New Orleans is one of the richest cultural hotspots of America; famous for its cuisine, music, and annual festivals such as the Mardi Gras.
Day 1
We left Atlanta and arrived late afternoon, excited for our adventure of the infamous New Orleans and all the great music and cuisine. We found a cute carriage house in a quiet neighborhood not too far from all the excitement of the Quarter. It was perfect for our stay. Exhausted from our travels we spent the day exploring the local shops and neighborhoods.
Day 2
French Quarter
Anxious to see everything we could in our visit we started early. We had a quick breakfast of a cocktail and Beignet at Cafe Beignet. So, then we headed off to explore the French Quarter. Wow were we surprised, the entire place was empty and smelled really bad. I have never seen anything like this. All of the businesses wash down the inside of their establishments with a garden hose right into the streets. I guess day time is not the right time to visit the Quarter.
Because the French Quarter was a ghost town we decided to explore the rest of New Orleans on the Hop On Hop Off city sightseeing tour. This is a great way to get an overview of the entire city. One of the great things is you have a guide on the bus who tells you the history of the many famous streets and area attractions.
Lafayette Cemetery
As we were leaving the station our guide pointed out the pyramid-shaped tome which is Nicholas Cage’s final resting spot. (see it in the last picture) We drove down canal street, Magazine Street, and Jackson Avenue to name a few. Our first stop was the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 it is a historic cemetery in the Garden District neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana founded in 1833 and still in use today. The cemetery takes its name from its location in what was once the City of Lafayette.
There are a lot of cemeteries in New Orleans and they are all above ground. This makes them a huge tourist attraction. Because New Orleans was built on a swamp, the above-ground tombs make a lot more sense!
Garden District
While we in the Garden district I took a walking tour of the beautiful homes. Known for the variety of historic homes, from colorful row houses to Classic Revival mansions and charming cottages shadowed by giant oak trees. These beautiful homes and gardens line many blocks of this neighborhood. Making it most famous for its stunning architecture and famous owners. The second picture is Sandra Bullock’s home.
Back on the Bus
As we continue on the bus we visit St Charles Street. This street stretches more than five miles through a grand residential neighborhood. With 19th and 20th century mansions lined with grand oak trees. If you look up you can see shimmering Mardi Gras Beads that mark the Carnival Route. This is also where you can ride the green streetcar the oldest running transit and Historic Landmark.
We hopped off at the French Quarter for a quick lunch at Felix’s Sea Food. We ordered an authentic Oyster PO BOY and Gumbo!! What a treat and very filling.
Day 3: Touring the City
This morning we grabbed breakfast at a little street diner down from our cottage. Yogurt homemade granola berries and bananas. It was delicious.
Then we hopped back on the bus to continue our tour of New Orleans. Here are some of the sights we saw along the way to our destination of Mardi Gras World.
• The National WWII Museum. Mercedes Benz Super dome. Statue of the Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville Founder of New Orleans in 1718. And the carriage ride near the French Market.
Mardi Gras World/ Kern Studios
What an interesting tour of the Kern Studios. Roy Kern, a local artist-turned-sign-painter who worked his way through the Depression by painting names and signs on the bows of freighters and barges started the studio.
Roy and his son Blaine built their first Mardi Gras float together on the back on a mule-drawn wagon in 1932. Unable to pay his mother’s medical bills, Blaine offered to paint a mural in the hospital, which caught the eye of a surgeon who was also the captain of a Mardi Gras Krewe. This captain invited Blaine to design and build floats for his Krewe, and Kern Studios was officially founded in its current form in 1947. One float led to another, and before long Blaine became the city’s leading parade designer and builder, working with Rex, Zulu, and other legendary krewes. What a truly interesting experience. I suggest everyone attend this tour and explore the making of the floats.
An evening of Ghost Hunting in America’s most haunted city!
We set out just before dark on our tour of the most haunted cemeteries in NO. Our guide related historical stories of French Quarter murder and mayhem. We visited haunted courtyards and cemeteries on our way to the Charity Hospital Cemetery the most haunted cemetery. Here we were given ghost detecting meters. Rhonda detected several ghosts along the way. The lights you see in the picture are real ghosts. Rhonda has one right above her head it was a very active night for the ghost. If you look close at the pictures at the bottom I have circled the ghost sitting on the tombstones. Oh, by the way, did I tell you this is a BYOB tour!!!!
French Quarter
After a terrifying evening of Ghost hunting, we hit the French Quarter in search of more horrifying sights. Here we finish off our night with live music, dancing, and fun. All of the bars have large open doors so you can hear the music inside or on the sidewalk.
Day 4: Rained Out
Day 5
We started our day out at the Cafe Du Monde famous for their sweet beignet.
Audubon Aquarium of the America’s
Today we are visiting the Audubon Aquarium of the America’s. Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter. The aquarium transports visitors to an underwater world from the Caribbean to the Amazon Rain forest, to the waters that give New Orleans its lifeblood: the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. With more than 3,600 animals from more than 250 species, including endangered species, such as African penguins, and rare animals, such as white alligators, the Aquarium offers you an experience you’ll never forget.
Algiers
Right next to the aquarium is the Ferry to Algiers where we took a short ride across the Mississippi River to the island. Built-up along the Riverfront in 1819, Algiers is New Orleans’ 2nd oldest neighborhood, home to 4-5 generations of local families and rich with history dating back to the colonial period. Victorian cottages, gingerbread woodwork, and urban community parks give the Algiers neighborhood its laid-back, village-like atmosphere.
French Market
We spent the rest of the day strolling through the open-air French Market enjoying Music and picking up a few mementos to remind us of our wonderful trip to New Orleans. For lunch, we could not leave New Orleans without trying the Classic N’awlins Muffuletta sandwich. What a taste sensation, filled with a spicy creole olive salad.
Day 6: Home
So it’s back to Atlanta. What a wonderful time we had and so many great memories we will remember forever. I hope you will get the chance to visit New Orleans and enjoy all the rich history and people there.
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