New Orleans
After Memphis we had a great drive down to New Orleans – a very scenic drive.
As you head into Lousiana, you travel for a dozen miles or so on bridges over their waterways
We had a hotel in the French quarter, which locals told us is the only place to stay. Went to a local bar, and enjoyed some food and drink. This photo looks like it is of a politician, and indeed it was. It is of Huey Long, a populist Governor and Senator who was looking to challenge FDR in 1936 for the presidency. He was in fact a fairly nasty piece of work, and was assassinated in 1935 by the son in law of a political opponent. His killer was shot 62 times by Long’s bodyguards.
The shops in the French quarter are superb. Loved this record store which had actual records. We discovered early on that the RV didn’t allow your iPhone to play music through it, so in Utah we purchased some CDs. The only CDs the store had were country and western, so we drove 1200 miles listening only to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson! The range has now happily been expanded.
At the waterfront of the Mississippi River.
Bands play all over the quarter, and you even have some dancing on Royal Street.
Jackson Park
General (and President) Andrew Jackson, after whom it is named.
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the founder of New Orleans. He was Governor of Louisiana for 30 years between 1701 and 1743.
These are gator bites. Quite tasty, a bit like chicken.
This is the pool area at the hotel. Very relaxing just reading out here.
I liked this statue at the waterfront, saluting the brave immigrants who left their homes for the new world. A shame that today so many immigrants are pilloried and vilified.
We did a dinner cruise up the Mississippi on the steamer paddleboat SS Natchez.
Like many I’ve always wanted to see the Mississippi River, having read so much about it through classics like Huckleberry Finn.
For me the connection is a bit more personal, as I am part-Clemens on my mother’s side and related to Samuel Clemens.
It was scorching hot in New Orleans generally, and on board, so frozen strawberry daiquiris helped!
The waterfront at night from the steamer.
The paddles in operation. I observed that they would be excellent for water-boarding!
More tributes to New Orleans musical heritage
A reminder of Hurricane Katrina.
Had to laugh at this. How many police stations would sell police t-shirts!
I’ll do separate posts on Bourbon Street and the WWII Museum.