New Orleans

The final stop on our trip was the city of New Orleans. The flight from Miami took about 1.5 hours and I was quite occupied playing Brickbreaker on my Blackers and set a new land speed record.

We'd hooked up some accommodation in the French Quarter and after ditching our bags went for a bit of a wander. The city is very touristy but you only need to go a street or two back where it quietens down and you can admire the unique architecture of the French Quarter.

For dinner we headed to Frenchmens Street. It's meant to be where the locals go to play and a tad off the radar. We had a nice dinner outside and were entertained by some hill billy style street performers.

The following day we headed to the WW2 museum. This was an amazing place which we spent many hours at. We did a tour of one of the PT boats (think McHales Navy) followed by watching the short film on Americas involvement in the war. We then spent several hours wandering around the exhibitions. It was a really well setup place and is under some major construction. They are expanding it and I could see myself coming back there at some time in the future.

The reason the museum is there is that the famous PA boats which made amphibious landings possible were built in New Orleans. Eisenhower credited these as being the number one innovation that enabled the allies to win the war hence their importance.

We then spent some time wandering around the Garden District admiring the massive old homes. It was very Newport style. We then headed to Magazine St to have a squid at some of the shops. This is a very bohemian part of the city akin to King St in Newtown, Sydney or Smith St, Collingwood in Melbs. We spent our final sunset on a verandah having a sneaky ale pondering the awesome time we've had.

Later that night we headed to a restaurant called Irene's in the French Quarter. It's a very popular spot and a bit off the track so less touristy. We had to wait awhile but we had one of the most sensational meals we've had in a long time and it would have easily given any decent place in NYC a run for its money. Tracy had duck and I had lamb and we left proper satisfied.

We cut a lap of Bourbon Street at night. I guess it's one of those places you have to see. It is pure tourist trash hell and so bad it is actually amusing. As some others described its kind of a cross between Pat Pong in Bangkok and Caval Ave on the Gold Coast. Actually I'm sure it's fun if your in the party mood but being at the end of a pretty hectic trip all we wanted to do was go home and hit the hay.

New Orleans.......check.

One of the many bands on the street

 

The city was kitting up for Halloween which is in a couple of days

 

Some of the colorful houses in the French Quarter

Bourban Street by day

 

 

Marti Gras legacy?

Bourban St by night

 

 

 

 

 

 

WW2 museum

Plans for the PT boat being refurbished

Magazine Street

One of the cemeteries. Bodies are placed in these tomb style graves due to New Orleans being below the water table and the inability to be able to bury people.

 

The Garden District at sundown

 

Posted with Blogsy