New Orleans

Post date: Jan 11, 2015 5:51:29 PM

Since we both had visited New Orleans 3 times in the past, we decided a 2-night stay would give us time for a taste of the city.  It was an easy 3-hour drive from Lake Charles.  Most of the drive was on elevated highways.  Seems like Louisiana has more lakes, rivers & bayous than land.  I don't know how people were able to travel before concrete highways were built.  I guess there were more ferry crossings.

Thanks to GPS (we love our car) and Renee riding shotgun, we were able to navigate the narrow-one-way streets in that crazy town and arrive in front of our Hotel.  Our room, however was across the street from the Hotel lobby.  In true New Orleans style, the door opened right onto the sidewalk & two steps from the street.  We were 3 blocks from Bourbon Street.  I don't know if the city has changed or we have become older & wiser, but we didn't feel comfortable walking that distance at night.  (There were signs posted in the neighborhood that said "Walk in large groups.  We love our police, but there are not enough of them) 

Our first half day we found a club with a jazz trio had dinner then headed back.

The next day we were up early, visited Louis Armstrong Park, walked along the French Market, ate beignets & pralines, walked along the River, sat in on a Cajun quartet, found a wonderful Cajun restaurant for dinner and then back before dark! We had an uncomfortable night, though.  Temperatures got down to the 20s and it turned out the unit was not properly installed in the wall (cold air & wind came through the space between heater & wall which was above the bed) and of course there were no extra blankets!  Needless to say we were up & out early again.  It was only a two hour drive to Gulf Port, but it took us that long to warm up. Thank goodness for heated seats (we love our car)

So long New Orleans - Hello Gulf Port!