New Orleans

Last week Neal received a call from his boss with the news that they needed him to fly to Louisiana to help work a trial in New Orleans. Since I'm on summer break from school, we thought it would be fun if I came with him. I've never been to N'Awlins before and have always wanted to see it.  Since Neal was helping the team this afternoon, I ventured out to the French Quarter and played tourist for the day. 

What a fun place to explore! The city is alive with people and music. There are a plethora of great restaurants that boast some of the best creole food in the south, historical buildings and museums on every street, and some sort of live jazz music on every corner. For shoppers there is anything from name brand stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue to locally owned shops where it's possible to find just about any type of Mardis Gras apparel imaginable. With the architecture and the small courtyards and cafes, there is definitely a European feel to the city but with a bit of a southern charm. Here are some pics of my walking tour (historical facts compliments of my tourist guide :-).

Riding the trolley down Canal Street, 

where the annual Mardis Gras parade takes place

These signs are everywhere around town - very

fitting with the jazz theme

The Mississippi River along the "Moonwalk"

(The Crescent City Connection in the background)

This is where the sharp curve in the river gives New Orleans

her nickname - "Crescent City."

The Natchez steamboat

(I overheard from a passing tour that this boat is one of the

things that made New Orleans the "Paris of the south" before

the Civil War because it was the only boat that could go both

upstream as well as downstream.)

Some guys were entertaining a crowd by breakdancing,

among other things

Jackson Square (St. Louis Cathedral in the background)

This square was first established in 1721 as a military

drill field.  The center of the park is dominated by a

statue of General Andrew Jackson on his rearing horse.

A sample of the beautiful architecture with wrought iron

balconies that are common in the city

Inside St. Louis Cathedral

This is the oldest cathedral in the nation!  It was one of 

the many buildings burned in the Good Friday Great Fire of

March 21, 1788 and had to be rebuilt.  Pope Paul VI dedicated 

the present church as a minor basilica in 1964.

The Cabildo

This building served as the seat of government for France,

Spain, France again, the United States, the Confederacy, and

finally the United States.  In 1803 the Louisiana Purchase

was signed here.  The Cabildo was also destroyed in the fire

of 1788 and has since been restored.

Napoleon's House

This building was so named because it was

prepared as a residence for the emperor by

its owner, Mayor Girod.  Girod planned to 

lead an expedition to rescue Napoleon from

St. Helena , where he had been exiled after

the battle of Waterloo.  Napoleon died a few

days before the plan could be carried out.

The infamous Bourbon Street