New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, AT LAST!

Marina at Ponchartrain Landing RV Park

pool at Ponchartrain Landing

We finally made it to New Orleans!  Arrived Oct 24 and left today, Nov 4. 

Street in French Quarter
under repair getting ready
for SuperBowl!

We were very apprehensive when we followed Navigation System's directions off the freeway and it appeared to go nowhere fit for an RV.  Well, a friendly semitruck driver stopped and gave us directions.  We were going the right direction, just rough roads and not very nice area getting off the interstate.  Once we got to the iron security gate at the park and got checked in, we were very impressed.  Pool, hot tub, neither in use right now due to weather :-( , a marina, and very nice RV sites in well-maintained park.  Music in their open-air bar several nights a week, which we could hear well from our site!  They had a shuttle into New Orleans city for $5 pp/day, and after 3 days rides were free!  The shuttle took different routes many days due to road construction so we got to see lots of side streets.  The effects of Katrina and Isaac were evident and pretty horendous. This RV park was completely wiped out and completely rebuilt after Katrina.   Downtown in French Quarter, every street is under repair and closed off in many areas as they are "prettying up the town" in preparation for hosting the SuperBowl. 
 
First day, we took the shuttle at 4pm into town as there was a free concert in Lafayette park.  We met our friend, Mark Parker, there and enjoyed listening to the music and visiting with him.  He put our minds to ease by telling us the city is safe as long as you stay in the boundaries of the popular sites, and we did that and had a ball.  Weather was in the 80's each day except for first Saturday when the wind blew and it was cold!  This morning as we left the park, the wind came up strong and it rained hard for about 15 minutes.  Since then it has been nice again, although today it may have only reached 70.

2nd day, we took 10am shuttle to French Quarter, the cultural epicenter full of historic landmarks, colorful architecture, bustling bars and live music venues .  Had great lunch at Pat O'Brien's restaurant.  I had a wonderful salad while Al tried a  sandwich,called a Muffaletta. ... Huge, expensive balogna and cheese sandwich) and he enjoyed it!   Interesting how they have renovated the 1st floors of the buildings, but you can look up and see the upper floors in disrepair.  There is construction going on everywhere.  Locals told us the workers are those from other states to work, as the people who live here won't take labor jobs as they can make more from government subsidies and not have to work!!!  The French Quarter did not flood, but outside that area are homes barely standing.  Many have been redone, many not.  Behind the ugly unrefurbished store fronts are locked gates leading to beautiful courtyards leading to luxury apartments.  Never know from the street!

Day 3, we took the afternoon shuttle to town and met Mark, and we went to Drago's for dinner (at Harrah's).  Great food, and Al tried and enjoyed some of Mark's oysters, which he normally doesn't like!  I abstained from trying them, as usual.  :-).  Walked around the city with Mark and he pointed out landmarks, etc.

Dinner at Drago's with Mark Parker



Joe and his co-workers at Camillia Cafe
put on quite a show and kept us entertained
serving up great simple food.

This gal should be on stage!  WOW! her
bow was moving so fast it could have cut
the strings!!!

Drum was suitcase/chair; played with
right foot.  left foot played tambourine
and bell, while he played guitar and sang!

2nd Line Band after a wedding

Camillia Cafe

Day 4, Saturday, we met Mark and walked and walked and walked!  This was the cold and windy day, and we were all freezing so we walked briskly.  Found the quaint, old-fashioned Camillia Cafe', and I had my first gumbo (sausage, chicken, etc soup with rice), while the guys ate huge meals followed by homemade apple pie alamode.  Pie was heated on the grill!  The crust was light, flaky and delicious!  (I had to eat some of the crust!).  Our waiter was worth the price of a show!  He and the others joked and sang and put on quite an act keeping us all entertained during our meal.  Walking around the French Quarter, we came upon several really great groups of musicians!  Some we could have watched for hours!  There were horse-drawn carriages, pedi-cabs, and artists at work all around Jackson Square.  There was a Voodoo festival in town, so there were many costumes and acts along the streets!  And Royal Street was lined with art galleries.  So many beautiful, original artwork.  We broke down and bought a small print to brighten up the RV.  One artist did body art.  The background painted first, then he put a model in place and painted the body to be part of the work.  Awesome! We got to experience a 2nd Line Parade, which is really a roving dance party with brass band, and this one was a wedding party, complete with waiters serving h'ordeurves along the route.  The cemetaries here are above ground tombs due to the floods.

