Brisbane, QLD


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

WALK THE WALK IN NEW ORLEANS

On our second day in New Orleans, we walked into town and caught a Hop on Hop off bus to tour the city and get our bearings. We had a list of things to do in NO so we thought this is a good way to find them. One such place was Cafe du Monde, probably the most famous cafe in NO. We found it easily but there was queue a mile long waiting to get a table. It is a huge cafe and it was full to the brim at 10 o'clock. We watched the chef cooking the renowned Beignets through a viewing window. They are a type of deep fried doughnut. I had never heard of these before let alone tasted them. We were also surprised to learn that this is the only thing on the menu.
 We decided to walk back to the wharf where we had seen another smaller version of Cafe du Monde and we easily found a seat there and so we tried this much sought after dish. Very sweet .

 We jumped on the bus again and went to Congo Square.  It isn't a very impressive square/park today but it has a fascinating history. Before white settlement it was a meeting place for the Houmas Indians. During the French era it was used for the corn harvest celebrations and later it was where enslaved African's gathered and had a market, this continued through the Spanish time. By 1803 the square had become famous for the gathering of African slaves who drummed, danced, sang and traded. The dances that evolved were the Bamboula, Calinda and the Congo. These activities were the start of Mardi Gras, jazz and  rhythm and blues music. The sculptor is A.S. Adenle.

 We walked further down the street to Armstrong Park. This was a lovely park just teeming with sculptures of musicians and other interesting items like the above.

After exploring most of the day by bus or on foot, our friends Kathy and Rob assured us it wasn't far to walk back to the B&B. We walked and walked and it was a long way. Poor old Bill with his dicky ticker found it quite exhausting but he made it.

 I just loved all the different architecture and especially the brightly coloured houses. See below.

Some weren't in such a good state of repair but they still had a charm about them.

Finally we arrived home at the B&B. In the last post I mentioned that we were a bit disappointed and surprised that the host didn't provide tea and coffee making facilities but we found a way around that. There was a microwave available in the lounge and cups and tea bags were in a cupboard used for breakfast. There was a water cooler in the lounge too. So we microwaved a cup of water and used a breakfast teabag and milk which we found in the little fridge.

Apart from that it was a comfortable and beautiful home. In the hallway above the doorway there was a historic 80 pound head dress made of satin, rhinestones, mirrors and feathers. It was worn by a former owner of the house when he ruled as King of the Krewe of Endymion.

 The house was built in 1850's for a French Creole Family. It was a boarding house in World War 11 and later it was a school.

The previous owner was artist Stuart Auld. The tree murals were painted by Auld.
There are over a dozen Sweet Olive Trees on the property hence the name Auld Sweet Olive B&B


 Bill rests in the lounge before we have to walk again to a restaurant for dinner. After this photo I turned around and snapped the other end of the lounge.(below)

It was huge. This is where we had breakfast and the tree trimming party the night before.

 Kathy and I caught up with emails and blogging, Kathy could blog but I had problems.

After we walked again a few blocks to a restaurant we finally fell into bed. It was an interesting day. But we were looking forward to tomorrow as we had booked a photo safari through the French Quarter. (next post) Bill shuddered at the thought of walking into town again and then walking for 3 hours on the photo safari. He nearly bailed out but he wanted to learn more about photography so he agreed to come but he would get a taxi to town.

30 comments:

  1. The houses look cute.
    Can't imagine waiting in a queue to get something to eat, well a long one :) so what were the Beignets like?

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  2. I like the colorful houses.. And the fried dough looks yummy.. The mural and tree at the B&B is pretty. Looking forward to see what you saw on your Photo Safari.. Have a happy day!

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  3. i love the lamp posts and so glad you included all the colorful houses, i love that old architecture.. one good thing about all the walking is walking off those donuts and the other things you ate.. but not good for Bill... i would love the photo safari but could not walk for 3 hours. one hour is my limit

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  4. i've watched plenty of tv shows and series set in new orleans, but i've never been there personally. some day... a culture all its own.

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  5. So interesting to see the sights you are visiting but even more interesting is to see inside the home where you are staying.

