New Orleans!

When in New Orleans, you have to have beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde!  Opened in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market, it has become a New Orleans institution.  I was surprised to note that the servers were almost exclusively Asian.  Not a judgement, just an observation of a significant change over the years, which has been noted in reports of the city's demographics, with a recent increase in the Vietnamese population in particular, as well.

Located on the Mississippi River, New Orleans was a principal port city in the 1800's and remains one of the largest, busiest ports in the world.  Continued development of the area over time, led to city growth as well as erosion of the surrounding marshlands and swamps.  Development of the Gulf Outlet Canal, in particular, left the city, with more than 51% of its land noted to be at or below sea level, at risk to hurricane-induced catastrophic storm surges as played out in heart rending detail by storms like Katrina.

Night life in The Big Easy.  Street performers continue to work their trade. There has been a definite increase in the palm and taro card readers since my last visit. Many talented musicians still play at various street corners, along with the usual hucksters, "tap" dancers and preachers.  Traditional Jazz, however, is becoming a bit elusive in this city who gave birth to the genre.

Vieux Carre' (The French Quarter) dates from the French and Spanish eras and their influence remains evident in the food and architecture.

Saint Louis Catholic Cathedral is a central landmark in the city and provides a backdrop to the mule carriage rides and artists who work to sell their wares on the wrought iron fence outside its grounds.

Color in the quarter.

If you are lucky enough to get to visit this beautiful city, be sure to eat at Willie Mae's Scotch House in Treme'. Her fried chicken is absolutely THE BEST I've ever had.  A muffaletta from Central Grocery should not be missed.  Brent picked us up a couple to enjoy as a picnic on our return trip home.  And, finally, DO NOT MISS a chance to check out Cochon Butcher on Tchoupitoulas.  It is unbelievably delicious.  Their head cheese with chow-chow and mustard, duck pastrami sliders, roasted  brussel sprouts, and buckboard bacon melt with collards on white were worth the trip alone.