Naw’Lins

We took a little trip to New Orleans (or “Naw’Lins”, as the locals pronounces it) in June and had a great week. Little did we know when we booked the trip that June through November is the height of hurricane season in Louisiana, but fortunately we did not get blown away by winds, but by the hospitality of the people, the architecture, food, and the music of this city.

We stayed at a Wyndham Resort “La Belle Maison” only two blocks from the French Quarter where we spent tons of time wandering, eating, and listening to impromptu concerts provided by local artists ranging in age from 8 to 80 (https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g60864-d1176540-Reviews-Wyndham_La_Belle_Maison-New_Orleans_Louisiana.html).

For those who have not visited the area, know that the French Quarter is more than just Bourbon Street, although it has the most notoriety. The area is about 10 blocks by 10 blocks, but the blocks are short, so the whole area is walkable (and flat). The architecture in this area has changed very little since the 18^th century and there are local by-laws in place to protect the exterior of these buildings, which disguise some of the best and most unique restaurants we have ever had the privilege of visiting.

When we take time in new cities, we like to experience and celebrate the differences from experiences we can get in Canada. In Naw’Lins we tried all kinds of food and drink we have never had: Alligator, hushpuppies, crawfish, grits, jambalaya, muflatas, and adult beverages including Mint Julep, local craft beer, local rums, and a Hurricane to name just a few. We also experienced a variety of brands of local hot sauces that made each meal a delight to the palate.

Take a cruise on the ‘Natchez’ – the last remaining steam powered stern-paddle wheeler on the Mississippi River where the dinner cruise includes a narrative of the history of the area between the otherwise non-stop live jazz piped throughout the ship (http://www.steamboatnatchez.com).

 
 

“Shop-til-you-drop” is the mantra of the French Market and the adjoining French Quarter Flea Market, where there are all new items, mostly hand-crafted by local artisans at a cheaper cost than you will find on Bourbon Street. Food vendors have it all covered so you can take a break for a bite before you continue shopping (http://www.frenchmarket.org).

If/when you go, take a tour of some of the antebellum homes that are open to the public. You will not be disappointed in the history lessons or the hospitality of the people who run the tours. The French they speak is very much a ‘patois’ that is closer to Acadien than Quebecois, with inflections of Spanish, English, and Choctaw, just to make it interesting. That being said they were able to understand and converse in le joual au Québec.

Perhaps the highlight of the trip was taking a Swap Boat tour. These are small open boats driven by a caged airplane propeller mounted above the rear seat and able to go very fast through swamp and bayou areas. We went looking for alligators with marshmallows for bait! Our captain (Scott) was great at explaining all about the Louisiana swamps, and the life and times of ‘gators. We did see some large alligators but nothing up close because the day was very hot (38C) and the alligators like cooler temperatures (http://www.cajunencounters.com/swamp_tour).