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  6. The B&B looks fantastic Diane and looking fvkrward to your photo safarfi shots and info. Imagine a cafe only selling one thing :)

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  7. The "B & B" looks comfy.
    In your group of the colourful homes of Nuoleans,
    that colourful one on a corner with the wrap around open verandah
    is a very miniature version of the hotel I stayed at on Bourbon Street and which I tried to
    describe to you on Tuesday at lunch at the H/C, Sofitel. Thus sitting out on a corner
    verandah in the heart of Bourbon and Royale Street at night, the street corner "would be
    crooners or new age Louis Armstrongs" were a delight to watch and listen to. Thank God
    though the hotel rooms were sound proof!

    The Cafe du Monde has always been the "in" place, just like Brennan's for Breakfast.
    I did have the 'sweet' beignets - I don't think I would have made a habit of them though and
    I am sure there were back when I was there other things on the menu but my visit was well
    after midnight!
    Cheers
    Colin

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  8. Ooooh good munching times getting stuck into those doughnuts ;D)
    Beaut you got your cuppas organised ok.
    Really love the architecture and those bright colours are beautiful.
    I quite like those murals in the B & B. It's been a grand place in its time. Great post and chock full of interesting things, many thanks Diane :D)

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  9. The house looks quite grand and Armstrong Park looks very interesting.

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  10. It does look like a nice place, I also like all the brightly coloured homes very nice

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  11. I loved the look inside the B&B where you stayed and your notes about its history. I haven't been there since before Hurricane Katrina and I see a lot of bright new paint in your photos.

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  12. Thanks for taking us along with you on your walk around New Orleans. I appreciate the views you shared that are off the usual tourist paths. I still would like to get there myself.

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  13. You had a very special B&B, love to read your stories about New Orleans!

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  14. The colourful houses make the area seem festive and inviting. It must be a surprise when you come upon a house that needs lots of repair.

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  15. The houses there are so different to what we are used to, I love touring through your eyes. Those hop on, hop off buses are just the best, I have problems blogging while away, fine if I have the computer, but I generally now just travel with the nexus pad and it is not easy!! Love this post. Have a good weekend Diane

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  16. Love the photo tour and the memories! We heard so much about the beignets and when we finally got into that cafe and tasted them, we could not stop laughing! They tasted to us like fried sugar and the coffee wasn't even very good. Some things are not wort waiting for! ... But we did love all the creole and Cajun foods we tried ...

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  17. I am enjoying this part of your trip. Your B&B looks lovely inside.

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  18. Beignets are very popular here ! You find them on all markets or fancy fairs ! Your B&B looks wonderful and very cosy !

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  19. I've always been fascinated by New Orleans - but now I see I'll have to visit for quite another reason - the Beignets!

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  20. That's a really fascinating post and beautifully photographed. Though I was almost put off by the food at the start - so many blogs with pictures of appetising looking grub, and me piling on the pounds! Really interesting stuff about Congo Square. Looks like the city has recovered well - superficially, at least.

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  21. I'm with Bill your tour sound exhausting. I would be just lying on the bed in the lovely B&B.

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  22. What a beautiful bed and breakfast. I cannot believe there was no tea time. Love the line "dicky ticker" never heard it before. Glad Bill was OK. Great shots of beautiful places. Hug B

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  23. Wow you guys were busy! What a lovely place to stay and I am so enjoying your tour and all the places you saw. Amazing!

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  24. Just checking in and i find that you are on another travel adventure. Have a wonderful time wherever you travel. I always enjoy seeing so many different places through your camera lens. thank you!

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  25. Loved the walk in NO with you. My feet didn't hurt a bit! Bob and I get powdered lemon beignets at a French restaurant in Vail.

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  26. You must have had so much fun capturing those brightly painted houses with their varying architectural styles. I laughed at you sitting with your iPad at the end of the day because that's exactly what I do when on holidays

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  27. That head-dress and the murals are incredible! Looks like an amazing place to stay, but for the distance to things, and the lack of a permanent coffee-pot! Glad you got to taste a beignet!

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  28. Interesting..... When we lived there, we would go to most ALL of the Mardi Gras parades... Endymion was always one of our favorite krewes in the parade....

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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