VanNice Travels: New Orleans

French Quarter

Looking down Bourbon Street on our first night in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras masks

Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France is the oldest Catholic Cathedral in continuous use in the United States.

Tie your horse up here!

We ate in a little restaurant named EAT and this was the view of the quarter out our window as we enjoyed a leisurely dinner.

Every city should have this sign painted on the side of an old building, this one can be found on Canal Street.

Fence hung with beads after Mardi Gras. We saw lots of fences, doorways, balconies, and trees strung with beads! Watch for more photos!

Saenger Theater

Scott and I went to the Broadway musical Memphis in this gorgeous theater. You can't really tell in this picture taken in front of the stage but the blue ceiling was filled with hundreds of star led lights. Opulent!

Joan of Arc statue

Cafe Du Monde

Scott ordering beignets... can't wait!

Here is a baker rolling the beignet cutter over the dough. Next he threw each square of dough over his shoulder into a vat of hot oil! Finally they are taken from the oil and sprinkled with powdered sugar! Oh, so yummy!

French Quarter Shop Signs

Jackson Square and Saint Louis Cathedral.

New Orleans Architecture

I took many photographs of the interesting and beautiful architecture in the French Quarter; cast iron, gingerbread, and the unusual. Enjoy!

No climbing over this fence!

These spikes should keep people from climbing onto the balcony of this house!

All the fire hydrants were elevated...

Lower 9th Ward

Many houses are still in disrepair from Hurricane Katrina with rescue markings still visible near the front door. The two homes in this picture have been repaired and people are again living in them. Many of these shotgun houses were quickly and cheaply purchased and then redone. The houses that seem the most out of place are the "green" homes built by Brad Pitt's Make It Right foundation. We didn't realize what they were until we asked our waitress at lunch.

St. Louis Cemetery #1

St. Louis Cementery is near the French Quarter. Because New Orleans is built on a swamp the deceased are buried above ground in stone crypts and elaborate mausoleums. It was hauntingly beautiful but would be very spooky at night!

Garden District

Colonel Short's Villa, built for Robert H. Short in 1859. The "morning glory and cornstalk" cast iron fence below is listed on the historic registry.