Let the good times roll……in New Orleans

Let the good times roll……in New Orleans

Oh, the sights and sounds of New Orleans was something to behold.  New Orleans portrays a unique slant on life revealing a city and people with a rich spirit that rises above both adversity and diversity. No matter your ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or disability there is a place for you in New Orleans. Walking through the French Quarter opens your eyes to an old world that is slowly evolving to embrace the new age, but struggling to maintain its charm.   It has a wonderful cultural history and the best jazz I have ever heard.  From the food to the clubs and bars, the trip was an adventure of art, music, and cuisine.

We were fortunate to arrive on the Friday that they start to celebrate the coming of Mardi Gras. Our first night on Bourbon Street did not disappoint.  Marching bands and a parade brought cheers from the crowds lining the street. Beads were thrown from the balconies and costumed individuals passed out beads as they danced along beside the parade and beyond. .  Police presence is everywhere and although it seemed a bit wild there was an organized chaos to everything.  Drinking is allowed in the streets and walk up bars are everywhere for “walking drinks”.  Music blares from the bars and the smells of Cajun cooking is all around.  We found a small club that had really great jazz and spent a good hour or so taking in the sound of “Maddie and her Friends” . She could really sing and her whole body sang with her as she felt the music. All were great musicians, especially the trumpet player.  We ended up at pat O’Brien’s duelling piano bar, a well-known French quarter haunt. A fantastic evening of music and speaking with other travelers and locals topped off our night. You know you are getting old when a couple of thirty year old guys sitting beside us tell us not to drink too much and be careful getting home.  Yup, the tables have turned.

The cuisine makes a statement with its fried and spicy flair creating a mouth-watering event just by smelling the food.  Although I am not usually a fan of fried food, the way in which it is prepared leaves you wanting more. No heavy coatings or greasy drippings left on the plate or fingers, just a rich fresh flavour enhanced by the burst of Creole spice.  Gumbo, fried shrimp, creole red fish with a many varieties of po’-boys are general fare. They also make a mean Cajun mac and cheese… hot and delicious. Both the gumbo and mac and cheese had some kind of seafood in it, not sure what it was….and I didn’t ask. Sometimes it bests just to eat it. I have to say I passed when it came to sucking on the claws in my soup.  Ha, maybe next time!!!!!!

My favorite part of the trip was walking down Royal Street during the afternoons and listening to the street music. Musicians set up on every corner and played for tips. Many of these bands played in the clubs and bars at night and supplemented their income with busking. Standing on the corner listening to great music was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

Our trip included a tour of the city with a very humorous tour guide, a cemetery walk, the city park with a sculpture garden, a walk through the French Market, Jackson Square, and St Louis cathedral and a view of the Mississippi River.  All the New Orleans highlights visited and stroked off our list. The last evening we ventured out to Frenchmen Street where all the locals go to listen to Jazz.  The two block section of street that contains the clubs and restaurants is not all glitzy and lit up like Bourbon Street but still has a great vibe and is purported to have the bests jazz and music. I would definitely spend more time there if I were to go to New Orleans again.

All in all it was a fun 5 days with lots of new experiences and a load of memories to keep me going until I make it back there again.  As they say in New Orleans …… "Laissez les bon temps rouller".