I have just returned from my “hometown” New Orleans: the hottest, smelliest, most beautiful city on earth. The 2007 Jazz and Heritage Festival (check out the link for the line-up, second weekend) motivated my third annual spring pilgrimage to "NOLA". The last two years I have grabbed a few friends, a vehicle of some sort and virtually no money whatsoever, to embark on a midterm stress induced, time-constrained road trip (the hallmark of the college experience).

However this year was different because I traveled solo in order to spend some quality time with my Dad. As I sat alone on the plane Friday evening, realizing that I was traveling 20x the speed of my usual worn down vehicle, I came to the conclusion that I might have to reevaluate my mode of transportation next year.

We focused this trip around bike rides, restaurant visits and lost of festival-ing. It’s tiring really, all that lying around in the sun. I stayed in New Orleans for 4 days, only missing 2 classes (what an accomplishment!) and I was able to see some pretty big acts: Galactic, Taj Mahal, John Mayer, and Joss Stone, among others.

This trip was far less eventful than my 2007 Mardi Gras experience, where I dressed as the yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz, in order to compliment my companion dressed as Dorothy (see below picture). Although with increased activity usually follows increased stress, so I was thankful that Jazz Fest was a little more laid back.



In conclusion: whether driving or flying, with travel-mates or solo, I am most certainly an advocate of mid-quarter breaks.