The Big Easy

Matt and I traveled to New Orleans for a short vacation.  The building in the picture is the Saint Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square.

The cathedral is the oldest operating Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States.

The high ceilings are beautifully painted.

The statue of Andrew Jackson in the courtyard.  It was good to be among fellow Tennesseans.

  Speaking of Tennesseans, this mule named "Cash" after Johnny Cash, took us on a carriage ride around the French Quarter.

The Saint Louis Cemetary #1 is the oldest and most famous above ground cemetary in New Orleans. 

Voodoo Priestess, Marie Laveau, is interred in this tomb. 

This pyramid shaped tomb was recently built for actor, Nicholas Cage.

There were lots of street performers.

Easton would have loved this "Transformer". 

Famous Cafe Du Monde, The original french market coffee stand, which opened in 1862, is well known for Beignet.  It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Beignets are square French-style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar.  The hot chocolate was also really good!

New Orleans is right on the bank of the Mississippi River.   The riverboat, Natchez, is in the background. 

The architecture of New Orleans homes feature many balconies decorated like this one.  I couldn't believe how big the ferns were!

 This house was blowing enough bubbles to make it "snow" all through the street.

Lafitte's Blacksmith shop was built in 1772 and is one of the oldest structures in New Orleans.  There is no electricity inside the building.  http://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com/Homepage.html

New Orleans is also famous for it's Jazz.  We visited "Musical Legends Park" with statues of "Fats" Domino, Al Hurt, and Pete Fountain.

Bourbon Street

 

There were musical street bands playing in the streets. 

Napolean House was once the home of New Orleans' mayor Nicholas Girod in 1812.  It got it's name because he offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821as a refuge during his exile. 

There are many famous restaurants such as Antoine's, Emerils, GW Fins, and K Paul. 

Matt took me to eat at La Petite Grocery on Magazine Street for my "birthday" meal. 

The picture shows the inside of the store in the early 1900s.  http://www.lapetitegrocery.com/

This is the fountian inside the courtyard at Pat O'Brien's. 

The tradition of eating "King Cake" is the baby that is baked into the cake.  The lucky person who gets it is "King or Queen for the Day". 

The Canal Street Streetcar was discontinued in 1964, but restored in 2004.