Day 24 Thursday 11th September, Around New Orleans, Louisiana.

We had planned on using the hop on/ hop off bus for an initial look around the city. However, whilst walking back from dropping the car back we visited an information centre in Canal Street and the chap advised that the hop on bus only really toured the boundary of the city whilst for a little more (definite car salesman - but no steak knives!!) we could do a much more extensive 2 hour tour through the some of the more interesting districts of New Orleans and once we had our bearings we could then use the city’s street cars (trams) to re-visit some of the the sights that interested us.

After spending a lot of yesterday below 50ft, most of today was even lower as New Orleans has an average elevation of 6ft BELOW sea level.

Grey wall at the back is part of the levee wall around New Orleans.

New leeve and water catchment follwoing Cyclone Katrina. 

Same wall as above however this shows how much below the water line some of the housing is built.

The tour started in the historic French Quarter district, we then travelled through parts of district 9 which was most affected when the levees broke after Cyclone Katrina, then into the Treme district which is the oldest settlement of African Americans and then through the Garden District which is the up market area of New Orleans.

Building in the French quarter cannot be alterred on the outside, this building houses a hardware store with the two story section used a storage.  Internally you can do whatever you want.

Building showing various aspects of Treme Indian and African American culture

Sadly - some buildings still have not yet been rebuilt after Cyclone Katrina.

We also visited New Orleans newest cemetery where a small “plot” near the entrance can cost $75,000 and upwards depending on available space however there was also a poor wall where a place could be secured for $2,000. Due to the area being below sea level, all burials have to take place in crypts above ground. The crypts vary in size, the most common being twin placements although some are much larger. The coffin is interred for a year and one day after which the coffin is removed and any remains not decomposed wrapped in cloth and replaced in the back of the crypt. Eventually any these remains decompose and the material drops down the back of the crypt into a cavity below. Problems occur when more family members die within a year, in which case space may need to be "rented" elsewhere until such time as the family crypt becomes available.

Larger family crypts in the above ground cemetary

Our guide, born in New Orleans was both informative and entertaining. And well worth the money.

One of many statues dotted across the city - 

 

 

 

 

representing the founding fathers

One of the street artists in the French Quarter - note "tip bucket"

All forms of transport are used to entertain the many tourists that visit New Orleans

After the tour we were dopped off back in Canal Street - it was now getting hot and way too humid for our liking - but we went in and out of the shops which are all fabulously air conditioned.  Picked up a few nic nacks then went back down Boubon Street for in search of dinner.  This time up on the balcony we could watch the masses coming and going as the night closed in.