QPOC Travelers Take NoLa

In partnership with Delta Airlines.

This year has truly been an adventure. Being able explore the world and discover new places with my partner, what more could I ask for. But, every now and then, my partner has to back out of a trip to continue to save the world or, at least that’s how I like to put it. My fiancé is an attorney with a large case load and pending trials is something that comes with the territory.

For our third Delta trip, we planned to visit New Orleans to indulge in some of the South’s best creole restaurants as well as to explore the birthplace of black dandyism. Unfortunately, my partner had to back out of the trip due to her heavy caseload, but it all worked out because I ended up being able to go on this trip with one of my closest queer friends and fellow blogger Freddy Rodriquez.

QPOC Travel Buddies

Not traveling with my partner was a little weird at first, but I couldn’t have asked for a better travel buddy than Freddy. I mean, this wasn’t our first trip together. Last summer, Freddy met us in Italy for a 7-day excursion through Amalfi Coast so, we knew that if we could survive 7 days together, we could survive a weekend haha.

Freddy was super proactive and helpful in preparing for our trip. He arranged a stay for us at the Catahoula Hotel – a chic boutique hotel in downtown NoLa, just 5 minutes from the French Quarters. From there, we were off!

Neither Freddy nor I knew what to expect when it came to the NoLa’s French Quarters and more specifically, Bourbon Street. You can get a glimpse of what I mean in my latest IG highlight. After we made it through the madness, we were quite surprised to learn that NoLa is LGBTQ+ friendly. There were endless rainbow flags and gay bars all throughout the French Quarters, making us feel right at home.

Outside of queer life on Bourbon Street, we were most impressed by the intriguing architecture throughout the city. Being that certain aspect of the city, such as plantation homes, are associated with slavery, I struggled with the historic symbolism, but I could still see the beauty in the craftsmanship. We spent half of our time walking around the French Quarters, stopping every few homes to take a picture or admire the colors and structure of each home.

Where To…

Lucky for us, one of my college friends lives in NoLa so she sent over a page long lists of must sees and eats. Let’s be real, there’s far more to NoLa than the tourist attraction like French Quarters and Bourbon Street. For example: Willie Mae’s Scotch House, located in historic Theme neighborhood, is a must experience. Willie Mae’s is known for her infamous fried chicken, but it’s also an overall wonderful black owned family establishment that’s been around for over half a century. I suggest arriving before peak hours to avoid waiting in the line, which tends to wrap around the block. From there, head to the original Café du Monde coffee stand for the city’s staple, beignets.

Overall, it was a great long weekend away. The people were hospitable, welcoming, and fun. I can’t wait to return with my fiancé. With that said, thank you to my Delta family for reuniting me and my travel buddy Freddy and helping to sustain our connecting to each other, our community, and exploring the world together. Cheers to many more adventures.

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