The vacation policy for Autodesk employees in the United States is 2 weeks per year. Unlike other American companies, employees don't earn additional vacation as they work more years with the company. What we get instead is a 6-week sabbatical every 4 years. I am enjoying mine starting right now. My wife and I have rented an apartment on Bourbon Street in New Orleans for the month of April. Here are some of the things we've done.
- Had drinks and listened to music on Bourbon Street
- Ate beignets (donuts covered in powdered sugar) at Cafe du Monde
- Rode a street car
- Viewed pictures and statues at the New Orleans Museum of Art
- Saw Confederate and United States coins and machinery at The Old Mint
- Strolled through Louis Armstrong Park
- Hung out in Jackson Square
- Sampled fine foods via a TasteBuds walking food tour
- Drank a Pimms Cup at the Napoleon House
- Pretended to be hipsters and got drinks on Frenchmen Street in the up-and-coming Marigny District
- Visited The Cabildo where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803
- Experienced lows and highs at the Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras exhibits at The Presbytere Museum
- Attended a 30th birthday party for my nephew (my sister's son)
- Took a garden tour (blog article)
- Paid our respects at the World War II Museum
- Accidentally got lagniappe ("extra") appetizers at Chef Paul Prudhomme's K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
- Had a drink at the carousel bar at The Montleone Hotel
- Viewed graves from the 1800's at St. Louis Cemetery in the Treme District
- Window-shopped along Magazine Street
- Bought original artwork on Royal Street and had it shipped home
- Grilled my own boudin bought from Rouse's Grocery
- Enjoyed the Preservation Hall Brass Band and Irma Thomas at the French Quarter Festival
- Had a drink at Lafitte's, established in 1772, the oldest bar still operating in the United States
- Drank multiple Hurricanes at the piano bar at Pat O'Brien's
- Ate a muffuletta sandwich at Mesparo's in the Old Slave Exchange building
- Ate boiled crawfish at the French Quarter Festival
- Saw how the Mardi Gras parade floats are designed and created
And April is only half-over.
Partying is alive in the lab.