New Orleans - Laissez les bon temps rouler!


What can I possibly say about New Orleans that hasn't already been said? I now understand why the New York Times named it the #1 city to visit in 2018. The diversity comes through in the art, food, music, culture and architecture.  I had a list of "must see" places for my first visit to NOLA and we got to most, if not all, of them. Next time I'll get below the surface to explore even more.

After the endless drive through Mississippi, we were more than trilled to get to the Manchac Swamp Bridge, that elevated highway that goes over swamp land. We are getting closer!! It is quite an impressive roadway!

 We checked into the Creole Gardens and were generously upgraded to the Penthouse with our own rooftop deck. The B&B is located in the Garden District on Prytania and is one block to the trolley and close to everything we wanted to see. We settled in for a few minutes and headed out to begin exploring. 

It was really hot and humid, SURPRISE!, but we were prepared with an umbrella for shade and s.p.f. 100 - no joke. We walked all the way through the Central Business District and Warehouse/Arts District into the French Quarter.  Of course the first things you notice are the beautiful buildings with wrought iron railings and balconies and so much green.




We made our way down Bourbon Street (once is pretty much enough for me) and got to Lafitte's for a Hurricane. Gotta have at least 1 of these in NOLA.





We walked several side streets around the French Quarter down to St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. We then crossed Decatur Street to catch a glimpse of the Mississippi River with the sound of a riverboat horn in the background.





A barge going down the river! It was HUGE!


We then took a Lyft back to St. Charles in the Garden District and had an incredible meal at Superior Seafood!
Our first Gumbo and Louisiana style BBQ shrimp. Yum!

Thus ends our first day in New Orleans. Great way to start!

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