After some sandy beach view Lauren expressed her desire to play at one of the local casinos. It began a discussion about gambling, Native Americans, and Casinos. But I also agreed to play, but decided I wasn't going to spend more than $10 dollars.
I tell you, the way they pull you in is amazing. We spent an hour in the place. Lauren spent $20 bucks or so. We played the slots; I only used 6 bucks to play the slots, with $3.50 spent on a bottle of water. I know. The Casino gave me $15 of "free play" which essentially means that if you play the slots and you lose, you get that play reimbursed. So I played using my free play, stopping exactly when the free play was over and tallied my wins, which amounted to... $4. And thus, I left the Casino 50 cents richer. I have never been one to gamble, but I certainly wasn't persuaded to try it again. I did glance at someone's slot machine on the way out, and they had $100 bucks going - I don't know if that was money he had won or that he put in, but the amount just made me sad.
After the Casino in Biloxi we tried to eat at a place that the bartender recommended, but the place was closed, thankfully. We searched for a new place, but coming off of the Casino I gave Lauren the wrong direction to drive to, and when we were rounding on the block in order to try to get back in the right direction we drove by the Schooner Seafood Restaurant, which happened to be one that Lauren remembered from her childhood. We found a parking place nearby and got ourselves settled.
We started with some sweet tea
I chose the fish Po'Boy dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayo, and a side of fries (without gravy)
Ate every bit of it, it was delicious. I mean the fries were hella salty, but that did not deter me from eating every bit of food in front of me. After we had rested enough to actually move, we got back to the car and off to Mobile.
We stayed in downtown Mobile, and there isn't really much going around here, except for some museums that were within walking distance. Since it was already 4pm by the time that I was settled in my room, I ran out in an effort to find them still open. On my way I saw the Fort Conde. (it's way smaller than it looks. And not nearly enough near water to be effective, so I don't know if it's a replica of something.
some funky downtown buildings
The Condé Charlotte House Museum, which was the first Jail in Mobile, AL before it was converted into a House.
And the Museum of Mobile, which I was very disappointed by, because I got there at exactly 4:40, but was not allowed to stay in for more than 5 minutes because they closed at 5. The gift shop closed at 4:30pm! Ridiculous. But I guess they take their closing time and their Sundays very seriously in Mobile. In the 5 minutes I was inside I glimpsed at a 9/11 exhibition - apparently, the museum opened days after the attacks and so it was trying to (somberly) celebrate its 10 year anniversary.
After MoM, I tried to dash it to the Carnival Museum. On my way I passed by this, which was hella cool. Although no one was occupying the Government Plaza where it was written, I appreciate that the movement is reaching everywhere.
The Carnival Museum was also closed, but there were bits and pieces you could read outside of it. They take their Sundays seriously, y'all! However, I learned that "Mardi Gras" actually happened in Mobile, AL first, and that it's supposed to be a very big deal here as well - just that it's a lot more family friendly than the New Orleans version. Which reminds me, on my way to MoM I saw me a tree that still had some beads in it.
The Carnival Museum looks like fun, though.
On the way back I stopped by the Spanish Plaza, which celebrates Mobile's Spanish Heritage. It was okay.
Not a bad way to start the "tour of the South."
