Hey everyone. Welcome to another travel diary post. I’ve missed it here. I’m glad I have a bit of time to reconnect with my blog and readers before I go back to study mode like Howl. Speaking of Howl, I need to re-watch Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) before summer ends. People be arguing which is the best age gap romance, and it’s this one. Howl’s number one. Howl reminds me of someone when he’s in a sulky mood lol. That opening line with he only eats the hearts of pretty girls (Howl’s reputation of being a player precedes him) always makes me laugh so hard. That line was so brutal. “Howl only does that to pretty girls.” I’m howling with laughter. No pun intended.
New Orleans is so haunting and pretty. I can’t wait to see her again. La Ursuline was where I originally booked (It’s the quiet part of The French Quarter so that my brother wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the crowd), but the concierge kindly let us switch to another sister location near the locked parking garage which is Lamothe House. It was a very pretty pink building. That was such a nice surprise. I loved it.
My favorite part of this hotel was the checkered floor in the foyer. I reserved two rooms but we only ended up using one so that my brother will be more comfortable and he can be near the pool. I loved the second room we didn’t end up using. It’s my brother’s birthday weekend, so he got to choose. The room reminded me of Dracula. Speaking of Dracula (1992), I need to rewatch it too.
“I have crossed oceans of time to find you” (Dracula, 1992).
This movie was made during my birth year. It was made for me. I love Mina.
I’m sort of pressed for time, and I just wanted to mark this summer memory, so I’m sorry if I don’t list out every place I went to. I’ll hopefully edit it during fall or winter break. This post is also a bit bare-bones when it comes to photos because (1) I value my family’s privacy - I’m okay with people poking fun at me online, but I don’t like it if my family is the subject of ridicule (2) The new app I’m using isn’t what I’m usually using so I couldn’t upload a bunch of photos in one go. My apologies.
My wish came true in New Orleans. I was hoping when I visited France two years ago (2023), I’d be able to walk in Paris with my mom, but my mom’s scared of flying so it never happened. But now in New Orleans, it feels like we’re together in Europe. And I took a photo of my mom walking near Jackson Square and it’s even better that it happened during the Fourth of July weekend because it gives it that charged Bioshock Infinite core moment.
My favorite part of this trip is Miko enjoying jazz near the Cathedral while we ate Cafe du Monde beignets. Everyone liked the iced cafe au lait I picked for the scorching summer day.
Another part of the pink hotel we stayed at, is the blooming tree near the patio across the green awning of our room. It smelled so nice. My mom’s the gardener of the family, so I need to ask her what kind of plant or seed we need to get so we can also have it in our own backyard. I think that tree was sacred. I felt so calm around it. Perfect for Saturnian cleansing.
My dad and I were laughing at my mom while we were looking for the Paul Morphy House (One of dad’s favorite chess players). Because she was so obsessed with the street called Frenchmen.
Mom: Oh my gosh, are we gonna meet any Frenchmen in here?
Dad: No, you’ll have to go to France. You weirdo.
Me: Yeah mom. We’re not here for Frenchmen. We’re here for beignets, crawfish, and gumbo!
Mini Creepy Episode: On our way back from Florida, we stopped by New Orleans. And some fucker tried to touch my dad’s elbow. And I take Destiny swap seriously. I sprayed my dad’s elbow with Noshinku Bergamot Hand Sanitizer. The Haitian Priestess at the Praline store seem to approved. I don’t care how stupid I look in public, I’m making sure my dad doesn’t get hurt. Also, I think the salty air from the sea should have lingered as another layer of protection. I shouldn’t have asked him to walk at night. He’s a Leo (Ruled by the Sun; and dad brushed off the whole thing by saying “Oh, I’m so handsome. Maybe that’s why they wanted to switch bodies with me so badly.”) Good thing I’m ruled by Saturn, and Saturn rules the shadows. So by extension, he’s protected by me. I used to think my thighs were my favorite part of my body. But now I think it’s my lucky left elbow. No one came for my elbow during this whole trip.
For my dad’s promotion I bought him his favorite chess set (carved from the Philippines) and a knife that has grandpa Ben’s name. But we did argue a little bit during the trip lol. How can we not lol?
Dad: You don’t have to look pretty.
Me: Okay, dad first of all: Dressing well is a form of good manners. Olivia Palermo says so. And my grandpa Atanacio loved to dress well and I’m the one who embodies him the most. (I don’t have my grandpa’s face because apparently I looked like Lola Perfecta - but personality wise, I’m my grandpa ) If I dress well it’s because if anyone tries to hurt Miko, my beauty should shield him. He’s with me. Actually if anyone tries anything, me and Vader will probably go to jail lol.
Dad: Fine.
Me: Don’t forget your chess Hawaiian shirt.
Hopefully, Venus can explain it better to my dad lol.
On the way home, I booked The French Inn, because I wanted another quiet place for my brother. There was another swimming pool and the courtyard looked so pretty with the Lion head for a fountain. It felt like we were inside a Ghibli film. My favorite photo of my parents was the one my dad took with his Rayban glasses inside the mirrored elevator.
I saw the French flag and it made me think of my stepfamily and my aunt and cousins I never got to meet and friends that I made there two years ago. I miss them. Oh, France. I don’t think I will ever see (you)her again.
Tojours su (“Always Known”) // Presque vu (“Almost Seen”)
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