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BradnDad2014
Setting off around 10.00am we pointed Betty in the direction of New Orleans, Bourbon Street.
We've decided to do a segway tour again, and the start point is in the heart of the city.
Much of the central city district dates back to the late 1700's. New Orleans was also destroyed by fires in 1788, although 60 years before San Francisco, I guess it was a risk faced by most major cities of the time..
Hurricane Katrina hit the coast in 2005, and New Orleans still shows the scars of the damage.
It wasn't the hurricane that actually caused such devastation, even though it was packing winds of 280Kph. The collapsing of the levee system protecting the city from the Mississippi River was catastrophic. Some parts of the city were under 6m of water at its peak, resulting in the loss of almost 2000 lives (apparently in excess of 50,000 animals also perished).
Mark, our ever so gay tour guide (claim to fame is the fact that his ex-partner was also the partner of Tennessee Williams..) was witness to the hurricane's impact and still gets a little emotional today..
After our tour, we wandered the streets of New Orleans for a while. Watching the street scape change from the odd busker / group of musicians, into a loud, vibrant mass of entertainment.
As night fell, we ducked into a relatively family orientated (big ask in Bourbon St) restaurant.
As I mentioned before, the locals are soo friendly.. Often hearing stories of Southern hospitality in the past, well I can now confirm, from our experience, it is all true!
We have been met with welcoming smiles at every turn, even the huge bikers are friendly...
Keen to try (well I was) some local cuisine, we ordered an entree of "Alligator Bites'. Eventually cajoling Brad into trying one, he says it taste like "chewy chicken".. Lol.
I let him away with Cajun chicken for a main, while I sampled a "tastes of New Orleans" platter of Alligator and red beans, crawfish etouffee (yep Crawfish), seafood gumbo and rice. Absolutely freakin delicious !!
Finishing dinner, we headed back on to the street.. Wow, everything has amped up with street dancing, buskers by the hundreds, show girls, pimps promoting hookers ( although immediately observing Brad, they were discreet), a genuine party atmosphere...
It's hard to translate, but compared to Vegas, which is all show girls and almost commercial in its feel, this seemed genuine. Sure, everyone was there to make a buck out of the tourist, but there is definitely more "soul" to New Orleans.. Loved the place !
It took us a little while to find where we had parked the car, but we eventually got home around 10.30pm after a great experience.
We've decided to do a segway tour again, and the start point is in the heart of the city.
Much of the central city district dates back to the late 1700's. New Orleans was also destroyed by fires in 1788, although 60 years before San Francisco, I guess it was a risk faced by most major cities of the time..
Hurricane Katrina hit the coast in 2005, and New Orleans still shows the scars of the damage.
It wasn't the hurricane that actually caused such devastation, even though it was packing winds of 280Kph. The collapsing of the levee system protecting the city from the Mississippi River was catastrophic. Some parts of the city were under 6m of water at its peak, resulting in the loss of almost 2000 lives (apparently in excess of 50,000 animals also perished).
Mark, our ever so gay tour guide (claim to fame is the fact that his ex-partner was also the partner of Tennessee Williams..) was witness to the hurricane's impact and still gets a little emotional today..
After our tour, we wandered the streets of New Orleans for a while. Watching the street scape change from the odd busker / group of musicians, into a loud, vibrant mass of entertainment.
As night fell, we ducked into a relatively family orientated (big ask in Bourbon St) restaurant.
As I mentioned before, the locals are soo friendly.. Often hearing stories of Southern hospitality in the past, well I can now confirm, from our experience, it is all true!
We have been met with welcoming smiles at every turn, even the huge bikers are friendly...
Keen to try (well I was) some local cuisine, we ordered an entree of "Alligator Bites'. Eventually cajoling Brad into trying one, he says it taste like "chewy chicken".. Lol.
I let him away with Cajun chicken for a main, while I sampled a "tastes of New Orleans" platter of Alligator and red beans, crawfish etouffee (yep Crawfish), seafood gumbo and rice. Absolutely freakin delicious !!
Finishing dinner, we headed back on to the street.. Wow, everything has amped up with street dancing, buskers by the hundreds, show girls, pimps promoting hookers ( although immediately observing Brad, they were discreet), a genuine party atmosphere...
It's hard to translate, but compared to Vegas, which is all show girls and almost commercial in its feel, this seemed genuine. Sure, everyone was there to make a buck out of the tourist, but there is definitely more "soul" to New Orleans.. Loved the place !
It took us a little while to find where we had parked the car, but we eventually got home around 10.30pm after a great experience.
- comments
Mum Such a Bradley!
KLB&R We thought you added to your coat and hat collection!!!:-))
KLB&R Drink enough and end up with one!!!:-))
Katrina Dougherty OMG Leanne, that's exactly what I said 'such a Bradley' so funny......