Wednesday, April 30, 2014

New Orleans-trip diary

A decadent red brick wall of an old decadent house with rusted brown sloping roof, wild climbers and flowers spread across the wall like an unintended mosaic, replicas of green crabs, green turtles, green reptiles-alligators & lizards with curled up tails climbing up the wall. ‘Photography not allowed’
A whimsical art display using the space between the back of a souvenir shop and an old house as an art gallery, one of the many New Orleans inspired art works.

A river on one side, a lake on the other, for the marshes it is their natural home and then the Gulf of Mexico finally emptying itself in the Atlantic Ocean. A city with a water body is always special; this one just became extra special. For the tourists this translates into different tours and cruises along the different water bodies. I would add that it’s a gastronomical tour as well, but I can provide no first-hand account here.

Historically New Orleans is a cultural cauldron (French, Spanish, African, and Native American Indians) and remnants of it are clearly visible in its architecture and lifestyle.
Upper floor verandahs with ornate cast iron railings and hanging potted green plants, beautifully colored paneled doors and windows, elegant patio furniture-wooden or cast iron, gas/electric street lamps outside the houses at night and narrow lanes with horse drawn carriages and red street cars –reminder of old world European charm.

The natural landscape-flora/fauna/the waters, the architecture, the music, the food, the arts, the history, the debauchery of Bourbon Street all create the New Orleans experience and for me it was the drive as well. My first highway driving experience..yayyy!

Tall, dense and spring green trees flanked the interstate on both sides, and when darkness finally descended, it seemed like the whole of existence was just the road ahead, the tall trees on both sides and the strip of dark sky above sliced perfectly by the trees to mirror the road below.
Life can be really simple sometimes- just a straight line drive at 80mph..

Country roads are a new experience for someone driving a Honda Civic sedan, perhaps for the first time you begin to notice a world where everyone else drives a Ford, Dodge or Chevy pickup trucks or SUV and you are the only one driving a Honda Civic. It is a rare experience!
Also there is the thrill of driving by and occasionally spotting agricultural aircrafts aerial topdressing farms. Did I hear you say that is just the perk you need to change professions and become a farmer..

I made this trip to the city after almost two years of wanting to go there and the city didn’t disappoint me. We covered a lot in one day, but then one day is never really enough. These are just some of the sights that I will fondly remember about New Orleans, and for someone planning a trip to ‘The Big Easy’, sign me up for a second trip!