"Home Sweet (Adopted) Home" New Orleans by TravellerMel

New Orleans Travel Guide: 4,160 reviews and 7,180 photos

Amen, Amen, Amen!

"Someone suggested that there's an incomplete part of our chromosomes that gets repaired or found when we hit New Orleans. Some of us just belong here." ~ John Goodman 6/16/2010, LA Times **

"We dance when there is no music. We drink at funerals. We talk too much, and live too large and, frankly, we're suspicious of those who don't." ~ Chris Rose 9/17/2005, Times Picayune **

Home at Last!

Jackson Square, as seen from the Moonwalk

I moved to New Orleans at the end of the summer of 1995. About 2 weeks in my new city, I spent the night in the French Quarter at the Dauphine Orleans hotel. The next morning I woke up early and walked to the Cafe du Monde. The morning was very foggy, and the still-lit streetlamps were reflecting in the mist. As I sat with my cafe au lait and beignets, the first of the horse-drawn carriages pulled up the cobblestone in front of the St. Louis Cathedral, and off in the distance someone was playing a soulful saxophone. At that moment, I fell totally and completely in love with the city, and knew I had come "home"...

After 13 years, three job changes, and one hurricane, I love this city more every day. Sure, there are down sides to living here (what city doesn't have those?), but there is no place I'd rather be.

NEW ORLEANS - PROUD TO CALL IT HOME!

You meet the COOLEST people...

With Erik Estrada

Outside the Convention Center. Don't be a hater, but I got to hug PONCH! I have to say, I swooned, just a bit...

Pros and Cons

Pros:Great Food, Great Music, Friendly People, Historic
Cons:Can't think of any important enough to list!
In a nutshell:The Most European of American Cities

Intro Updated Nov 7, 2012
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (69)

Fleur de Paris - Custom Millinery & Boutique - New Orleans

Fleur de Paris - Custom Millinery &... Shopping (4)

My husband and I were walking around in the French Quarter late one night when we walked by the window display at Fleur... more travel advice

Margaritaville New Orleans - New Orleans

Margaritaville New Orleans Restaurants (17)

We love Margaritaville! A fun time, good food, and stellar Margaritas! They offer a generous military discount, so if... more travel advice

Take a Pedicab in the Quarter Transportation (3)

This was a fun way to get from Canal Street to the Superdome! Pedicab operators are everywhere, it seems. Our pedicab... more travel advice

Scoreboard at the Superdome - New Orleans

It Will Always Be the LOUISIANA... Sports & Outdoors (1)

My first REAL professional football game (I had been to one pre-season game prior) was on December 4, 2011 - Detroit... more travel advice

Favorites (3)
See All Breakfast in New Orleans
Local Customs (10)
See All Christmas in New Orleans: Miracle on...
Things to Do (16)
See All Joan of Arc Statue
Hotels (5)
See All Prytania Park Hotel - Great Location!

Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Safety in Numbers When Touring the...
What to Pack (2)
See All Jazz Fest Packing List
Nightlife (4)
See All The name says it all- you can rock while...
Off The Beaten Path (2)
See All Louisiana Renaissance Festival - Joust...

Comments (12)

Reply
- Report abuse
Basaic Dec 13, 2010 at 1:32 PM

The Lamothe House sounds like a great place to stay.
Reply
- Report abuse
windoweb Jun 17, 2010 at 6:53 PM

Thanks for the tips about the French Quarter and the French Market. We will be here next month.
Reply
- Report abuse
tafa2009 Dec 1, 2009 at 11:26 AM

Your introduction shows your greta love to this city, you seem to be a big artist ! I wish to discuss you more and share a café au lait in that famous place ! happy to read your nice pages ! you are welcome !
Reply
- Report abuse
IrishFem Nov 10, 2009 at 9:15 AM

Someday l will get to New Orleans armed with your tips, great page.
Reply
- Report abuse
JessH May 24, 2009 at 10:41 PM

A fantastic page, well-deserving of 5 orange stars all around! Thanks for sharing, but what exactly is a po-boy??? I see Scotland is on your wish list... I'm heading back to the Highlands in exactly 40 days, can't wait! Greetings from the desert / Jess
Reply
- Report abuse
donpaul77 Apr 4, 2009 at 5:41 AM

Hi Mel, thanks for visiting my Ireland pages. I really love your New Orleans pages. It's been ages since I've been, but my family is talking about heading down next year. I hope you make it back to Ireland soon!
Reply
- Report abuse
littlesam1 Mar 26, 2009 at 5:04 PM

I love New Orleans. Next to San Francisco its my favorite city in the US.
Reply
- Report abuse
kymbanm Mar 21, 2009 at 8:41 AM

Wish it'd worked out to meet in person while we were both here. I fell hard in love with this town in the few hours I was there :)
Reply
- Report abuse
DennyP Feb 2, 2009 at 4:38 PM

Hi Mel..Thanks for sharing your new tips and photos..what a fun place this is..can't wait to return..what with all those beignets..po boys and hurricanes this place rocks....take care from downunder..DennyP
Reply
- Report abuse
SteveOSF Dec 5, 2008 at 5:33 PM

Excellent page on New Orleans. It’s been years since I was there and I would like to return in the near future. It was a great place to visit!