Exploring New Orleans

The final event in my month-long birthday celebration was a trip to New Orleans. It’s been on my list for years but I had never been there before. If you were one of those telling me I’d love it, you were right! From the moment we arrived it was one discovery after another. December is rarely a top travel choice unless a beach or ski resort is involved, but for my money this is the perfect time to head to New Orleans. A city that parties day in and day out glows even brighter before Christmas and with the early darkness the amazing decorations in city that REALLY gets decked out are visible everywhere! And the weather was terrific. Warm days and cool evenings and not a drop of rain. I was happy to miss the infamous heat and humidity.

So, what was most memorable?

It’s probably the warmth and hospitality that permeated almost everything we did. There were walking tours with talented guides, thrilled to show their adopted city to visitors. The streetcar drivers who patiently dealt with tourists, residents and drunks. And, as always, there were book stores. Sometimes timing is everything and we happened to visit the National World War II Museum the day after a huge new exhibit hall opened. The exhibit on the European Campaign is technologically up to date and very accessible. The pride shown by all the volunteers greeting visitors helped make for a great afternoon.

Not only is music everywhere in New Orleans, whether it is on the street or at Preservation Hall, there is no distance between the performers and the audience. I first saw Preservation Hall band members as a student at Northwestern University.  Forty years later the music, personalities of the artists and their connection to the audience was as strong as ever. The shock was the tiny size and spartan styling of the hall. Shabby chic is over-complimentary and there is less room than in a double-wide trailer. Sitting on a mat on the floor (yes, really) the entire performance played out less than 2 feet from my face. This alone was almost worth the visit.

From Louis Armstrong Park (above left) to the exhibit of Newcomb Pottery (above right) and the distinctive architecture of the French Quarter and Madame John’s Legacy (bottom left), this trip was focused on seeing and doing all the things I love.  And for this I have to thank Dan. From the start, he continually asked me what I wanted to do and how did I want to do it. His complete attention to making this birthday trip everything I wanted it to be was a true statement of love.  And I did get to take a picture of him with a baby gator!

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

by