New Orleans, pt I.

The final stop of our 3-week exploration of southeastern USA was New Orleans. Rennu, Michael, Aradhna and I stayed at the wonderful Hotel Mazarin just off Bourbon Street (above). At less than two days it was much too short a stay but we made the most of it, as I think these photos prove.

As I've previously posted, we walked chilly Bourbon Street after checking into our hotel in search of live blues. Heard it coming from a joint called My Bar @ 635. The four of us found a spot by the bar, I bought us a round of double Jack Daniels', and settled in after a day of traveling. Next thing you know I'm settling behind the drum kit of the Troy Turner Blues Band and jamming with Mr Turner. A remarkable experience. These photos were taken by Aradhna. Video taken by Rennu is here.

We stumbled into a Bourbon Street restaurant afterwards. Food was good (Aradhna devoured her first jambalaya) and crocodiles adorned the walls. If only the restaurant's name was as memorable as its decor.

No caption required, methinks.

After enjoying an outstanding Mazarin breakfast, we hopped in of a taxi and joined Sarah of Free Tours By Foot just as her group was heading inside Lafayette Cemetery #1 to begin a Garden District walking tour. Sarah, who mentioned her status as a member of the 'Bearded Oysters' like others would speak of their affiliation with the priesthood, spent the next two hours filling our slightly sore heads with Nawlins history, folklore and celebrity abodes.

Lafayette Cemetery #1.

According to Sarah, this Garden District house sported the world's first gothic window shutters.

Theories abound as to why corn stalks adorn this wrought iron fence.

Garden district mansion decorated for Christmas.

Who Dat!

Long-time home of New Orleans royalty, the Manning family. Father Archie played for the Saints in the '70s, and sons Peyton and Eli are NFL quarterbacks of whom you may be familiar.

It was refreshing to see trees -- and their root systems -- take precedence over level sidewalks in the Garden district.

Former home of novelist Anne Rice.

So well-loved they're occasionally stolen.

New Orleans home of actor John Goodman.

Aradhna was delighted to learn that this house of questionable design is the New Orleans home of her favourite English-speaking actress, Sandra Bullock.

Damaged by Hurricane Katrina but reopened a year later, Commander's Palace has been a Garden district tradition since 1880. Celebrity chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse are two of its alumni.

At the end of our 'free' walking tour -- we tipped the delightful Sarah generously -- we walked a few blocks to Magazine Street and another Garden district institution, though not one of international renown. Tracey's is the kind of neighborhood bar that doesn't exist in Australia, and one where we found cheap beer ($3 bottles of Bass Ale), kind locals and an appropriately delicious introduction to po-boys, New Orleans's entry in the US heroes/hoagies/grinders/etc category.

At Tracey's.

MORE NEW ORLEANS TO COME