Oh, what a weekend!!! The Ravens won the Super Bowl. My husband, my family and all of Baltimore are over the moon! Here I am holding the Vince Lombardi trophy, for real! If you had said that THIS is how my whole Baltimore adventure would get kicked off, I never would have believed you. Just to update you late-comers, my husband is the Director of Football Analytics for the Ravens, think "moneyball" for football.
I adored the Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans for so many reasons. Not all of you are football fans, I know, but bear with me. It has all been quite special. First and foremost, my husband, who has been working 80+hour weeks since we arrived in Baltimore in July/Aug, finally got some quality, vacation time with the kids and with me. The trip would have been worth it for that alone. What a joy to hear their laughter and see their smiling faces as we explored the city–WWII museum, the Garden District, the French Quarter, beignets at Cafe Du Monde, trolley trips, and more.
Second of all, I got to spend time in one of my favorite cities in the whole world. I've now been to New Orleans three times, all post-Katrina, and I love it. I don't think I've been to a city in the U.S. with more character than New Orleans. The people couldn't be lovelier–welcoming, friendly, and so happy to have you visiting. I like to get up really early and go on a little photo walkabouts when I'm there. You can see my photo-essay from last year when we went for the BCS Championship
right here. What a feast for the eyes–the music, the iron work, the old cable cars, the brick-paved walkways, the cobblestone streets. I feel like I could walk through that town forever.
Green growth pops out of the urban decay. Detail presents itself in the least expected of places. Decorations, celebration and music abound everywhere you look. What better locale for a championship football game and celebration?
Though Sandy and I stayed at the team hotel, the kids shacked up with their Pappy in a gorgeous flat in the Garden District right across from the Lexington Cemetery. It was a short and fun trolley away from downtown where we were. Many thanks to Sandy's dad and girlfriend who gave Sandy and I some fun nights and some lazy mornings!
As if just the weekend weren't enough, then comes the game itself, which was a heart-attack-inducing, nail-biter of a game. But, the Ravens and Flacco got the job done. I must say, I never would have thought that football could become so important to me, but it has. I had no idea about the level of hard work and dedication that goes into an NFL football team. The amount of time and effort the Ravens organization puts in to everything it does astounds me. I burst with pride counting my husband amongst them.
I wanted to share some of the photos I took on the parade day once we got back to New Orleans. I was so impressed by the excitement of the team, the players and the town. The stadium held 100,000 people, and 200,000 more came to march in the parade.
John Harbaugh is a magnificent, team-oriented coach who has years of success in front of him. Charming and kind, smart and passionate, he will be the backbone of this team going forward.
I loved catching these players happy faces! This is Ed Reed and his son on your left and Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin on your right. All three such talented, amazing, dedicated players.
Here is Ray Lewis saying goodbye.
I got a couple behind the scenes photos too, which I will treasure.
Could Joe Flacco and his little baby boy be cuter with the Vince Lombardi trophy?
I wasn't sure how this whole Baltimore adventure would go, but I'm certainly thrilled with the way it has started :)
'Till next season!
