The Home of History, Culture, and Food–Mobile, Alabama?!

Mobile, Alabama. Home of sweet tea, seafood, and Southern accents. But that describes at least half of the other southern cities in the United States. To me, Mobile is more than just a run-of-the-mill southern city which people insist on underrating! Mobile is my home, and I’m going to do it justice!

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Mobile is history. There is absolutely no way of visiting downtown without running into remnants of bygone days. Fort Conde, the U.S.S. Alabama, and the Saenger Theater are all examples of pure history just waiting to be appreciated. Fort Conde—at different times also called Fort Carlota (under Spanish rule) and Fort Charlotte (under British)—was a stronghold for many years, until it had gone through so much that it was turned into its own museum. The rich history of this fort is brought to life with rooms which show what the past was like. Whenever I visit, imagination takes hold of me, and I can clearly see myself in all the excitement of the past. Also, if you climb up onto the top of the battlements, you will be rewarded with 360Ëš view of the city of Mobile.

Mobile is culture. With history, culture is inevitable. However, the true beauty of Mobile is that hidden pockets of culture are crammed into the city, particularly in the downtown area. My favorite example of this is the Centre for the Living Arts, located on the right side of Cathedral Square. The intention of this avant-garde art museum is to expose the inhabitants of Mobile to modern art. The current exhibit is The Futures Project, and it displays work by artists like Candy Chang, Dawn Dedeaux, and Kenny Scharf. Their masterpieces can easily send you into deep reflection, as they often do with me. On another side of Cathedral Square sits the (ta-da!) Cathedral. Whether you are Catholic or not, the sheer beauty of its architecture and ornate interior is enough to make it a must-see. And if you come to Mobile, you cannot miss the Mobile Carnival Museum. Can you say mind-blowing? Mobile was the site of the first Mardi Gras parade in the States, and every year, massive (but strangely exhilarating!) chaos ensues during the Mardi Gras season. This museum presents the history of Mobile’s Mardi Gras, costumes, floats, etcetera. My favorite part is the collections of past Queens’ dresses. If you go, be sure to see them!

Mobile is food. I have never—in all of my extensive travels—found cuisine to rival that of Mobile’s. The Spot of Tea is probably the most celebrated bistro. My personal favorite dish is the Hawaiian Melt sandwich with a refreshing cup of Strawberry Iced Tea, but the rest of the menu is just as delicious! For a Sunday brunch, it’s the perfect locale! Some rather less well-known places would be the Jerusalem Café and the Bangkok Thai. HEAVENS. The Shawarmah Chicken sandwich from the Jerusalem Café is perfectly divine, as is their hummus, lentil soup, and tiramisu. The Bangkok Thai is definitely the loveliest restaurant in Mobile. From the outside, it looks like a typical Asian restaurant, but once you walk inside, the exquisite décor, such as bedazzled mirrors and intricate carvings, blows that assumption out of the water. The beautiful furnishings are only a precursor to the food, like perfect Pad Thai and Tom Ka soup!

Mobile is history, culture, and FOOD all in one, gorgeous city. It is in my heart and soul, and it will stay there for the rest of my life. I’m glad to have shared this essential part of myself with you.