French Quarter-Chapter Two

We took Tuesday as a day of rest and chores. The weather was gloomy and threatening rain so it was a good day for that pesky laundry, groceries and cleaning! We also took advantage of the daily showing of     the movie "Hurricane on the Bayou", a National Geographic film that they show here at the park. It was really interesting and more a lesson about wet land loss along the gulf coast and how that effects wildlife as well as weather. Narrated by Meryl Streep but the story centers around local musician (and a favorite of my cousins) Tab Benoit. I also ventured out to buy a new ink cartridge for our printer and got...well, very lost. The Office Depot was right outside the Quarter, in the business district and while I found it easily, I could not find my way out! After a good 45 minutes of driving all the wrong ways, I came to the sad conclusion that New Orleans is still suffering from Hurricane Katrina but I also have the feeling that, in general, the majority of NO residents are not doing much to clean up their city. It is just generally filthy. No where have I seen so much trash literally piled up on roadsides, in parks, yards, alleys....everywhere you look. I surely did not see all of the city, not even close but I did end up driving a good ten mile square area, even out to a suburb called Metaire, and the filth was everywhere. Makes me very sad to see so many houses and buildings that have just been abandoned following Katrina. Not fixed, not torn down, they sit as an eyesore and hazard. It has been six years. I would think that if everyone in NO pitched in and simply cleaned up their own property, it would make a huge difference in the city as a whole. Anyway...'nuf preaching!
Yesterday we headed out on the 10 a.m. shuttle and started our day with a good homemade breakfast at Mothers Restaurant. Eggs,grits,hot sausage and biscuits. Yum!

Next stop was the World War II Museum. In addition to the amazing museum we saw a film produced and narrated by Tom Hanks in 4D called "Beyond All Boundaries". What is 4D? We did not know either! The movie was on a three dimensional screen, but also incorporated huge props that blended in with the screen, the seats shook, rattled and rolled, and snow, fog and smells were emitted from the ceiling.  It was truly multi sensory and we were amazed!

After a drink in the museum bar, we took a bus down Magazine Street to another "uptown" area of cool shops and restaurants/bars. Obviously we weren't hungry yet but Jeff scored some more good cigars so we found a joint where we could have a beer and a smoke..

Cigar Shop

The Bulldog

We walked the area then the six blocks to St. Charles Street to catch the streetcar back to the Quarter.

After disembarking at Canal Street we made our way into the Quarter and   as we walked by Pat O'Briens decided we HAD to stop for a cocktail. After all...it's a New Orleans institution! And since we were there, I HAD to have a Hurricane (another institution!).



We continued through the Quarter and back to Bourbon Street where there is always something to entertain you. Street musicians, performance artists, whatever you want to call them, they are a sight!

Ended the night listening to some good old Rock and Roll on Bourbon. As we got on the shuttle to go home, I actually got a teeny bit teary. Leaving New Orleans is hard. And I can't really explain it but it is like a different world. So vibrant, raunchy, delicious and completely addictive! On to Abita Springs...