Falling in love with the Big Easy

Next stop was an eight hour journey east to New Orleans or as its affectionately known the Big Easy. The drive into the city highlighted the devastation from Hurricane Katrina and also the evident poverty of the outskirts versus the chic downtown French Quarter.

We spent a little bit more money to stay in the French Quarter which also meant being able to walk to the famous Bourbon Street for a couple of stiff drinks. We had an amazing meal down one of the side streets at a boutique restaurant and then walked down the bright lights of Bourbon Street which had a mixture of sleazy strip joints and bars playing live jazz. There were loads of street entertainers so we ended up just wandering up and down the blocks just trying to take it all in. We settled in an outdoor courtyard where a great jazz band was playing for tips.

We got up the next morning bright and early and walked through the French Market selling numerous Mardi Gras masks and souvenirs. We then went on a couple hour cruise of the Mississippi river on the last real steamboat on the Great Mississippi as the captain told us continuously.

We then wandered back through the French Quarter looking at the street art and eventually buying a print of a scene of a jazz band playing for tips on the streets of New Orleans.

I have absolutely fallen in love with this city standing out as my favorite of the whole trip, I'm not sure whether its because it seems to be a great blend of European and American culture or whether its the carefree attitude everyone seems to display bearing in mind most have their own personal stories from the horrific storms that have blown through this city in the past.

I have already asked Kris when can we come back and spend more time appreciating the Big Easy.