New Orleans City Tour and a GREAT Dinner

We journeyed back to New Orleans for a second day via the free ferry. There is a completely different ambiance to the city, streets, and shops during the day. The crowded streets, loud music and local entertainment was much more subdued, and the city was back to work for another day. We decided to take a "city tour" that included the French Quarter, Garden City, one of the older cemetery's, and the neighborhood adjacent to the breached levy.

We started our adventure eating at the famous "Mom's" restaurant in the down town area. We treated ourselves to a po boy sandwich and crayfish etouffee. The original owners had several sons in the Marines during World War II and the restaurant became a hang out for Marines on leave. It was referred to a second "tuns tavern". One wall was dedicated to the Marines that visited the establishment.

The French Quarter is one of the largest attractions in New Orleans. The shops are located on the street level and residential homes, condos, apartments, and hotels occupy the upper floors. The architecture reflects the Spanish and French influence during the time when the territory was under their control. Canal street is one of the main drags. The other one is a mile east.

We drove out to the construction site where the major repairs and upgrades for the levy's that failed continues. Even after five years major engineering and building continues. While hurricane Katrina did not directly hit New Orleans, the floods that followed did tremendous damage. Initially the levy's held, but because of poor construction that did not meet required standards, water was able to go under the levy wall and consequently flood adjacent homes. Eventually the levy's broke in weak areas. Insurance has refused to pay some home owners, and now houses sit empty as the owners have moved away. Others have built new homes on elevated foundations hoping that the new construction will not fail .

Our final stop was one of the oldest cemetery's in New Orleans. The uniqueness of most of the cemetery's is that most people are buried above the ground. The city is for the most part at or below sea level making the burying someone six feet under a wet proposition. Most are "buried" above the ground in vaults, mausoleums, and large crypts. Some of the burial places are the size of a small house. Two of the more interesting are a large memorial to Jefferson Davis whose body was moved after burial to Charleston and an expensive structure whose rich owner, upon death was denied his final resting place by his surviving wife who found he had been unfaithful and buried him in a common grave in Mississippi so he could be closer to his old flame. His wife now rests in peace by herself in his tomb.

We ended our busy day ordering a great meal, and a view of the Mississippi. We are looking forward to another day of sight seeing on a swamp tour tomorrow.