The Big Easy…

It has been difficult to enjoy myself with the freedom that I might usually do in a city with as great a vibe as this…

Where things are not so easy to get done quickly…

I have fretted about the damage to the Big Fella, and the cost of it all, something which we never would have budgeted for… Tyres and services, yes, but a major breakdown which might cost thousands of dollars; no !!

Typcial backstreet in the French Quarter.. Metal balconies with hanging baskets of flowers.

Without Patricia here with me, I most certainly would have been in the doldrums, but she has dragged me out of my frequent reveries and insisted we “get out there” and enjoy ourselves. Not that she is without sympathy for my predicament or the bike…

On the contrary, her concern for us both has been more than touching , and confirms that she sees the Big Fella as a part of me, and now in turn, as a part of her life too…

Mule drawn carriages take tourists areound the French Quarter.

Although she has spent time visiting friends and exploring on her own, we have managed to get out together quite a bit, and learned more about the city we will be “stuck” in for longer than we had planned…

New Orleans is known by a number of names. Some people just call it NOLA (New Orleans, LouisianA), while it is also referred to as Crescent City or The Big Easy.

It was founded in 1718, and named after the Duke of Orleans, who was the French King at the time. Since early days, the city was populated by an influx of British, Americans form the northern States, and a large number of refugees from conflicts in the Caribbean.

It straddles and lies close to the mouth of the great Mississippi River, the fourth longest River in the world. and is a major seaport of the Gulf of Mexico. Due to it’s position, New Orleans serves as the entry to the Mississippi River, and goods are transferred from here into smaller vessels which sail up into the heart of the country, in the Mississippi Watershed.

The Saint Louis Cathefral in Jackson Square, French Quarter.

The city played a major part in the import and distribution of slaves in the early 1800’s, who were put to work in the huge cotton and sugar plantation in the interior, and at one point, 63% of the population was black, made up of African slaves and refugees from Haiti, and Cuba.

Today, it is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the USA, but the advent of railroad and highway systems over the years has led to a massive decline in the trade that this city had always based it’s importance on. From once being the nations 5th largest city, (1900) it is now ranked only 46th in size, and has become increasingly dependent on tourism as it’s economic mainstay.

Everybody goes to Cafe du Monde for coffee. I can’t for the life of me understand why people will stand in a queue for over an hour to sit here and drink coffee…

The city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the levies and flood-walls protecting the city collapsed and more than 80 % of “The Big Easy” was inundated by flood-waters.

Entrance to Armstrong Park, and a statue of the great Jazz artist, Louis Armstrong.

The city is still recovering today, but almost half of it’s population has moved to other cities to start life afresh, leaving many houses here boarded up and in a sad state of disrepair.

It is estimated that only 60 % of the city’s original population still reside here.

The city is famous for it’s cuisine, as well as the birthplace of Jazz music. A large park near the French Quarter is dedicated to the legendary Louis Armstrong, or “Satchmo”, as he was nicknamed, one of the best jazz trumpeters of his generation, and born right here in New Orleans.

We strolled down to the French Quarter, which is the “happening” part of the city, and just a few blocks away from our hotel. Here will you not only see some of the historic old buildings, but also find a massive selection of bars and restaurants to suit your every taste.

Needless to say, we spent a lot of time in the French Quarter…

This paddle steamer on the Mississippi River, also doubles as a casino.

I’ve got me a bad case of the Voodoo Blues alright…

The French Market is filled with vendors selling touristy stuff, as well as little stands where local cuisine can be sampled…

And get slapped right back !! Popular Cajun Spices.

Not to be confused with Crocodile Biltong…

The French Market lies at the eastern edge of the French Quarter, just off the Mississippi River and is crowded throughout the day, until closes at 6.00 pm.

If you want a sample of the everyday dishes eaten here, be sure to get there before 5.00 pm, so that you can relax and eat, rather than rush through your meal as we had to do on one occasion !!

There are many small stalls laid out in flea market fashion, where you will find anything from Mardi Gras outfits to Live Oysters…

And yes, Charmaine, fridge magnets too…

Old style advertisements. Not sure about those vegetables…

While I spent the morning catching up on my blog, Patricia went to yoga classes, or walked around the area taking in the sights and meeting interesting people… As she usually does !!

I had to make the most of the poor signal we had in the room we spent the first two nights in before we were moved to a bigger room with a far better signal.

Great food at this stall in the French Market

She bumped into a South African couple (twice !!) who she is planning to visit on our return to South Africa.

She would return from her sorties into the city with stories of the wonderful people she had met, where they were from, what they did for a living, and many other titbits of information that always had me wondering how she had come by them !!

People seem to open up to her within minutes of meeting my darling wife !!

Patricia also connected with a friend of her’s, Tanya, and spent a few afternoons with her while I “worked”.

The guys running the Olde Town Inn, helped us in many ways, and thanks to Russell, Sam and Philip, we were able to enjoy a hassle free stay here. We were originally only meant to spend three nights in New Orleans, and I ended up staying for eight !!

When ever we needed advice, they were on hand to give it, and when it came to moving from our first room to our second, they ensured we got a room that was much bigger and more comfortable, and also had the better internet signal.

Stanley, seen here, Sam and Philip made our stay at the Olde Town Inn a pleasure, and went out of their way to assist us whenever we needed their advice…

When Patricia left to make her marathon drive back to Brunswick, I had to move to a third different room, and once again, they shuffled other guests around to cater for my internet requirements. Were it not for them, this blog would be even more out of date than it is !!

Here are the photos taken while we were out walking at various times, as well as from the top of the city tour bus we took late one afternoon…

What’s “routine”… Is it edible ??

It’s always Halloween in New Orleans !!

…and meet us around the back ,where we can discuss business…

“My Baby”s on Bourbon Street, and she’s going one way… ” Must be a line from a song, surely…!!

Colourful street post in a colourful city…

It’s always carnival time in New Orleans, so get yourself a mask and get with it !!

You can get to some parts of the city using these Street Cars.. You can, but not me !! I’d rather walk, Take a cab, or use the Big Fella and Gi-Gi, otherwise with my luck, I’d end up in Texas somewhere…

Street cafes abound…

Many homes are gaily painted in a rainbow of colours… Mix and match is the order of the day.

Brick, but not brick !!

“The Katrina Tree”, in memory of the devastation caused by the Hurricane of 2005.

The magnificent Crescent City Connection Bridge, that crosses the Mississippi right near the French Quarter…

View from under the twin carriageways… They are the fifth longest cantilever bridges in the world, at a little over 4 kilometres long…

Bourbon Street on a normal day…

Jazz bands strike up in the middle of Bourbon Street.

Both of which are guaranteed to give you a huge ass…

Filled with the Lunatic Fringe…

Just another day on Bourbon Street… “Why are those tourists staring at us, Dear…??”

You will see a very broad spectrum of the human race in The Big Easy.

From this…

…to this !!

This place is jazzed up enough already…

Patricia said I should expose myself to art… So I did, and the Judge gave me a $200 fine and told me never to take my wife literally again…

“You ride a bicycle…?? I see a short dark man on a big ass bike bearing down on you… You must run and hide…NOW…!!”

After our first day of walking through the French Quarter, I resolved to give my eyes and brain a rest, and spent the next day writing and editing photographs. I figured a rest day in between the bombardment of my senses was essential…

The courtyard in front of our room at the Olde Town Inn.

Many more photos of our time in New Orleans to come, including our Swamp Tour…

©GBWT 2013