Today has been a busy busy day. We only had 1 full day in New Orleans so we didn't have time to just sit around and do nothing.
We got an early start and got out and caught a Tram car down Canal St. An all day pass for public transport was $3. Bargain! We caught the Tram down to the wharf where we purchased tickets to the Natchez which is a paddle steamer. We originally planned on doing it over tea but thought it might be better to actually go out for tea properly and hopefully the kids would be better over lunchtime. We bought tickets and then went for a walk around the French District. We started at the Cathedral and then wandered to the French Market and had a look around there, before wandering back down Royal St looking at some of the sites as suggested by the Frommers Self Walking guide.
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| In the French Quarter, both kids wanted a drink in front of the cathedral |
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| Typical Sts |
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| Pontalba Building |
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After walking around and getting a look at the French Quarter, it was time to board our steam boat for our lunch jazz cruise. The Cruise lasted about 2 hours and went down the Mississippi River. On board was a band 'Dukes of Dixieland' who are apparently Grammy nominated. We got to view some of the sites of New Orleans and see from the river the lower ninth precinct which was interesting. Lunch was a tasty seafood creole, and a couple of other local dishes. As the cruise was over lunch time, it meant that Kobe needed a sleep. We brought the stroller for that reason, and he went off to sleep fairly easily.
Once on dry land it was about 1:30pm. We wandered up Canal St to Bourbon St, and caught a different Tram Car down St Charles St to the Garden District. We had to wake Kobe up as we got on the tram. One of the first things we did there was go to a cemetery. I mentioned on the blog the other day that I really wanted to see one. The reason for this is fairly simple. Cemeterys here are very different. As New Orleans is about 8 feet below sea level, if they dug down 6 feet they would hit water. If they buried someone down there, they would just rise to the surface over time. Instead, the bury them above ground. All the tombs have almost a door like front. After 1 year with the heat the bodies are pretty much gone. If another family member dies, they then just toss them in as well.
The Garden district had a completely different feel to the other things we had seen of New Orleans. Good to see a different perspective on things.
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| Former NFL player Archie Mannings House. Who you ask? Ever heard of Eli or Payton Manning? |
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| What better way to decorate trees than beads :-) |
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After that, we headed back to the hotel quickly via the Tram Car again. Once there, we had a quick Skype with Uncle Gra and Aunty Cathy. After that, we headed out for tea in Bourbon St. Both Kids really seemed to enjoy the trams cars.
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| Kobe enjoying quality time with mum on the Tram Car |
As its St Patricks day, things were pretty busy here. Tons of people around and plenty of beads being given out.
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| If you get married, what better way to celebrate than creating your own parade down Bourbon St.... |
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| and led by a band of course :-) |
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Charli and Kobe really seemed to like New Orleans. While some of the things probably aren't really age appropriate for them, its a good thing they are too young to understand some of the things around them. The amount of people, the noise, the music, all appealed to them and I think they enjoyed it more than any other city we have been to so far.
For tea I had a Jambalaya Pasta, and Renee had a Seafood Basket thing. Both tasty. After tea, while wandering home we found an Ice Cream place where you can pick and add anything to your ice cream. Kinda lock Cold Rock, but you do it yourself, and you can pick from over 100 different things you can add. Both kids enjoyed this :-)
After that was done we brought the kids home, and put them to bed. Once they were asleep, I ventured out by myself and walked Bourbon St admiring all of what New Orleans had to offer :-)
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