New Orleans - Hurricanes, ghosts, and the French

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Leaving Texas behind me I head to New Orleans, Louisiana. Most people associate New Orleans with Mardi Gras (alcohol, beads, party), Hurricane (the drink), Hurricane (Katrina), and good food, and, well, they are right! I arrive there in the morning and make it to the India House Hostel - great people, a pool, and one dollar breakfast. Also it is not dangerous to walk around the area - at daytime. The first stroll is towards downtown and through the French Quarter, in the direction of the famous Cafe du monde. Famous for its baignets (Frieds pieces of dough with massive amounts of sugar) and cafe au lait, it is a major tourist destination. Reminding me of Langos (just without the garlic) it is not as amazing as advertized, yet makes a good breakfast for a day of exploring. Following LP's tour sometimes more and sometimes less, I spend a whole day down in the French Quarter, including a visit to the Voodoo museum and several galleries amongst others. When I make my way back to the hostel and cook dinner I can't believe my eyes: Anna, who I met in Nashville, is having dinner at the same table! The world is small after all. We start talking and realize we are both heading in the same direction, so why not travel to Tallahassee together?! The plan for the night, to get some of that sleep back, is not quite working out as the people in the hostel are great and we end up partying until the early hours.

On the next day Anna and I head to the Garden District, a rich area of town full of big houses and wealthy cars. Nevertheless, one can see traces of the financial crisis even here. On the main street of the district's bars, restaurants and shops invite you to buy "Brad Pitt for mayor" shirts, and offer so many great deals on drinks, it is hard to resist. Two for one, back-to-school deals, half price - this is a drinking town! In the evening Roberto, Anna, and I meet for dinner (rabbit and sausage jambalaya - mmhh) and later a ghost tour, followed by partying on Beale street. And of course partying at the hostel 😊

It is good bye New Orleans at the next day and off to Tallahassee with Anna.

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Photos

French Quarter again
the old in the front, the new in the back

Roberto
Party im Hostel

Mardi Gras
die Ketten in den Baeumen haengen noch dort von den Mardi Gras celebrtations

Garden districs
That is what houses there look like

The famous hurricane
two for one - who can say no to that?!