New Orleans Confidential: The Daylight Edition

French donuts--or beignets--with orange juice and
the Cafe du Monde's special blend: coffee with chickory
(Click image to enlarge)

After the eye-opening fun that was Rue Bourbon, the next day shed a better light on New Orleans, and the charm and beauty of the Crescent City came out in the streets surrounding the French Quarter. Of course, you can't go to N'awlins and not have beignets at the Cafe du Monde. That's how we started the day.



After beignets, we strolled through Jackson Square and then over to Saint Louis Cathedral.

Saint Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square
(Click image to enlarge)

Here are a few extra pictures showing the inside of this beautiful church.



I took more than 100 pictures of New Orleans, but this is all I have time to post. If I get a chance, I'll come back to this city and post more pictures of the beautiful ironwork, building and door colors, and people that make this one of America's most unique cities.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 04/09

Oak Alley Confidential

Oak Alley Plantation--the South's most photographed plantation--derives its name
from 28 oak trees that lead from the Mississippi River to the front porch.
(Click image to enlarge.)

After New Orleans, we ventured out along the Great River Road and headed for Oak Alley Plantation. Located in Vacherie, Louisiana, Oak Alley is one of the most photographed plantations in the South. The plantation gets its name from 28 oak trees that were planted in a double row perpendicular to the Mississippi River in the early 1700s. These magnificent oaks--estimated to be more than 300 years old--provide the canopy and framework that makes Oak Alley picturesque. To learn more about this beautiful, old sugar cane plantation, go here and here. And a shout out to my sister for recommending this as a must-see.

Left: Alligator--breaded and fried in cornmeal. And no, it does not "taste like chicken"!
Right: Chicken and sausage gumbo--a Louisiana specialty.

For lunch, I had the fried alligator--a first for me--and the chicken and sausage gumbo. Yummy!




Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 04/09

New Orleans Confidential: The Twilight Edition

Sunset at Jackson Square: The Basilica of New Orleans
on the banks of the mighty Mississippi

A few hours after lunch in Meridian, we arrived in the Crescent City--New Orleans. (Or N'awlins, to the locals.) I've been to a lot of big cities in the U.S. in my short life, but none quite like this one. Let's just say that Rue Bourbon was "interesting." If your nasal passages weren't being assaulted by the none-too-subtle odor of last night's vomit and libations, your ears were being assaulted by overly loud jazz and blues at one bar in competition with the overly loud jazz and blues next door. You're accosted by hawkers for peep shows, licensed charity solicitors, and Mardi Gras-festooned fellows who ask to have their picture taken and then demand a buck for the privilege. You can walk past a prostitute leaning in a doorway putting on polka-dotted panties over fish net stockings or be propositioned by a guy with a tuba. Fun.

Okay, truthfully, not all of New Orleans is that tawdry, tacky, and cheap, and Bourbon Street is only one part of Sin City, but this place makes Las Vegas look like kiddie camp by comparison. That said, I'll be exploring the French Quarter a bit more tomorrow and hope to bring you the sunny side of New Orleans. In the meantime, here's the sunset from Jackson Square and a few photos of some of the architecture and characters that lend N'awlins its charm.



Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 04/09