New Orleans Visit, Part III--Riverboat Tour

While we were in New Orleans last month, we took a Mississippi River tour on a stern-wheel driven steamboat (one of the last authentic steamboats on the Mississippi River). The informative commentary brought the busy harbor, various city parishes, and a stretch of the mighty river alive for us. Except for the photo of the paddle boat itself, you are seeing views from the boat.

You can see Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral again (see recent post for more information) as we pull away from the French Quarter. The USS Cape Kennedy is a large naval cargo ship; one photo shows the stern hatch of its sister ship open with its ramp out for loading or unloading tanks and other heavy equipment. We also got a sense of what a busy shipping port New Orleans is, with commercial cargo ships from all over the world coming, going, docked, loading, and unloading. Returning from a fascinating 2-hour cruise, we enjoyed stunning views of the city.

Question of the day: Do you also gravitate to bodies of water, water tours, and water recreation when you travel or relax near home? We enjoy cities, mountains, desert vistas, and more--but have to admit that nothing beats rivers, oceans, lakes, etc. for beauty and enjoyment for us.

New Orleans Visit, Part II -- Botanical Gardens and Metairie Cemetery

The one day in New Orleans that we took our car out of the hotel's parking lot, we drove to Metairie Cemetery, which is an interesting combination of old tombs and current burial areas. Some New Orleans cemeteries are even older, but they are crowded with a jumble of mausoleums that serve, unfortunately, as cover for muggers and others. Visitors are advised to go there at the busiest times, perhaps with a guided group. Since our purpose was to visit a "drivable" cemetery and see the above-ground burial which the high water table and frequent heavy soaking of the ground requires in this area, Metairie was just right. New Orleans' largest cemetery, it covers over 65 acres (web sites seem to differ on its exact size), and was established in 1873 on the site of a former racetrack. The grounds are beautifully kept, a peaceful "park" full of birds singing their hearts out. Mausoleums of many leading families, tombs of former governors and mayors, and towering military memorials share the grounds with lavish displays by less upstanding (though certainly no less wealthy) citizens, such as the elaborate tomb of Josie Arlington, once the leading madam of Storyville.

Not far from that cemetery, New Orleans boasts a 1,300 acre city park, which includes the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and many other scenic features and recreation centers. We strolled through the botanical gardens there (a treat for my master gardener husband). One photo from the gardens shows the conservatory (in a style complementing the main Pavilion across the promenade) which houses a tropical rain forest exhibit and "living fossils", plants with a lineage going back to prehistoric times. The other garden photo shows a corner of the Japanese Garden section.

We were very fortunate with our weather while we were in New Orleans (mid-March)--quite warm each day (mid to upper 80s), but not oppressive or excessively humid and beautifully clear, as you can see. I had made plans for activities we could have done if we had heavy rain or too much heat for extended time outside, but will save those for another visit. As I mentioned in the previous post, New Orleans exceeded my expectations as a fascinating destination, with much to see and do for visitors with a variety of interests.

Question of the day: When and where have cemeteries been among the attractions you have visited in your travels?

A New Orleans Vacation

We have returned from several days in New Orleans, a delightful vacation break! Today's photos are all from the French Quarter, which we visited a couple of times, riding the excellent street car system to various destinations from our hotel on a quiet, beautiful, tree-lined block in the architecturally rich Garden District. I think we enjoyed the best of both worlds by visiting the razz-ama-tazz in the daytime and staying in a quieter (though still urban) area. Historic mansions made exploring the Garden District fun, and Magazine Street, a few blocks from our hotel, is famous for antique shops, boutiques, and galleries as well as some lovely restaurants. We strolled down to the Lilette Restaurant there for an elegant, delicious French meal our last evening in town.

Our first afternoon, we hopped on the streetcar after settling into our room (a $3 day pass got us all the rides and transfers we wanted--a real bargain--and no parking headaches or expense), riding to a stop near Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter. A mule-pulled carriage with a friendly, lively driver provided us with an orientation tour of the Quarter--a fun, relaxing way to get a feel for directions and to learn about the area. The photo of the building corner gives a flavor of the lovely places and beautiful balconies there. Then we stood in a verrrrry long and slow line for the famous beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde nearby--quite tasty, but once was enough for us. Besides, they are so filling that a serving of 3 beignets each around 5 PM left us too full for any dinner that evening!

Jackson Square's main attraction is the St. Louis Cathedral, seen in two photos, outside and in. Historically fascinating, the basilica remains an active force in the life of the city today. The final photo shows a jazz group performing across from Jackson Square. The stairs on which the listeners sat lead up to the promenade along the mighty Mississippi. In a future post, I show you photos from our paddle-wheel boat ride the next day.

Although I love to travel, this particular trip was more my husband's desire than mine. However, I kept an open mind and was rewarded with a much richer, more interesting experience than I had expected. Of course, there is amazing food and the well-known nightlife in New Orleans, but there is so much more--in historical neighborhoods, natural beauty, and southern charm. We both thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

Question of the day: If you have visited New Orleans, what were your impressions of the city?