Just got back from the latest - and I think one of the best - March Madness trips. This one was in New Orleans, and only the fourth time all five of us were together.

Andy and I got in very late Wednesday night, met up and Uber-ed to the AirBnB Mark arranged in mid-city. Things started a little rough as our Uber driver got pulled over on the highway. He wasn't driving recklessly at all, but they made him get out of the car, talked to him, then let him go. I asked, but he wouldn't say what was going on.

The place was very nice - a bedroom on the first floor (Ezra & Ben), a big open living room/kitchen on the second floor, and three bedrooms upstairs. It's a condo complex turned into (or built for) AirBnBs with a small pool area.

We were hungry and the only thing open this late was a Waffle House a mile away. Andy's a big fan and that's exactly the type of food I wanted, so we walked down Canal St. The restaurant was open, but for take-out only. (A drunk female customer made that clear to us by pointing out the stanchion). We waited and the small crowd wasn't the most reputable, but outside of a short conversation with the drunk woman, we avoided most interaction, got food, Uber-ed back, ate like Kings, and went to sleep.

Woke up early because we had a reservation to take a bayou kayaking trip and had to meet the shuttle at 9 am on Rampart. We took the streetcar down Canal, tried to find breakfast, but didn't have time. Our tour guide/driver was Smitty, a 27 year-old who knew everything about New Orleans and the area. There were about a dozen in our group and it was a great time. I spotted the first gator - first of about a dozen, along with many birds (limkins, owls and a bald eagle!). It was perfect weather and lasted about four hours!

I got ahead of the group on our way back and froze when I found myself sitting between gators on either bank. With nobody and no noise around it was terrifying! The big guy to my left waded into the water at one point which made my heart simultaneously stop AND beat out of my chest. I made very light paddles with the oar to slowly work my way past them without any splashing or jostling - just as Smitty instructed. I finally got safely beyond them and high-tailed it back towards our launch point.

We took the streetcar back up to our place, walked through a farmer's market, and over to Parkway Tavern & Bakery for po' boys. They were amazing and enormous. We hit a local grocery store and got back to the place just as Mark was arriving and in time to watch Michigan State lose to Kansas State in OT. The UConn/Arkansas game started 45 minutes later, but UConn was in control throughout, so we flipped to MSU/KSU and watched Marquis Nowell, at 5' 8", make some amazing plays. Ezra arrived for the end of MSU/KSU and UConn second half.

Ezra and Andy went out for more groceries after Florida Atlantic surpised Tennessee (and our bets) and Gonzaga beat UCLA. UCLA didn't score for 11 minutes, then fought back, but the 'Zags hit a three from the logo with 7 seconds left to win.

Ben got in late and hadn't seen any UConn, so I watched it again with him. :)

I surprised everyone with their own March Madness voodoo doll. Just pick a guy you bet against and poke him at just the right time: miss a free throw, turnover, miss a layup... I figured we could use all the help we could get!

Friday morning we exercised and ate in, then Uber-ed to the French Quarter, walked and walked and walked and ended at Mother's for lunch. Ez and Ben went back to the place while Andy scouted out Harrah's Casino, and Mark and I scouted Mannings to games later.

Back for short naps, showers, etc, then out to Manning's for games while Andy went to Harrah's for poker. SDSU shocked #1 Alabama and Miami upset #1 Houston while Creighton got past Princeton and Texas handled Xavier. Manning's was a pretty good spot - not very crowded, but not enough TV audio, and an I.Hate.Everything! guy. After that we went to Frenchman and listened to jazz at Bamboula's for a bit.

Saturday Mark and I grabbed "blue bikes (rentals)" and biked through City Park and had beignets at Cafe du Monde. The rest caught up with us, passed on the beignets, and we cycled down through the Bywater and Treme, then back up the bike path and back to Parkway for more po'boys.

We watched the games at the place. FAU beat Kansas St by 3 then UConnn blew out Gonzaga by 26! We went out to the Bayou Beer Garden to celebrate another trip to the Final Four!

Sunday was basketball day in the am. Andy went back to the French Quarter while Ben, Ezra, Mark and I slogged it out on a public court. Then we grabbed random food at Whole Foods and ate back at the place.

I went to the pool with Ben and Mark while Ezra watched SDSU beat Creighton by one. Then we Uber-ed to J&J's Sports Lounge, played pool and watched Miami knock off Texas. It was back to Frenchman Street and Adolfo's for a nice dinner. Food was amazing, but Mark was freaked out when a big roach dropped in his lap. A little more walking around before a taxi back to pack.

Mark, Andy, and I got up super early and headed to the airport. It was really amazing to have us all together in an amazing city in a year that UConn dominated their Sweet Sixteen AND Elite Eight games. I'm SO tempted to go to Houston for the Final Four...