After a quick breakfast at Cafe Du Monde with fifty other tourist. Chicory coffee for Kathy. Milk for me and of course Beignets, the New Orleans equivalent of Hostess Powdered Sugar Donuts, only fresher, we did a quick walking tour of some of the buildings in the French Quarter starting with Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral.
St. Louis is the oldest cathedral in the US. This version is the third to stand on the site. One left by hurricane. The second by the fire of 1788 and this one was built in 1794. Jackson square is dedicated to Andrew.
The land, the statue and the layout of the park were gifts from the Baroness Pontalba, a rich NOLA born lady who had somewhat of a checkered past. She married young, had her fortune stolen by the new huib and promptly decided to separate from him. Not something standard in those days so the hubs father took offense and shot her six times then shot himself. She made it, he didn't. Got her money back too. Spend her cash trying to keep the French Quarter, French looking and built to rows of buildings on either side of Jackson Square.
Please note the lack of tourists in both pics. It's early, they had late nights on Bourbon Street,.
Many, many more houses from the 1800's but here's one most of you can relate to. It's 832 St. Peter St. where Tennessee Williams wroth "A Streetcar Named Desire". (Actually, there was a streetcar named Desire and when it was retired, the RTA named a bus Desire.
Off to the Garden District in search of Anne Rices homes via the St. Charles Streetcar.
Still only a $1.25 for a one way fare from downtown to Carrollton. These trollies have been in constant use (except during Katrina and the cleanup) since the 1920's and run 24 hours a day.
Here's Anne Rice's childhood home. It's right on St. Charles almost across from the streetcar stop.
Far too many homes to give you all the details of each but here's the Women's Opera Guild house built in 1858
And a couple other great houses in the neighborhood.
We finally ended up at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 which has fallen into some disrepair in the last ten years or so. The local area residents have gathered together to form SOC (Save Our Cemeteries) which in turn, gave birth other groups working to preserve other great cemeteries in town. But there just as I rounded the corner was this guy. Recognize him?
That's John Goodman.
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was established in 1833 and we found lots of graves from the 1840's, 50's and Civil War.
A very peaceful place, though a big tourist destination since it's free and in a very good neighborhood. Here's a last shot showing some of the family crypts. I counted 17 descendants in one.
Back on the St. Charles trolley and downtown to take yet another walk at the Riverfront Park. This is looking back towards the Mississippi River Bridge.
We took a quick look at the French Market and then settled in for a late lunch at the Original French Market Cafe for grilled oysters.
Very unique and Yummy. Grilled and smoked in house.
Jumbo Shrimp for Kathy and a Catfish PoBoy with house made grits for me.
Couldn't pass these up since I'm on a French Fried kick.
From a city with more historic plaques than Kathy has bling jewelry. This was found in the Garden District.
Good night and good luck.
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