New Orleans travel stories?

[Taltarzac]

Anyone have any good New Orleans travel stories? I have only been there once in 1991 and then just drove past it in 1995 on Interstate 10.

[MSNPA]

In August 2002 My husband and I spent a week at a fabulous hotel in the French Quarter.
It was a hot time of year to go, but we so enjoyed our ourselves. The restaurants were fantastic and it was a great place to people watch. We visited many museums. Then in January 2004 I attended a conference also in the French Quarter. This was mostly work and no play and for the first time in my life I got deathly sick on raw oysters. I have not returned, but would love to sometime in the future. I hope the city survives.

[Mikitv]

We were in New Orleans this past April and stayed on Bourbon Street right down in the French Quarter. The hotel was the Royal Sonesta and since it was a business trip we just had a double room. The rooms were fine nothing fancy. The food in the hotel was very good. At night Bourbon Street is very noisy, lots of people walking about drinking and having a good time. Lots of young people. I did walk around all the streets in that area and did not have any problems.

We went to the Cafe I think it was Mondue that is famous for it's benets not sure of spelling. Very noisy and busy but they were every bit as good as every one says. This was down near the St. Louis Cathedral which is very beautiful.

We did drive out to Oak Alley Plantation and is well worth the trip. Grounds and house are fabulous. There are beautiful Live Virginia Oaks that were over 300 years old. There are a lot of other Plantations in the area to visit.

[chuckinca]

New Orleans Zoo is fantastic.

Battle of New Orleans battle ground tour is very interesting and you get a paddle boat ride on the Mississippi River too.

I'd do the World War II Museum again.

Mardi Gras Parades are in many towns all over the area and you can get in three or four on a good week-end day. Best ones are at the end of Mardi Gras season.

St Charles Street Trolley ride.

French Market Place

etc, etc, etc

[chelsea24]

Oh, I love New Orleans. We also did The Plantation Tour. There are few different kinds. Shouldn't be missed. Besides the French Quarter, we love the Garden District. And last time we were there, we took a Ghost Tour that started at midnight, in front of a VooDoo shop. Very, very scary! :yikes:

We stayed at the Hilton right off the French Quarter. One morning we had breakfast at a tiny cafe on a corner of The French Quarter. It was where Tennessee Williams started writing 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Wonderful food and local color.

I just hope all is safe there because we plan on returning again and again.

[Peachie]

We were in New Orleans in 1982 for a business meeting/convention and were staying at a lovely older hotel near the French Quarter, I believe it was the Fairmount (?). My husband had to attend a morning meeting and I decided to walk toward the downtown area, not the French Quarter. I went two blocks and was propositioned by some guy standing next to his car. I went right back to the hotel and didn't venture out again until hubby could come with me. Geezzzzz... I didn't even have my fishnets on! :dontknow:

(I could now walk the streets alone and not have to worry about being propositioned, lol.) But we aren't interested in going back.

[deano_hoosier]

Spring of '07 we were staying at Hampton Inn in New Orleans for 2 nights prior to cruise. Was out doing my morning run down to the river area, around the casino. Was running by the front of the large dept store when I stubbed my toe on a raised piece of terrazzo (the sidewalk area) and crashed. This was early on a Sunday morning.

Bloodied up my arm and elbow along with my right knee -- but undaunted I ran on over to cafe du Monde and was standing at the take-away window. A homeless dude that had been laying out on a concrete bench near me saw my bloodied body and came over and asked me if I needed any change to buy some beignets::)) He was feeling sorry for me. The guy at the take-away window offered me some band-aids to go with the beignets as well.

[Fredz411]

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans I may be of some help. I live in the area and stayed for Katrina. I have a few stories to tell. The city is different than before Katrina and for a visit almost everything is back in place. It is a city that one should visit at least once in there life. Mardi Gras season is comming soon and the Christmas season is always enjoyable. There is an event where gaint bon fires are set on the banks of the mighty Mississippi on christmas eve to help guide Santa from the gulf to New Orleans.
Yes there is much more than just Bourbon St.
Travel quizz, in Jackson square is a Statue of Jackson on his horse. There are two more copies of this Statue in the USA where are they?

[chachacha]

i luckily happened to arrive in new orleans on march 19. my first impressions were not too good as there was garbage out on the curb all along bourbon st. but at 6 pm a parade started put on by the italian community in honor of st joseph....it was great; music, floats, terrific dance routines, throwing of beads...a miniature mardi gras. that made my visit very memorable. i also loved the garden section and wonder if it has been restored after the vandalism of katrina....

[Boomer]

We were in New Orleans in 1982 for a business meeting/convention and were staying at a lovely older hotel near the French Quarter, I believe it was the Fairmount (?). My husband had to attend a morning meeting and I decided to walk toward the downtown area, not the French Quarter. I went two blocks and was propositioned by some guy standing next to his car. I went right back to the hotel and didn't venture out again until hubby could come with me. Geezzzzz... I didn't even have my fishnets on! :dontknow:

(I could now walk the streets alone and not have to worry about being propositioned, lol.) But we aren't interested in going back.

Peachie,

I did not see this thread on the first go-round.

I loved New Orleans when we were there in 1980. That was a business trip for Mr. Boomer, and I went along for that fantastic music and food.

When I saw your post just now, it cracked me up.

Why?

Because, Peachie, believe it or not, the same EXACT thing happened to me. TWICE. It was in the hotel, once while I was just waiting for an elevator. (It was a great big hotel. I think maybe it was a Hyatt or Hilton or something like that. I can't remember.)

