Lousiana-Part I

After leaving Florida, we made our way to Louisiana. About 40 miles outside of New Orleans, we ran into torrential rains while Art was driving the 5th wheel. It was the worst weather we have encountered yet, while driving, and Art had all he could do to see out the front window! There really wasn't any place to safely pull over, so it was scary!

Our first weekend in New Orleans coincided with the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival. It took place at the Fairgrounds which is also the infield of a racetrack. It was a huge area with many stages and venues, including blues, jazz, Cajun, gospel, and popular music, which we tried to sample. Some of the stages were in tents, but the main attractions were outside in the elements. The first day was after the rain, and we thought we were at "Woodstock" because of all the mud! Apparently this is normal, because many of the ladies were wearing fashionable rubber rain boots. Although it was very crowded and you couldn't always get close to the stages, they had huge "high-def" screens where you could see the performances. The big headliners we saw were Simon and Garfunkel and Anita Baker.

After the weekend, we made it to the city. We had always wanted to visit New Orleans, and were excited to finally be there! Our first tour was an overall city tour, which included the 9th Ward and St Bernard's Parish, which were devastated by Katrina. In the 9th Ward, there were still many abandoned homes and businesses that are uninhabitable. Our guide said only 15% of the population have returned there. The government is unable to get rid of all the abandoned buildings, due to the cost, which would be about $16,000 per building. We were able to see an area where Brad Pitt is building new elevated "green" houses that will be selling for about $150,000. He has contributed about 8 million dollars of his own money for this project. Part of the tour also included a visit to one of the famous above ground cemeteries that were developed in Louisiana, due to repeated flooding.

We loved the French Quarter! There is so much history there, and the architecture is so beautiful. Jackson Square is at the heart of the Quarter, across from the Mississippi River, and surrounded by St Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, where the Louisiana Purchase was signed, and the oldest apartment buildings in America which are still occupied with shops below. Artists and street performers gather there. We were able to sample "beignets", deep fried fritters with powdered sugar, (not good for diets), at the famous "Cafe du Monde". One evening we had dinner at the "Court of Two Sisters" which opened in 1832, and ate outside in a beautiful courtyard with a fountain. The last evening we walked up and down the infamous "Bourbon Street" and sat on a balcony "people watching". Quite entertaining!