thoreau: (Default)
Thoreau ([personal profile] thoreau) wrote2008-02-14 01:13 pm

powdered sugar, sunshine and long, long walks...

In pure tourist fashion - I spent last night on Bourbon Street - eating blackened redfish and beer and listening to jazz. My hosts had to work today - so we were in at a decent hour - and we watched food network for a bit then they turned in - and I wrote in my handwritten journal for a while.

This morning - I took a five hour walking tour of the city. Just got in and my feets are TIRED! But - I got a lovely feel for the city of New Orleans. For some reason I had it in my head that New Orleans was right on the Gulf of Mexico - it's inland and about an hour or so from the gulf. Perhaps we'll take a drive out to Mississippi tomorrow and see the Gulf. The weather is perfect - 65 degrees and breezy. It's easy to see how authors and artists over the years have just fallen completely in love with it all. :) I also see why Anne Rice would set a culty/witch story here (the Mayfair witches) - and I can also really see the feeling behind why Lestat and Louis from her vampire books lived here. I can imagine what a naughty, wild port this must have been as folk's arrival in America.

Below is a slide show of pics from this morning....



It's also a reminder of what a beautiful home I have in San Francisco. I caught myself thinking to myself "gosh the mississippi river is pretty - but it's not San Francisco." LOL. I am spoiled being able to hop in the car and walk on Crissy Field whenever I want to. Truly spoiled.

[identity profile] delmarmar.livejournal.com 2008-02-14 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
We went to New Orleans for the first time last year and also thought it was on the gulf. Must be a common misconception.

[identity profile] redhochipe.livejournal.com 2008-02-14 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
It definitely is a nice area. I lived in that area for about 9 years when i was much younger. About the only thing I miss is the nice hot and humid weather a good part of the year.

~R~
StLouis current temp: 47degF

[identity profile] joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com 2008-02-14 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Robert - lots of great photos already! Yay!

This is a perfect time to visit - sunny winter weather and Mardi Gras is over. The weather was much the same in Houston.

[identity profile] krypto38801.livejournal.com 2008-02-14 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I am so envious of you! Went there not too long ago, and stayed with a friend who lives outside of NO in a town called Hahnville, where they were having their "Gator Festival." Have some wonderful pictures as well, and don't forget to go to the mask shop right beyond the Farmer's Market, it's a beautiful, colorful world of handmade masks, and photography, and the couple there is gay as well! I think it's called N.O. Madness Masks, or something like that. I took PLENTY of pics there as well, so maybe we can trade pics sometime!

Enjoy!

[identity profile] joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com 2008-02-15 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
So, Ms. (Anderson) Cooper is reporting live tonight from N.O. You should check out the Bourbon Pub/Parade for a sighting. ;-)

[identity profile] low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com 2008-02-15 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
oh - we saw the lights and were wondering what was up. teehhee. :)

[identity profile] septimuswarren.livejournal.com 2008-02-16 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
It's in one of those black grated houses that Tennessee Williams wrote "Streetcar."