New Orleans

Houmas Plantation

These pictures should be at the bottom as they are from day two of New Orleans

We left Monday morning, March 12th for Texas.  I convinced Mark to stop at New Orleans since it was not very far out of our way.  I had never been there and had hoped to experience the rhythm (couldn’t resist) of the city.  We found a Good Sam Campground 5 miles from the French Quarter. It was a little bit of a shock to go from waves to intense traffic noise but the price was right and it was close.  It did have a big security gate around it which helped us feel somewhat safe.  It was a long drive and we pulled in at around 8:00 p.m..  After a late supper, we hit the sack to get ready for our big day.

We didn’t plan any tours.  We just decided to meander and eat our way through the day which turned out to be a good choice.   The city bus picked us up across the street from the campsite and after a seemingly long, start and stop ride, we transferred to the canal street car.  We then walked to the French Quarter (Vieux Carre, old square).

The beignets and au lait at Café du Monde were amazing and lived up to their reputations. This business is a part of history as they have been serving beignets and coffee since 1862.  We enjoyed devouring these treats as we sat and watched the boats on the Mississippi River.  Learned that New Orleans is called the crescent city due to its position on the Mississippi River. We then were able to enjoy a street performance of some very muscular, acrobatic stunt men.  The final act featured the star performer jumping and flipping over many audience participants.  The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed strolling through the French Quarter, watching a movie on jazz funerals at the New Orleans Jazz Historical Park, listening to several street jazz peformers, shopping in the French Market, trying praline candy, eating Muffulettas from Central Grocers (very good but the olive spread was a little salty) and visiting the St. Louis Cathedral (beautiful).

We stopped at the Calbildo and spoke with a woman who answered some of our history questions.  We learned that the Creoles settled New Orleans.  Historians disagree if they were of pure Spanish, French descent or a mix with African and Indian Cultures.  At any rate, after the Louisiana Purchase, many Americans moved to NO but there was tension with the Creoles not wanting them there so the Americans built their homes in the garden district.   The Cajuns came from Canada and they were ousted by the British when they didn’t want to hail the King.  They settled in Maine and came down to Louisiana because of the French connection.  However, they seemed to settle more the outskirts of New Orleans.  Also, learned that the powers at be in DC didn’t think the Creoles were capable of self-governing.

Late afternoon, we walked down Royal street on the way to the St. Charles Streetcar.  We enjoyed stopping at several antique shops.  One in particular  had a beautiful piano, worth $225,000.  Janae and Stefan both played it, pretty cool, Billy Joel plays it when he visits the store. Stefan found a Roman coin from 300 B.C. and I enjoyed the antique chandelier store.  We enjoyed feeling the breeze as we rode the St. Charles street car to the end of the garden district.  Beautiful antebellum homes.  We took an ice tea break at a deli before riding back.  We stopped at the Audubon Park and enjoyed its beauty.  A good tubist was practicing under a big tree and we were serenaded by Bordogni.

We decided to see if we could get into

Preservation Hall for the evening concert and by accident ended up on Bourbon Street.  Oh my!  Kids look straight ahead.  Not a good experience at all.  Couldn’t believe that it was like this before dark.  At any rate, made it to Preservation Hall an hour before showtime and it was obvious that we wouldn’t get in so  headed for dinner. Ended our cuisine day with jambalaya, red beans and deep fried seafood.  Kids loved the jambalaya. I especially loved dining in the open air setting.  On the walk back to the streetcar, we were treated with an excellent, seasoned performance of some top jazz musicians of Stella by Starlight.  A nice treat after hearing some of the more raw, street performers today. 

Wednesday morning at we took a jaunt out to see the rebuilding process from Hurricane Katrina.  Lot’s of rebuilding.  Interesting new designs and colors.  Brad Pitt and Angelina have been behind this.  Still a lot of empty lots and homes needing repair.  Saw several groups helping clean up.  After all these  years, can’t believe what it would have looked like.  My one regret is I  wished we would have seen the Imax movie on the hurricane yesterday. It would  have had more of an impact on the kids.  Also stopped by a cemetary, very interesting to see the above ground burials and did a quick walk through of the Sculpture Garden near the Art Museum.

Stefan said, “The best thing about New Orleans is the food, jazz and shopping”.  I couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly.

On the way to Texas, we stopped at The Houmas House Plantation, once the largest sugarcane plantation in America and its