Inside St Louis Cathedral



This clarinetist/soloist was so good on the street,
we bought one of her albums!

French Quarter apts above street level

St Louis Cathedral at
 French Quarter

Original hitching posts
in French Quarter

Sunday, day 5, we decided to stay in and do laundry, rest, etc.  Watched a video at the RV Park office on Hurricane Katrina which really makes us grateful we were not involved!  So sad to see so much loss and devastation.  It was a very well-done film.

Monday, we went again on the shuttle and walked around the city.  Tuesday, went to the World War II Museum.  3 Floors of exhibits, videos, and history, including boats, planes, tanks, and personal accounts by veterans that had been there.  We met a veteran there who had been there on the invasion upon one of the beaches.  Very well done, and we both learned things we didn't know or had forgotten.  One interesting thing was the British stormed the beaches carrying their rifles and their bicycles!   We chose to go to the Tom Hanks movie ,"Beyond All Boundaries", (part of the museum)
a 4D production, meant to experience the war as if you were there.  It was very well done, with smoke smell in the air, seats shaking with the roar of the tanks and choppers, Bombs blasting and Lights flashing.  Too much reality for both of us, and Al says he would not have chosen to go if he had known how real it would be, as it took him back to his war memories.

 Wednesday was Halloween and we took the afternoon shuttle and met Mark for dinner again.  This time at Amano's, a very nice, elegant meal and great company!  Then Al and I went back to the French Quarter to Bourbon Street, to watch all the costumed people!  Quite a show!!!  People everywhere!  So fun to watch!  Shuttle doesn't run after 8, so we took a cab back.  Mr. David, the cabbie, tried to sell us on Ganoderma coffee all the way back, but he was interesting.  2nd night, he gave us each a sample pack, I tried mine next morning, but didn't see any results.  Gano is supposed to be ancient chinese herb good for a lot of ailments.

Nov.  1, All Saints' Day
Al asked if they were left over
from last night!   : -)

"I was framed"

Bronze band at Armstrong Park

Entrance to park

Thursday, took the shuttle again.  This time there was another free concert in Louis Armstrong Park, so we went there and strolled around.  Very nice park with monuments and fountains .Then we sat and listened for awhile.  Walked to French Quarter again, and had dinner at Pat O'Brien's, then caught the 8pm show at Preservation Hall.  This is one of the few places where you can go listen to bands without being in a bar.  This night was a Tornado (or was it Tsunami) Brass Band, with Tuba, Trombone, Trumpet, Sax, Bass Drum and Snare Drummer.  They played and sang well.  Very small, old venue, seats not raised, and by the time we got in, there was standing room only and couldn't see a thing.  So, we went out in the hallway and looked in the door by the stage so we could at least see the band.  Great music, just wish venue were better.  They have sell-out crowds 3 shows a night, though, so guess they don't need to improve.  $15 each for 40 minute show.  Wouldn't do that again!  Good music on the streets for free..... And you can see them!

Halloween decorations

Fountain at Riverwalk

Algiers Ferry.  Passengers free!
Cars free outbound, $1 inbound!

Old Blue DeSoto matches old blue house at
Algiers Point

Friday, took the shuttle, then took free 10-minute ferry ride to Algiers Point.  This is mostly an older residential area with a few businesses.  Beautiful old homes, some of which are being restored.  Then back to Mainland and walked the shops at the Riverfront until the 4pm shuttle back.   We have walked miles each day this week, and our legs must be getting in shape as mine especially are tired! 

Saturday, we stayed in, cleaned and did laundry again getting ready to head out.  Today, we are "camped" at Hammond Wal-Mart as we will go to the RV place in the morning to hopefully get our jacks working again.  From here????  Who knows!  We will look at the map tomorrow and decide.  The kitties are having trouble adjusting to daylight savings time.  They always get treats at 10pm, and they start begging at 9, now!  Amazing how they know when it is time!  Also get us up on old time as well.  Ugh!

One thing we did not get to experience at New Orleans was their trolley system.  There are 3 lines, and by transferring from one to another, can pretty much tour the entire town.  Unfortunately, they were not running due to all the road construction.  They were running busses on the lines, but somehow it just didn't seem like the same enchantment. 
Oh, well,all is well here.  Hope it is there as well.
Sylvia & Al