Several weeks ago, I visited New Orleans for the first time in my life. My first stop was the Jean Lafitte Visitor Center run by the National Park Service. A very knowledgeable ranger took 25 of us on a hike through the French Quarter, which then gave me enough courage to explore on my own. Terribly good fun.
The NPS has the only enclosed courtyard in New Orleans that is open to the public without buying anything!
The ranger led us through the streets of the French Quarter, and told us about the many buildings and history of the area. The thing that impressed me the most was when he told us how back in the day, Chuck Berry visited one of the blues clubs and was not allowed in because he was black. He sat across the street and every time someone opened the door, he got out his binoculars and peeked inside. Just the thought of not letting someone in because of their color was so outrageous to me.
From what I could see, the French Quarter was filled to the brim with psychics and Voodoo queens. This is a real shop that has voodoo items for sale. No I did not go in, but the ranger told me so!
An old mansion refurbished into a guest house. Too expensive for me. I stayed at the KOA campground and it was just perfect.
This black guy is actually painted silver and sat perfectly still like a statue. I thought it was some kind of modern art statue, so I got up close to take a picture. Just when I got close enough he moved and spooked me. I screamed and jumped back, which only made the silver man burst into loud belly laughs. I waited til he struck another pose, then took his picture.
There was a lot of live music all throughout the streets and open squares. This young lady was constantly being approached by young males, and even though the one song I heard was very good, she did more flirting than singing!
I was sitting at the fountain taking a break and talking to a lady smoking a cigarette. I looked up and saw these totally gnarly street guys, with beards, long hair, hairy legs and backpacks, dressed up in pink dresses. I later saw them parading through the street, looking ready to kill, with signs that said, homeless, hungry, give money. They were actually militantly aggressive, not mindless, cultish, flower-selling-love children. Scared me.
An afternoon break for New Orleans coffee and beignets, at the Café du Monde in the French Quarter. The café was so crowded, with lines all the way around the block. Maybe it was my sugar low, or maybe I needed my meds, or maybe it was the guys in the dresses, whatever, I did not wait in line, but just walked right in like I knew what I was doing, sat down at an empty table, and within 5 minutes was sipping delicious hot coffee laced with hot milk, and eating sugar coated beignets.
I just could not bring myself to eat an alligator on a stick or a crawdad, dipped in chili butter.
I saw this fellow sitting on a bench smoking a cigarette, and he had this cigar box uke sitting next to him. I've seen the guys play them at the Blue Grass gatherings so I knew it was legit. He saw me staring at it and asked me if I wanted to play it. I said no, then he said do you want me to play it and I said yes. With his cigarette in his mouth, he put his bottle of whiskey on the curb and started to play. I patiently listened then when he was done, I thanked him and tried to get away, but then he said, what no tip? I grudgingly reached in my purse and pulled out a dollar and gave it to him, and quickly walked away, fearing he would come after me for more.
The mighty Mississippi, a huge brown river that runs by the city.
One of the prettier buildings in the French Quarter. Love the color, the brick, the arched windows, the fire escapes that remind me of old movies, and the use of flowers throughout the city.
Everyone said you will see it all in the French Quarter. I did see a lot, not everything, but a lot. This lovely madam, came all dressed up with her pirate boyfriend.
At the end of the day, I came across a wedding parade, complete with police escort, a full band and everyone singing "She's a Lady" as the bride and groom led the party down the street. A perfect ending to a crazy day in New Orleans, or N'awlins as the locals call it. Good night!