The Big Easy

Yes, we are in New Orleans for a few days. Although the weather hasn't been very cooperative, we have still had time to walk our legs off. The afternoon we arrived we walked Bourbon Street. Let me be honest, Bourbon Street stinks. Literally and figuratively. At 5 PM the smell was not pleasant in many places. Bourbon Street has always included strip shows and bars but there also use to be wonderful places where you could hear New Orleans jazz. Now it is pretty much strip shows, bars and people who are well on their way to being very drunk by 6:30 PM.  Bourbon Street is a strange, dirty, smelly and very tacky place.

Yesterday we walked and walked in the Garden district. I love walking through neighborhoods and these are such colorful neighborhoods. The New Orleans palette includes purples, blues and lavenders. I just love those combinations with dusty pink crepe myrtles or the blue of agapanthus. There are also houses painted in rosy warm colors accented with green doors. Another great combination. Yes, I've taken lots of pictures and I'll have them processed later....it may not be until we are back home.

Today we covered more of the French Quarter and downtown. I especially wanted to see the Roosevelt Hotel where we went on our honeymoon so many years ago. We talked to Ray who works in the hotel and he told us that the hotel has only been reopened for a year. During Katrina it had water in the lobby for three months. He said that mold was everywhere and it took a long time to restore it. Hard to believe. But it is beautiful now. We asked if at Christmas time they still decorated the whole lobby which runs from one block to another. He told us how many Christmas trees, birch trees and lights they used. It must have been something to see even if they didn't cover the ceiling with angel hair because of the fiber glass.  Maybe we'll have to go back at Christmas time again. I'd love to see it.

And then there is the food......but that will have to be another entry.