Up at 5 and left Stoneybrook at 5:36 in a light rain. As we approached Tampa the rain got heavier and so did the traffic. Our only problem area was the exit ramp off 275 to the airport. It was stop and go in harder rain. Because it was raining so hard Libbie suggested that instead of the economy garage we should park at the terminal in the long term garage. We did but ended up parking outside on the top deck. We had the worst breakfast ever at Quiznos in the Southwest gate area. Awful soggy flat bread with tasteless egg and bacon and instant coffee. it was horrible. We had an on time takeoff in a full plane. The ride was very bumpy on the climb in the pouring rain. The approach had some bumpy moments as well. Our seatmate was a charming woman from the Meadows in Sarasota who was a cajun dancer. She was going to Lafayette for a week to dance. Pretty cool.
We took an Uber ride in a Black Civi that looked pretty new driven by a young black girl named Jimmice. It was a great experience. Ride was $33 plus a $7 cash tip. Once we checked in, which was great because it was 10 AM and well before check in time, we took a walk into the French Quarter and had Beignets and Coffee at Cafe Beignet. We had a street musician just outside our table, We were in the patio which was great. After breakfast we walked Bourbon a while and ran into a second line with a group carrying umbrellas and waving handkerchiefs. We then went back to the hotel and rested before getting dressed up to go out to dinner. We walked the 7 blocks to Brennans and had the meal of a lifetime for $210. The wine list is a phone book, we had several servers waiting our table. i ordered the Poisson Bolange which was a Pompano in a white sauce over a bed of lobster, clam and shrimp. Wow, was this good. We started our meal with a Rock Shrimp Remoulade and finished with Bananas Foster. The experience was so worth it. The couple at the next table was celebrating an anniversary. They were from the DC area and were quite friendly. They got engaged here 3 years ago and have been returning for their anniversary every year.