Exploring the French Quarter

We had a light breakfast of oats, cup-mandarins and waffle at the guest house before setting o ff around 1000 to walk into the French Quarter. It took about 45 minutes through some nice houses in various states of disrepair and gentrification.

Arriving into Bourbon St, I thought it was just sleazy. And that was in broad daylight; it must be absolutely raucous at night. I don’t know what people see in it. Continuing further along, it turned a little quiet in the gay area then very quiet and residential at the north end.

We were ready for a bite by this time. We sat down in a diner and discovered they only had burgers and pizzas, which we didn’t feel like. We continued and met some friendly locals who pointed us to a cafe in Maurigny called Horn’s. That turned out to be perfect sidewalk setting down a quiet road. We opted for a taste of Louisiana: a catfish po-boy (baguette) and pulled-pork with black beans and rice. Both were good choices.

After a leisurely sit-down and sipping of coffee, we continued on foot to the Flea Markets then the riverside of the mighty Mississippi. A cargo ship was leaving while a paddle steamer docking. It was sad to see so many homeless-looking alcoholics around. It doesn’t help that so much of the city’s business and entertainment is focused on drinking.

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Walking inland slightly, we were in Jackson Square (formerly Plaza de Armas) with its beautiful Cathedral. I was puzzled as to how the Spanish fit into the history of Louisiana when I thought it was originally French before being sold to the Americans. The guidebook says that the French King ceded it to the Spanish but Napoleon later sold it to the Americans.

We made our way to Royal St with many antique shops (including one with many Civil War weapons). There were some street buskers who played excellent jazz, and that’s coming from me … one that doesn’t really appreciate music. We walked back to Canal St and St Charles St where we took the street car back to near our place around 1500.

The late afternoon was spent resting in the backyard until grabbing dinner at Juan’s Flying Burrito. The cajun prawn and mango salad and pulled pork burrito were delicious. Dessert consisted of a small tub of Blue Bell ice cream for just over USD2 (one tub costs about the same as one stick of ice cream in NZ where we are ripped off).

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Overall, I had a good feel of the French Quarter. I enjoyed the feel and architecture apart from Bourbon St. The place is a little grimy by US standards with ponding of water here and there.  We were very lucky with the warm slightly humid weather.  Others at the hostel had experienced days of rain on end.