the wedding the next day! 

Bama/Nola/Atlanta day 1

I figured I had better start on this trip report before I forget the whole thing. We have been busy since coming back and I didn't have the energy before now to start posting.

Marc and Nicki picked the rental car up that morning and after Q got off work and after a bit of a late start we finally left for the long 12 hour ride to Alabama. 

It just happened to be free chick fil a day and Q had the bright idea that we should dress up for a free meal. Both of my girls started working at CF as teens and this was the first time ever that we had done this! 

I'm still surprised we got him to participate! 

It's been about five years since we were last in Alabama and although the trip was long we arrived in Bama about the time I originally estimated (minus the hour I forgot we lost when we enter the state)! The trip was pretty uneventful until half way through I realized I had left Marc and my outfits for the wedding! But more on that in day 2.

After 12 hours we were all pretty wiped out and though I was happy to see our extended family I was even happier to see my girlfriends guest room bed! lol 

She's at it again!

Last year my oldest daughter went on a whirlwind cross country road trip seeing the sites of the USA. This time she's been on the road just a bit closer to home!

First leg of her journey was my born state of PA (and birth city Philly).

Of course no trip to Philly would be complete without a philly steak and cheese!

Or, apparently a visit to the state penitentiary ( Eastern State Penitentiary to be exact)! I told her they can have that!

The also spent a day in Washington DC. Q wanted to go to the zoo and she got her wish ( she had way more pics from her zoo visit including some retires and monkeys). I decided to just snatch the cute pic of the panda! They can keep the gators and the monkeys!!  lol 

Of course you can't visit DC without visiting the pentagon (who knew that was even an option ??? I sure didn't ).

I threw in the photos of the real First Ladies!! lol

So where have you been so far this summer, or where are you off to?