Ritz Carlton
I've never been to New Orleans before and I was a little leery about going. I'd heard so many negative things about it and I'm not a drinker. So what did New Orleans have to offer me? Plenty!!! Since Hurricane Katrina, the city has really cleaned up. The rif raf and criminal elements are the same as anywhere else. I felt safe. I walked all over and I enjoyed the food, architecture and the kindness of the locals. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton on Canal Street. (Best service we've ever had.) The outside border of the french quarter. The french quarter is 7 blocks by 13 blocks. Easily walkable. This time of year it was hot and humid, but not as bad as say, Miami. Wear flat shoes and breathable fabrics because the sidewalks are uneven and you're going to sweat walking around. It can't be helped.
This is a city that celebrates Mardi Gras and there are beads everywhere. Hanging from the sign post, the trees, and the signs.
This is our room at the Ritz. Our first room was facing Canal street on the 5th floor and right outside our window, the flags were flying. Needless to say, the flag poles squeaked like crazy and we had to change rooms after the first night. We were then given a room overlooking the courtyard.
The courtyard was beautiful and peaceful.
On our first morning, we headed into the french quarter via Bourbon Street. They were hosing down the street from the partying the night before and it stank. It is full of sex clubs and shops. It is the only street I did not enjoy. I guess the music used to be really good on this street but the music has moved to Frenchman Street. So this street in basically bars. Not my cup of tea. Beads everywhere. There are some famous restaurants on this street that you might be interested in, but there are fantastic restaurants in better parts of the quarter. Every night when we were walking down Dauphine street back to our hotel, we could hear the party on Bourbon one street over!
Bourbon Street
The rest of the quarter is picturesque and architecturally interesting. Most buildings have beautiful, iron galleries and otheres have fire escapes, shutters, plants, etc. More detail than the eye can see at a quick glance.
These are not balconies by the way. They are galleries. Balconies extend out with no support, the galleries have poles that reach down to the ground for support. The galleries were a sign of wealth in New Orleans back in the day. You were taxed on the square footage of your gallery and how many poles supported it. The iron work was another display of wealth. The more you had and the intricacy of it showed everyone that you had money.
The architecture of the city is Spanish. It is called the french quarter because the french overwhelmingly settled this part of the city, but they didn't build it. They weren't the original settlers, the Spanish were. The city is coming up on it's 300 year anniversary.
I loved these little houses that dotted the streets. Each one totally unique, yet kept the vibe of the historic essence. I wish I had more time to photograph the quarter. My friend, Katy, who has an apartment in the quarter, likes to do just that. Her apartment is beautiful by the way. The real estate is expensive here. Her little 800ish sq. ft. apartment would go for about $700,000. A small house is over a million. But the atmosphere and beauty of the quarter is amazing.
I really enjoyed the french quarter. I met a long time blogging friend (Katy) in person and she was very kind to come into the quarter and show us around. She shared her favorite restaurants and took me 2 hours out of town to visit some spectacular plantations. More on that coming up.
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