2008 U.S. Tour

April 2008: New Orleans

I was back in the Big Easy after too many years of being away. All that I remember from my last visit was the Doubloons.

The fabulous French Quarter was actually built during the Spanish period, it reminded me of old Mexican architecture. The tropical climate and ecology also helped give a similar feel.

Jackson Square.

The Ursuline convent, the oldest building in New Orleans, construction started in 1745.

Bourbon St. is where most of the restaurants, bars, and shops are concentrated. At night, the street is closed to traffic and becomes a pedestrian area.

There are quite a few virbantly painted houses.

Others have a more rustic feel.

Lots of wrought iron porches above street level.

Attention to detail.

Canal Street, which served as a buffer zone between the French speakers and English speakers after New Orleans came under the control of the United States.

Congo Square is in the Treme, the historic neighborhood of free people of color. This is where African drummers and dancers would congregate on Sundays during French rule. The more uptight Americans quashed these practices, although later the area was home to concerts by Creole of Color brass and symphonic bands that provided the foundation for Jazz. It is now part of Louis Armstrong Park.

Liberty St. is also in Treme, which seems appropriate because many people bought themselves out of slavery around here.

I tell people that I am 99% vegetarian, this is the other one percent. I wanted to experience Creole and Cajun cuisine, although I did not want to have just red beans and rice for a whole week. With more meat than I eat during the rest of the year, the leftovers were my breakfast for the rest of the week.

One of the Mississippi paddle boats still in operation.

On the Katrina Trail

Photo Index