Your post struck me funny particularly because, as you know, there have been times when I have wondered from your writings if you are my long-lost twin. And now this??? Coincidence I suppose???

When I was taken for a -- uh -- a lady of the evening or whatever, I remember thinking, "What in the heck kind of signals am I sending???" (But I thought it was funny and I remember that I actually smiled and let those guys down gently. -- Cincinnati girls can be extremely polite. Besides, each one of those guys had asked quite politely. For some reason, they did not scare me. I think they were there for some kind of convention in the same hotel.)

We had reservations to go back in October of 2005 but then Katrina hit. I really did love that city. Maybe we can get back there someday.

Peachie, are you sure we are not connected in some way???

Me in 1980. You in 1982. Same city. Same thing. Gee, I wonder how we would do now.

Boomer

[Peachie]

Peachie,

I did not see this thread on the first go-round.

I loved New Orleans when we were there in 1980. That was a business trip for Mr. Boomer, and I went along for that fantastic music and food.

When I saw your post just now, it cracked me up.

Why?

Because, Peachie, believe it or not, the same EXACT thing happened to me. TWICE. It was in the hotel, once while I was just waiting for an elevator. (It was a great big hotel. I think maybe it was a Hyatt or Hilton or something like that. I can't remember.)

Your post struck me funny particularly because, as you know, there have been times when I have wondered from your writings if you are my long-lost twin. And now this??? Coincidence I suppose???

When I was taken for a -- uh -- a lady of the evening or whatever, I remember thinking, "What in the heck kind of signals am I sending???" (But I thought it was funny and I remember that I actually smiled and let those guys down gently. -- Cincinnati girls can be extremely polite. Besides, each one of those guys had asked quite politely. For some reason, they did not scare me. I think they were there for some kind of convention in the same hotel.)

We had reservations to go back in October of 2005 but then Katrina hit. I really did love that city. Maybe we can get back there someday.

Peachie, are you sure we are not connected in some way???

Me in 1980. You in 1982. Same city. Same thing. Gee, I wonder how we would do now.

Boomer

:clap2: Boomer, I'll bet I'm your reincarnated great great grandmother!! (I've seen your picture, remember?)

I think our heads would spin if we knew of all the women propositioned in New Orleans on a daily basis but I think most of my discomfort came from the fact there wasn't anyone else in the area and the propositioner had gotten out of his car and was standing by the passenger door. And I, like you thought, what kind of signals was I giving off... Maybe getting up and taking a shower in the morning sends a signal, eh?

I didn't like New Orleans one bit, the overwhelming smell of urine while walking down the sidewalks, midday inebriation, panhandlers on the sidewalks, several of them small children with no adults to be seen, left me unimpressed but it was a very sad time in my life and the seaminess of the city was all I could absorb.

There may be something very lovely about the "Big Easy" but it escaped me. I think, Boomer, that is one thing we do not have in common. But it a good thing that we don't all love the same things, think of the congestion... ;)

[chuckinca]

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans I may be of some help. I live in the area and stayed for Katrina. I have a few stories to tell. The city is different than before Katrina and for a visit almost everything is back in place. It is a city that one should visit at least once in there life. Mardi Gras season is comming soon and the Christmas season is always enjoyable. There is an event where gaint bon fires are set on the banks of the mighty Mississippi on christmas eve to help guide Santa from the gulf to New Orleans.
Yes there is much more than just Bourbon St.
Travel quizz, in Jackson square is a Statue of Jackson on his horse. There are two more copies of this Statue in the USA where are they?



1. DC
2. NYC

FredZ - my son in law was a Jefferson Parrish Deputy and stayed during Katrina. He worked about 20 hrs a day for a month, got a week off and went another month. He never got paid the OT and relocated to Denver PD. And we get to go to Denver in the snow instead of NO during Mardi Gras (I probably should have paid his missing money!)


.

[JoC]

Has anyone read "A Confederacy of Dunces"? It's by John Kennedy Toole. It takes place in New Orleans and is different and fun to read. Another author I like who's stories are set in New Iberia/New Orleans/ and thereabouts is James Lee Burke. It's a series, so start at the beginning if you're interested in reading him.

We've been to NO and were fortunate to have dinner upstairs in the private dining room at the Napoleon House. Very nice. We were there for Jazzfest and then headed out to Cajun country and did some special things there as well.

If anyone is interested, we're getting a club together for Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. I guess there will be an interest announcement in the rec news. If you've tried ballroom dancing and didn't do well (like us), Cajun/zydeco are the dances for you. Cajun is very simple and even men can do it :laugh: The music is infectious.

[Taltarzac]

Has anyone read "A Confederacy of Dunces"? It's by John Kennedy Toole. It takes place in New Orleans and is different and fun to read. Another author I like who's stories are set in New Iberia/New Orleans/ and thereabouts is James Lee Burke. It's a series, so start at the beginning if you're interested in reading him.

We've been to NO and were fortunate to have dinner upstairs in the private dining room at the Napoleon House. Very nice. We were there for Jazzfest and then headed out to Cajun country and did some special things there as well.

If anyone is interested, we're getting a club together for Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. I guess there will be an interest announcement in the rec news. If you've tried ballroom dancing and didn't do well (like us), Cajun/zydeco are the dances for you. Cajun is very simple and even men can do it :laugh: The music is infectious.


I read that book a very long time ago, JoC.

They keep on trying to get a movie in the works for A Confederacy of Dunces but it seems as difficult as the book was to get off the presses. I believe that the author committed suicide in part (?) because of his failure to get his book in print and it was his mother who finally got the book published. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confederacy_of_Dunces