Enjoying the French Quarters without the Party

 Hi 80   Lo 67

There is so much to see and do in New Orleans.  We knew that we would have to chose carefully what we wanted to see cause we only have three days.  First on our need to see is the French Quarters.  Really! No need to bother coming here if the French Quarter isn't the first stop. 

While we was gathering information at the office,  the park manager said that we wouldn't be able to park the B.A.T  (Big Ass Truck) as we call our truck in the down town area.   Our choices were to take the city bus, or a shuttle service, or we could park at City Park and take the Canal Street Street Car. Not knowing how long we may be downtown we decided we would go for option #3.

We set the info into the GPS and found City Park and a lot to leave the truck.  Now what?  Which way do we go?   We need to take a Map 101 class.  We asked a young man for directions and he said to go to the corner, turn right and walk to the second light to Canal Street.  GREAT!  We soon realised we had a ways to go.  On our way we past three cemeteries.  Greenwood Cemetery, Masonic Cemetery, and St Patrick Cemetery.  The photos were taken at Greenwood Cemetery.   Everyone is buried above ground.  New Orleans is actually below sea level so the water table is very high. Common practice is to dig a grace 6 foot deep but here you would have a hole filled with water which would cause the casket to rise back up.  The locals call the cemeteries the Cities of the Dead.  This area was first settled by France and Spain  and above ground burial was their custom.  You can take a walking tour and learn all about these beautiful cemeteries. 

Hold Cemetery

Anyways we made it to Canal Street.  We purchased 2 day use passes and boarded a street car.  This is the end or the beginning of the street car line.  The conductor told us about several places to see as well as restaurants we needed to try.  We decided to ride to the end of the tracks which put us at the Mississippi River and the River Walk area.  We walked along the river to the shopping plaza and convention center.

Landscaping along Convention Center

  We also indulged ourselves with a lunch of Poboy sandwiches and gumbo.  Spicy but goooood.   We rolled ourselves back out to Canal Street and went to famous Bourbon Street.  It is said that you can find and enjoy anything you want for a fee while on this street.  The views and the beverages are plentiful. I'll let you think of the possibilities.  Every street offers some different.  One street has art and jewelry shops and Bourbon Street has bars, restaurants, cabarets, and other interest.

While walking down Royal Street we listened to various street musicians and performing groups.  We also passed St Louis Cathedral at the edge of Jackson Square.  What I enjoyed the most was seeing all the french affluence in the buildings  with all the iron work on the balconies.  I could imagine looking at the Mardi Gras Parade from above.

We decided to catch a street car and start are return to the truck.  This time we took the route that went to the Museam of Art to see if it was closer.  Well it wasn't but we got to walk through the park and along the water.  The flowers are pretty and we watch the birds along the way.  We enjoyed watching this little lady feed the ducks.

We got back to the trailer and turned on the TV.  The news was all about the tornatoes that just passed through Indiana.  The hardest hit was Henryville which is about 25 miles from my home town of Crothersville.   Most of my fanily including my Mom still are living there.  Several phone calls were made and found everyone to be safe with no damage.  Several small communities were severely damaged. The death toll has not been determined as they are still searching.  Our prayers go out to all the families that have lost love ones and homes.

                                                                                           

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More tomorrow from Wayne's World