Gumbo, Beignets and Daiquiris

05-16-2017
New Orleans was a much bigger city than I anticipated.  I had the same sense of freedom and fun, similar to being in Vegas, but with some added Creole cultural charm and humidity.  Maybe I was reminded of Vegas because we were able to purchase daiquiris at 10 a.m. and sip on them while we walked the flea market.  Or maybe it was the walkability of the city with the mass number of other tourist on the streets checking out the bars, restaurants and shops that lined them.  Although Vegas is one long strip, where the French Quarter is condensed into about a 10 blocks by 10 blocks radius.

We ate lunch at the Gumbo Shop and the food was delicious!
We enjoyed the jambalaya, gumbo and catfish.

We tried the beignets at Cafe de Monde because everyone said we had to try it.
When we first passed by the line was zig-zagged out the door.  Luckily on our way back to the hotel we were able to walk right in and order.

Everything was within walking distance from our hotel on Canal Street.  On our first day we walked from Canal Street, which is the main road, to the French Market about ten blocks away.  On our jaunt towards the French Market we were able to visit St. John's Cathedral.  This is a Catholic Church located behind the Jackson Square.

We loved the architecture of the buildings, mostly intrigued by the ornate railings and colorful doors. There were many street bands, not soloist, that played at street corners.  Of course, we had to take a peak at the famous Bourbon Street.  We walked at dawn, right before the craziness was in full effect.  We did a lot of walking on our first day.  As a matter of fact, my fitbit watch informed me of my 10,000 steps just mid-day!

Our second day in New Orleans consisted of a Garden District and Cemetery tour.  The Garden District was located too far away to walk.  We were able to conveniently take the trolley.  I learned that there are only two moving historical landmarks in the U.S.-- the trains in New Orleans and the trolleys in San Francisco.

Nicolas Cage owned this home but lost it because he "forgot" to pay the taxes on it.
We also got to see John Goodman and Sandra Bullocks homes.

The mold for this original fence is still available for only $150/linear foot.
The original owner of this home had this fence made for his wife who missed living by the cornfields.

This is where Connor, Peyton and Eli Manning grew up.
Their parents still reside in this home.

It is believed that the light blue ceilings kept ghosts away.

The Lafayette #1 Cemetery- Some people thought that the tombs are above ground because of the flooding but it's really from tradition that comes from their European decedents.  Because of the limitation of plots, families are buried in the same tomb.  So you'll have one tablet that has several names and space for more.  In history, New Orleans had 12 consecutive years of yellow fever, which killed many people.  It was sad to hear the stories about families having to bury a child one day after another in the same week.

On record, the most filled tomb within this cemetery consists of 37 people in a single family tomb.

New Orleans didn't keep good records.  The names on the tombstones are all they have.
Sometimes these aren't even accurate.

The different symbols on the tombstones had meanings, such as a handshake means peace, a cut flower means the life was taken too soon, a sheep meant it was a child. 

The limestone tablets used to be held up with copper screws, but they were getting stolen because they could sell them for cash and the limestone could wear away and break easily.  Nowadays they use marble tablets and steel screws.

After the tour we started headed west again and landed in Houston for the night 5 hours later.