New Orleans, LA

Day 99, November 8th, 2009

We were off at 8:00 with high hopes for our little holiday excursion to New Orleans. John and I had originally planned on taking the boat there but realised that its quite a long way out of our general route so had already decided against it. So when Pat suggested we rent a car together and stay a night in a hotel, we were all for it!

The weather forecast continued to monitor Hurricane Ida. On Saturday, instead of weakening it had escalated again to Hurricane 1 status after being downgraded to a Tropical Storm. However, it was still expected to fizzle out and we decided to continue with our New Orleans plan anyway.

We arrived just before lunch and checked our baggage and car into the hotel. We'd stopped at the Visitors Centre on entering Louisiana and spent 15 minutes with this great guy who gave us all kinds of tips on what to see on our short visit. So after grabbing a bite to eat at a "Popeye's" (Seafood Chain) on Canal Street, we hopped on the St. Charles' Streetcar and rode it out to the Garden District. What a gorgeous area! We wandered through street after street of the most beautiful antebellum homes. You just get through oohing and ahhing over one and then see the one beside it. Most of them are beautifully kept with lovely manicured gardens. It must be amazing to visit in the summer when the magnolia trees are in bloom. As it was we saw hibiscus, bougainvillia, and birds of paradise all growing naturally!!! Gorgeous!!! Lining the streets are huge spreading live oak trees. Live Oaks are interesting - not like the oak trees that we in the north are familiar with, these trees have a tiny little leaf and they are not deciduous but keep their foliage all through the winter months. We girls felt that this was definitely our day, having stuck with the guys through all that mechanical stuff, we were really in our element!!!

Back on the streetcar we rode it to the end of the track and then got the next returning to Canal Street - pretty good tour bus for $1.25 per ticket!

Back at the hotel we had a good look around. Just on the edge of the French Quarter, on Magazine Street, it had been converted from some very old buildings including a publishing house. John and I laughed to find the floor in our room was all different levels. You got out of bed and walked to the bathroom - it felt just like being on the boat the floor was so wobbly!!

After Happy Hour in the hotel where we enjoyed a "Swamp Water", we walked a few blocks to Bourbon Street to eat a delicious supper at Bourbons with Pat and Diane. I had shrimp Gumbo, followed by Grilled Red Fish with crab meat on top! It was good - too bad I didn't have room for the creme brulee for dessert. Life does seem to have its disappointments!!! Pat and Diane then decided to go back to the hotel but I managed to persuade John to go with me to "Preservation Hall". This old Jazz haunt in the French District was amazing. Old sleezy, scruffy old place we sat on an old bench while others sat on the floor and others had to stand at the back. The only decoration are old pictures of negro Jazz musicians. Louis Armstrong, among others, played in this home of Jazz. We loved the music. A 5 member Jazz band enthralled us with their trombone, clarinet, piana, bass and drums. They were amazing. As a highlight this old old fella stood up and sang with the band - dressed in his zoot suite, with gold lame shirt, matching top hat, cane and dripping in gold jewellry. His name was "Uncle Lionel". He looked a hundred years old, had a raspy dry old voice but was magic!!! We came out of there so glad we'd gone. Were met by the action of the French Quarter. It was humming. Bourbon Street had been closed to traffic and the streets were milling with people. The many bars were open to the street and music was blasting out from every one of them. Some scantily clad young ladies were advertising their wares on the street at a few strip joints. We tried not to be too obvious as we glimpsed a quick look and walked on by. It was rather like being 20 again and walking down on Yonge Street when we were kids!!! What a great city!

We watched the weather again on the TV when we got back to our room. Hurricane Ida was on its way North from Cuba and due to hit the Gulf Coast from Mississippi to Florida by 0100 Tuesday!!! It was obvious our little holiday was going to have to be cut short! We weren't going to have time to see the Cathedral or wander around the French Quarter in the day time.