As we left the hotel, we were wearing jackets / the temperature is akin to Dublin - 6 degrees. On the last occasion I visited here, it boasted a hot and humid September, with the temperature in the 30s and the humidity 100% I thought I'd never leave the place quickly enough as I was not used to humidity at that time.
We commenced our exploration with a visit to the first convent, with its beautiful church, to be established in the city - the Ursuline convent, where girls and orphans were educated. President Jackson wrote them a letter of gratitude; their prayers having saved the city from the British!
We continued along Royal Street (Calle Real) admiring the beautiful buildings with their wrought iron balconies ; festooned for Christmas.
We came across the precursor of the Irish pub but established earlier than its present exports.
It had a piano bar so we thought we might go there for a drink tonight.
Further along Royal Street, we came across a band playing in the street - the first of many.
We proceeded to the cathedral, reputed to be the fisrt in the US
and after that repaired across the road to Cafe Du Monde where we partook of cafe au lait and beignets - a donut delicacy of French origin.
There is a wonderful ambience here and it is delightful to stroll around in spite of the weather. The people are friendly and very laid back.
We then set off - out of the French Quarter and into more modern New Orleans, which continued to exhibit fine architectural specimens inherited from their European masters - to the WW II museum. En route, we came to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal - an pressure building
Earlier, we saw the Distrct Court building
The War Museum had a excellent exhibition of artifacts and an excellent chronological history of the war.
We took a Street Car back to the French Quarter and then walked down the famous Bourgon Street.
As we travelled along Bourbon Street, the famous street was preparing for the night ahead - the bars were getting into full swing and the restaurants were preparing for dinner
And other naughty signs which I will not assail your delicate constitution with, dear reader!!
We adjourned to the hotel and prepared to make an expedition in the sub zero temperatures ( the wind chill factor is lowering the temperature.) The wind, we were advised, was coming from the north, where temperatures are historically low, and not from the Mississippi.
Later we set off and arrived at Pat O Brien's place to find it in full swing - an almost full house (though we did manage to find a table) and two excellent pianists playing requests for tourists as far away as Maine!! Being in the South, I had to partake of a Mint Julep. It was really excellent - much nicer than my first taste of one in Prague!!
We adjourned to the Oyster Bar on Bourbon St for dinner. The aim was to find a warm spot in the restaurant and it appeared to be everyone else's too! The waiters were even wearing outdoor jackets and the heat was on. We shared a plate of excellent baked oysters followed by an oyster salad for me (ya I know I said it was cold) but it was excellent as my companion partook of crab cakes. The fish is so good and so plentiful here, we're spoilt.
On our way home we took in an excellent Jazz session at a Bar where I foolishly ordered an indifferent Irish coffee; made without sugar and with squirts of cream from a can!!
What did I expect you might say and you would be correct. We returned to the hotel.
No comments:
Post a Comment