"Crescent City" New Orleans by goodfish

New Orleans Travel Guide: 4,165 reviews and 7,174 photos

French Quarter, New Orleans - New Orleans

Big Heart - Big Soul

To try and describe New Orleans is to have to employ every single adjective you can think of. Loud, colorful, sweaty, slow, brassy, lush, bustling, peaceful, sordid, dignified, old, mysterious, spicy, contemporary, irreverent.....the list goes on. It is a city built by the hands of many cultures over a span of three centuries and the influences of her French, Spanish, Caribbean and African colonists exist today in the architecture, cuisine and music.

Leveled twice by fire, attacked by the British in the war of 1812, decimated by smallpox, cholera and yelIow fever and slammed with hurricanes, she endured the most difficult of times and bravely emerged with her head, battered as it was, held stubbornly high.

Big, but not always easy, the wars and plagues of the 19th century have been replaced with new challenges - unemployment, crime, pollution and all of the other difficult issues that most big cities face. Still, this city tenaciously holds on - not just clinging to its rich and storied past but envisioning a hopeful future as well. New art centers and museums mingle with historic mansions and lovely old parks. Audubon Park and Zoo, cooking schools and tours of everything from swamps to (supposedly) haunted houses offer exploration and discovery for both the young and the young-at-heart. And at the center of it all are the people - some of the warmest, friendliest folks I've encountered in all of my travels. They made it a pleasure to be a guest of their city.

New Orleans grew on the banks of a river that was her reason for being. She is there still and has one hell of a tale to tell if you're of a mind to listen so put on your best walking shoes, grab a "to go" cup and a map, and don't forget your streetcar fare!

9/10/05 update - Was just starting to construct my pages when Katrina wrote another grave chapter in NOLA's history. Tourism provides many, many jobs for the people who call NOLA home and they'll need visitors to return after reconstruction. I hope these pages and pictures will convince some of you to experience this old and lovely city more than "virtually" someday.

Pros and Cons

Pros:History, architecture, jazz, blues, and, oh yes, "to go" cups!
Cons:Very hot in summer, can be crowded, on the expensive side
In a nutshell:And you thought it was just Bourbon Street???

Last visit to New Orleans: Jun 2005
Intro Updated Jan 31, 2007
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Comments (6)

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Odinnthor Oct 5, 2011 at 8:30 AM

Wow Kate, these are extraordinary pages. I have to come back for a better look. Extraordinary!
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Nemorino May 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM

I hear the Mississippi is rising fast -- hope New Orleans doesn't get flooded again!
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windoweb Jun 24, 2010 at 3:03 AM

Lovely page and great information. We hope to catch the main sights in French Quarter next month while we are there.
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omidamini Jul 21, 2009 at 3:11 AM

I found New Orleans very nice , I hope can see it.
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TravellerMel May 12, 2009 at 4:21 PM

Excellent New Orleans tips - made me homesick! Thanks - and the photos are wonderful!
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BarryAir Jan 4, 2009 at 3:27 PM

Excellent job an Nawlins goodfish. Barry in Lafayette Louisiana