Final Pictures for Day One

The next picture is fitting for this city.

Though it could be just the name of a drink.

Of course, Jazz.

This cafe also has yummy Mango frozen drinks. It is directly on Bourbon Street across from our hotel.

As was the case in Italy, I spent alot of time looking up as most of the French Quarter Houses have iron balconies.

You come across the most interesting old houses when you walk off to the back streets away from the tourist traps. There is one advantage of being here before, you know what to avoid. The last time I was in New Orleans was in April 2001. I stayed at a Sheraton on Canal Street. I was married to Joe at the time and he was at the convention center for business so I spent my days wondering the streets alone. I love to explore. This trip is with my husband, Bill. He picked the spot, hotel and here we are.

The next few pictures really are very European.

 

Day One New Orleans

I would tell you about the exciting flight down, however, I will save that part for later. Let's just say, I held my heart in my hands. Welcome to New Orleans and our stay at the four star resort known as Royal Sonesta.

The resort is very nice. The room is comfortable although small. Reminds me of New York City and Italy all wrapped up in one. Welcome to Bourbon Street before the action.

I really want to upload some more pictures, but this Internet service is slow as hell here in the hotel so I will bore you with a few details. We ate at a little German place called Jaeguerhaus which was located off a side street away from the tourist traps. The food was magnificent and the beer was delicious. I started out with a Stella but after getting a taste of Bill's brew, I was totally into the Authentic German brand.

  Seriously, the label is great in of itself. We so enjoyed this little German place and was glad we came across it. If there is one thing you do in New Orleans is WALK a lot.

We went into a VooDoo shop. I could really use a few dolls for certain people in my life whom I would gladly stick pins into or at the very least place the dolls in the freezer. Then, we came across signs like this one.

There is alot of history and culture found in the city such as Jackson Square. However, the Internet wants too be real slow so I may have to upload the pictures later.

Since these are statures of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square, I can only assume, the square was named after him.

 I believe the last two pictures speak for themselves. New Orleans = Jazz. One the nicest sights in Jackson Square is the St. Louis Cathedral.

In addition to Jackson Square, we walked down to the river front and took in the Mississippi. If this computer continues to upload pictures at a snail's pace, I may have to continue Day One on Day Two.

We walked a short distance along the river, as my back was screaming "give me alcohol". Yeah. Just what I thought, I may have to continue Day One pictures on Day Two.

Before, we left the Mississippi, I needed to hug a stature.

A taste of tomorrow's Day One pictures to be uploaded on Day Two before I kill the computer.

New Orleans has its place in history just by its architecture. I took several photos of the French Quarter, however, the computer is crawling at a snail's place so I will upload the rest at a later date. For now, I hung that little sign on the door that stated what I wanted for breakfast tomorrow as I love room service. Then, we will plan a trip out to St. Louie #1 Cemetery and spend some time back here at the pool complete with pool bar. It is hot, humid and in the 90's here. I want to visit the entire Riverwalk tomorrow as they have some nice shops and great seafood.

Waiting

Great start. Plane is already delayed. Thank the Good Lord for wireless Internet. I will play on the computer until we actually get on the plane.

Cities of the Dead

Why is the dead buried above ground in the city of New Orleans?

Because of this.

Flooding.

The early settlers to New Orleans buried their dead under the ground as it was their custom. What they discovered was they could only bury the coffins a few feet down before hitting water as the city was built upon a swamp and is below sea level. When the area flooded, the air tight coffins would pop up from under the ground and float down the street.

In an area where summer meant yellow fever and yellow fever meant increased death rates, burial under the ground became a nightmare. The settlers tried different methods to keep the coffins in the ground. They placed large stones on top of the coffins. They inserted air holes in the coffins. It did not work. When the area flooded, the coffins rose from beneath the earth.

The citizens in New Orleans did not know what to do. You cannot have coffins rising from the ground everytime there was a flood.

So they decided to bury the dead above ground in crypts and mausoleums. Then, they made a two year rule because how many family members can one inter in an above ground crypt? When a family member died, they were interred in a crypt that was family owned or rented. After two years, the body was removed from the coffin and the remains placed in a bag and stored either on the inside of the crypt or in the back. Each time this process occurred, the old remains would be swept back and the new coffin interred. If someone died within the two year period, the coffin was placed in a vault for storage until the remains in the crypt were removed from its coffin and bagged. Thus New Orleans Cemeteries became known as The City of the Dead.

Let it Rain Rain Rain

Forecast for New Orleans this week is hot and humid with a chance of showers. The temperature will be in the 90's and the heat index will be 105. At least I know what to pack. The last time I went to New Orleans was in the month of April. It was pretty chilly. I like hot vs. chilly. The resort has a pool and I will be there. We have an agenda for this trip.

• History Museum
• Jackson Square
• Bourbon Street
• St. Charles
• St Louie Cemeteries
• Market Place
• Riverwalk

One of my favorite places in all my travels is the history behind this place.

New Orleans Cemeteries "Cities of the Dead" Watch a fun video about New Orleans cemetery tours Only in New Orleans, which is unique in so many ways, could cemeteries be major tourist attractions. However, because the city is built on a swamp, the deceased have to be buried above ground here in elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums. Over time the cemeteries, with elaborate sculptures and other decorative artwork embellishing the tombs, have come to come to resemble small villages. They are known by the nickname of “Cities of the Dead.” The most famous cemetery, St. Louis Cemetery #1, is walking distance from the French Quarter and the Downtown area. Located on historic Basin Street, it is the burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings. The many “X’s” scrawled on the tomb attest to the power she is believed to wield, even long after her death. Many other New Orleanians who achieved world fame are buried there as well, including 19th century chess champion Paul Morphy, Homer Plessy of the landmark Supreme Court segregation decision Plessy vs. Ferguson, and members of Impressionist artist Edgar Degas’ New Orleans-based family.

http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/attractions/cemeteries.html

And it Begins

I am officially on vacation as of 4pm today. I will not see the indoors of FBHS until 9/10 and I can now get excited for our vacation to New Orleans. Flight leaves 11am on Tuesday. We are staying in the French Quarter at a four star resort. I have been to New Orleans. Bill has not been to New Orleans. Other than Bourbon Street, we will visit the above ground cemeteries, museum, Jackson Square, The Riverwalk and maybe even hop a trolley on St. Charles Street.

I am ready for food, drink, history and music. Bring it on!