New Orleans

Today was "walk around like a tourist" day, in T-shirt because, well, New Orleans in February.

We started in the French Quarter with a view of the Mississippi river. We were standing on embankment that separate Jackson Square from the river.

Mississippi River, from the French Quarter - New Orleans

Jackson Square - French Quarter, New Orleans

St Louis Cathedral - French Quarter, New Orleans

We spent the morning walking around, looking at the house, some very well-kept, others less so. Street names are in French and Spanish. The houses have this typical balcony that overhangs the sidewalk, and which is beautiful with trailing flowers.

 

A house - French Quarter, New Orleans

Another house - French Quarter, New Orleans

A few houses - French Quarter, New Orleans

After some walking around, I begged for a break and we sat in Armstrong Park.

Armstrong Park - New Orleans

We had noted a few potential places to eat and ended up on Bourbon Street eating gator burger (for him) and jambalaya (for me).

Eating on a balcony on Bourbon Street - French Quarter, New Orleans

We toured the Garden District and its cemetery in the afternoon: the district takes its name from the grand houses and their gardens. Lafayette Cemetery No 1 is one of the oldest cemeteries of New Orleans; its denizens were placed in mausoleums above ground because of the high water table. (Which is a nice to say it was a swamp.)

A house in the Garden District - New Orleans

We stopped on the way home to listen to some music in a bar, it was nice. Then an early night, and an early morning drive with a small detour to Crescent park.

Downtown New Orleans from Crescent Park