Back to Fayetteville

 Before leaving New Orleans, we decided to experience a little of the city.  Since we were off of the ship by 9 am, we walked to the French Quarter and bought tickets for the Hop on Hop off city tour bus.  The city was overrun by Swiftys, creating long lines everywhere.  We hopped off the bus in the Garden District and enjoyed a quiet walk through the historic mansions.  Back in town, we walked through the French Quarter and Market before retrieving our car from the parkade and heading back to the Motel 6 we had stayed at before the cruise.  In the morning, it was back to the city for a visit to the WWII Museum for five hours.  We really enjoyed the museum and learned a lot.  We ate at a local hot chicken joint for an early dinner and hit the road, sleeping at a rest stop in northwest Louisiana.  The next day, we drove to Hot Springs, Arkansas and checked into a Baymont Hotel on a lake.  The National Park is downtown, and is composed of the old spas and hotels that accommodated the rich and famous in their day.  Dinner was at the old diner, McClard’s BBQ, Bill Clinton’s favorite.  On Wednesday, we drove the windy highway through the Ozark’s, back to Fayetteville.  On Thursday, we got to experience the Spero Clinic and watch as Marti went through some of her therapies.  The staff and patients were very friendly and we got to hear some more stories of amazing healing.  Lunch was at a delicious Khana dish at an Indian restaurant, and dinner at a popular taco bar, topped with frozen custard at Andy’s.  On Friday, we drove to Bentonville with Mike and Marti to check out Mars Mercantile and then a meal at Bentonville Brewery.