The Big Easy

Yahoo, we’re ready to party down in New Orleans.  First order of business is the Doggie Daycare.  Topaz got dropped off for the day so we could ride the street car and go to restaurants.  I researched this place before we left home, but no amount of research can make up for Topaz’s anxiety over being left.  When we picked her up she was all droolly, thirsty and had to potty.  Not because of neglect but because she gets so anxious she can only worry.

 

 We drove through downtown New Orleans to get to the French Quarter, there was a huge flag on top of one of the tall buildings with this symbol on it.  Roy recognized it immediately as the Boy Scout symbol.  I was amazed that the Boy Scouts had such a prominent building in this city. We took a good look at the signs but no where did it say Boy Scout.  Then as we walked around the city the symbol was everywhere including on the trash cans and police cars.  Hmm, I guess you can tell that we don’t even watch football, because it’s there too.  It is actually called the fleur de lis, flower of the lily.  The symbol was used by French Royalty.  Follow the link for more history of the fleur de lis.

Our original idea for the day was to drink heavily, take off our shirts and get beads.  But like most things on this trip, we were there at the wrong time.  So instead we took the St. Charles street car.  This tour was recommended over French Quarter, because it would be more interesting to the kids.

The map took us up this block and over that block and then follow the line until you find the street car.  After several blocks I asked someone and they said to take the bus.  Ug, The bus went several miles to the cable car which was pretty cool.  We got off at Audubon park, the kids ripstiked for about a mile, had fun with the Spanish Moss old man’s beard, then back on a bus to the French Quarter.  Along the way we did see beautiful houses, narrow streets lined with houses turned into shops and restaurants.  Two girls sat behind Roy talking really fast.  I asked if he understood any of their conversation and he said the only word he recognized was ‘she’.

Now everyone is hungry.  I was feeling a bit lost, anxious and hungry, but the French Quarter took care of all our problems.  I think that might be a problem as well, right?

We were directed to the New Orleans Seafood and Hamburger restaurant.  The girls ordered cheeseburgers, Roy and I shared a Shrimpzilla po-boy and a bowl of gumbo.  OH yea, good food again!  A nice big beer and now I’m ready for whatever comes up next.

 

From there the rest of the afternoon was easy.  I felt a bit rushed because we used up so much of our morning on the streetcar, but entertainment was coming easy now. It was a short walk from the restaurant to the Mississippi River where the Steamboat Natchez was docked.  We didn’t go aboard but from the pier listened to a woman playing the Calliope.  Wow that was cool!  She looked like she was playing a piano keyboard and steam was coming out of a row of whistles to make the tune.  It was really loud but nothing like we’ve ever heard.

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A little further down was a raised patio the kids wanted to ripstik up and down the ramps, it also gave us a view of the river from one side and …..

Jackson Square on the other side.  It was named to honor the Battle of New Orleans hero Andrew Jackson.

How about some desert.  When ever I mention New Orleans people tell me not to miss the beignets.  This powdered doughnut was brought to New Orleans by the Acadians, which were French Canadians.  I have to do some research on all the many people that make up the flavor of New Orleans.

The original Cafe Du Monde was established in 1862 as a coffee shop.

So, now we’ve had seafood, gumbo, alcohol, seen a steamboat and had a beignet, all that’s left is music. We followed the sound of Jazz to the end of the alley and were surprised to find Navy Musicians.  The Navy did great things for me in the 1980s, what a great job for a struggling musician, serve our country while enjoying your job.

The last thing on the tour, it the last place on the tour for these people, The Metairie Cemetary.  Vaults are used in this area because the water table is so high.  These cities of the dead are an attraction I wish I had more time to explore.

Back to the road trip.  I would say that this trip to New Orleans just gave me an idea of what I might like to see next time.  We had fun and am glad we didn’t miss it.

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