Wednesday, February 13, 2013

N'awlins - The Big Easy

New Orleans feels so different from any other city I've ever visited in the US, largely due to its colonial past being more French than English.   New Orleans was founded by the French in 1718 under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, and played major roles throughout American history in the War of 1812 and the Civil War from 1861-1865.  The flavour of the city is decidedly more charming Parisienne with its cathedrals, squares and side streets. It's easy to spend hours wandering in the French Quarter completely beguiled by the lovely architecture that greets visitors at every turn.
 
 
Cathedral St. Louis at Jackson Square, New Orleans

 Charming architecture in the French Quarter

 Aunty Jo Jo enjoying music at Bourbon Street



The Mighty Mississippi is another icon of the Deep South that has fired up my imagination since reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.  I was delighted to catch sight of the genuine steamboats made famous by Mark Twain.  The last time I actually rode in one of these was, I'm sorry to say, in Disneyland...blush...
 

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