New Orleans at Last

I think every person I know had already been to New Orleans at least once. But I hadn't, even though it had been on my To Go list for decades. Early in the summer, I finally had my chance.

On June 9, we boarded a Southwest flight in St. Louis with Mary and Jaynelle and flew to New Orleans. We would be joined there by Craig's brother Carl, who, for some reason forgotten even by Carl, had opted to drive instead. We rented a marvelous restored old house on Esplanade near the French Quarter big enough for all of us, with a walled-in back patio where we had our coffee and tea in the mornings, a front porch where we sat and surveyed the passersby, and a long narrow terrace on the second floor which overlooked the boulevard and was our chosen hangout in the evenings and well into the Louisiana nights.

We took a stroll down crazy Bourbon Street one night. The street is pure madness and is the essence of the French Quarter for revelers. I imagine you can get anything you want on that famous avenue, and I mean anything. I liked this shop: after all, who doesn't need a giant tiara?

But there were other parts of New Orleans I liked ever so much more.

Music is everywhere. At the French Market, along Decatur Street, in Marigny. In restaurants and bars and on sidewalks...rain or shine.

Afternoon rainstorms surprised us a couple of times, once just as we'd finished exploring the exquisite Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 on Washington Avenue where I took many of the photos I treasure most from the trip to New Orleans.

One rainy afternoon, we took a little ferry across the Mississippi to historic Algiers.

But mostly and happily, we wandered, we marveled, we watched and listened and goofed around and ate.

I've put New Orleans on my Favorite Places list and will return one day. We were able to check a few more places off that list over the summer. Hope you'll join me as we continue exploring some of the attractions, large and small, of our varied and sprawling USA.

Comments

[Dee]

Nice post! Good to hear about your travels. I loved the pic of the MacGregor mausoleum with the ferns growing out every which crevice.

[Carol 2]

Wasn't that a fun time. Thanks for taking us all along. More Please ....

[Sheri]

That looks wonderful! I have never gone there but I think I would love it. I'll have the SFD platter! It's amazing how easy that is to read.
Love you!!!
s

[Jeanie from the Owl House]

I have enjoyed your FB posts, but they do not compare to your Blog! Still enjoy it best!