New Orleans (Day 2)

Posted on 27 July 2004
Tags: updates

Woke up late Tuesday morning. Got up and out of the hotel around noon. Erika and I didn’t want to spend too much on lunch from a place we were not familiar with, and just wanted something we knew of, that was cheap. McDonald’s, where else. The funny thing is, even their McDonald’s smells diferent here. I can’t quite put my finger on it just yet, but I will tell you now, this city has a horrible smell during the day, and then at night, when the resturants are kicking, and the nightlife is just starting to come out, the smell of the finest cuisine fills the streets.

After eating lunch, we started to head down Canal Street towards the Mississippi. Passing all of the tall buildings in the CBD we make our way towards the river and into the Woldenberg Riverfront Park. The park is a lot larger than what it looks on the map. It includes the Aquarium, IMAX theater, and riverboat docks. We saw a tour boat dock and the Canal Street Ferry come into port. Then we walked by the Riverboat Nanchez. A large wooden riverboat, with a huge spinning paddle powered by steam. As we walked by it, they had a steam powered organ playing at the top of the boat. Nearby, a dog was howling at the music steaming from the top of the pipes.

From the Riverfront park, we walked back into the quarter and towards the french market. Weaving in and out of the tightly packed streets, music played from several live jazz bands. New Orleans is amazing like that. At one moment, there will be a few people and really nothing in the area, turn a corner and the street will be dancing from the impromptu music from bands playing on the street. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the quarter.

Headed back home to take a nap, and recoup before going out again, a few hours later we were back on the street. We went to eat dinner at a place called La Fee Verte. A beautiful little cafe on Conti Street. I had the Sirloin and Erika had the Chicken Sandwich. The food was perfect. Certainly enough to fill our stomoachs before we went to Bourbon Street again.

This time on Bourbon Street we did get a drink. Stopped into a bar, and a couple of the many walk up service, hole-in-the-wall, beer and shot outlets. Two Jagger Tooters and a couple of Beers later, we headed back to the hotel for the night.

Tomorrow should entail much more excitement.