25 Places to visit before you die: No. 23 New Orleans

In an age of Globalization and multi-national brands, many towns and regional city centres are increasingly similar, but some great cities stand apart from the trend and remain uniquely themselves, they stand apart because they maintain the essence of identity that is in and of itself confident. New Orleans, Louisiana a city the straddles the Mississippi River is perhaps the most unique of all US cities, known not just as the birthplace of Jazz, but also for its multicultural and multilingual heritage, cuisine, architecture and its annual celebrations and festivals, particularly Mardi Gras. New Orleans has suffered greatly from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, (2005) and the suburbs still are not restored fully, but the heart of New Orleans - the French quarter beats as load as ever, and hence New Orleans is on afterabc's list of, 25 Places to visit before you die. 

A visit to New Orleans will be enhanced if one knows a little of its history: New Orleans has a very noticeable European influence, not surprising since it was founded by the French Mississippi Company on May 7, 1718. And name after the French Regent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. European politics played a role again in 1763 when the colony was ceded to Spain, but return into French control in 1801. The territory was sold by Napoleon to the US in 1803, (Louisiana Purchase).

The population grew rapidly with influxes of Americans, French, Creoles, Irish, Germans and Africans, many French speaking Haitians arrived, both white, free blacks and slaves further re-enforcing the French roots of the city.

The city was strategically important as a major port at the mouth of the Mississippi River, and was the fought for in the British American war of 1812, Andrew Jackson lead and won, the defence of New Orleans in the Battle of New Orleans,( 8 January 1815). (War had already ended, (24 December 1814), but word had not reached New Orleans).

A history of New Orleans would be woefully incomplete with out reference to the slave trade. As a major port during the antebellum era New Orleans had, the largest slave market. Two-thirds of the more than one million slaves brought to the Deep South arrived via the forced migration of the internal slave trade. The slaves represented half a billion dollars in property, and an ancillary economy grew up around the trade in slaves -- for transportation, housing and clothing, fees, etc., estimated at 13.5 percent of the price per person. All of this amounted to tens of billions of dollars with New Orleans as a prime beneficiary. Despite its dealings with the slave trade, New Orleans at the same time had the largest and most prosperous community of free Blacks in the US; many were educated and middle-class property owners.  The population of the city doubled in the 1830s and by 1840, New Orleans had become the wealthiest and third-most populous city in the nation.

The Union captured New Orleans early in the American Civil War, sparing the city the destruction suffered by many other cities of the American South. The American Civil War destroyed many cities; however, New Orleans was captured early by Union forces and survived. Louisiana was readmitted to the Union in 1868, but despite the granting of universal suffrage and the election of an African American Governor, P.B.S. Pinchblack, the state fell into a long period of racial segregation and economic decline.

In the late 20 Century Tourism became increasingly important to the economy, and New Orleans has a great deal to offer visitors. In several polls the city was voted the best U.S. city for live music, cocktail hours, flea markets, antique shopping, nightlife, "wild weekends", "girlfriend getaways" and cheap food and second for friendliness, overall food and dining and people-watching. 

 

The French Quarter, often referred to by locals as 'the Quarter' or 'Vieux Carré', is the faded masterpiece of the city, dating from the French and Spanish eras. The ninety square block of cobbled street contains many popular hotels, bars, and nightclubs, and includes Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market, the Café du Monde, - famous for café au lait & beignets, and Preservation Hall. The French Quarter has several museums including; - the Historic New Orleans Collection, the National World War II Museum and the Confederate Memorial Hall. Art museums in the city include the Contemporary Arts Centre, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in City Park, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

For a little touristy sight seeing a trip on the steamboat, Natchez, can be fun. Strange as it may sound a visit to the city's cemeteries is well worth the time, many are beautiful and their distinct above-ground tombs are often attractions in themselves, the oldest and most famous,- Saint Louis Cemetery, resembles Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Other attractions in the city include, the Audubon Nature Institute - (Audubon Park, the Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, and the Audubon Insectariums). Longue Vue House and Gardens, and the New Orleans Botanical Garden. City Park has one of the largest oak trees in the world. New Orleans is also famous for the bayou, and the wetlands are in close proximity to the city, including Honey Island Swamp. The bayou is beautiful, but potentially dangerous and very easy to get lost, so get a local to show you around.

New Orleans is synonymous with Mardi Gras, 'Fat Tuesday', - a large a very vibrate Carnival, that begins on the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as the 'Twelfth Night' and  the final and grandest day of festivities, is the last Tuesday before the Catholic liturgical season of Lent, which commences on Ash Wednesday. Months of preparation go into the creation of the float many of which are two or three story high, The parade passes along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, the carnivalistas shout, "Throw me something, Mister", mostly this means through me some beads or a trinket.... Thousands are thrown and worn as a badge of honour by the party goers.

 

 

 

 

 New Orleans is a music city, famous as the birthplace of Jazz and the annual music festival; 'Jazz Fest'. The music heritage of the city is founded in the melting pot of  intertwined European, Latin American, and African cultures of New Orleans pre-American and early American days, and the unique blending of European instruments with African rhythms. New Orleans gave birth to an indigenous music: jazz. Soon, brass bands formed, gaining popular attraction that still holds today. The city's music was later significantly influenced by Acadiana, home of Cajun and Zydeco music, and Delta blues.

As with music so with the New Orleans food; From centuries of amalgamation of the local Creole, haute Creole, and New Orleans French cuisines, New Orleans food has developed. Local ingredients, French, Spanish, Italian, African, Native American, Cajun, and a hint of Cuban traditions combine to produce a truly unique and easily recognizable Louisiana flavour.

Unique specialties include beignets , square-shaped fried pastries that could be called "French doughnuts" (served with café au lait made with a blend of coffee and chicory rather than only coffee); Po' boy and Italian Muffuletta sandwiches; Gulf oysters on the half-shell, fried oysters, boiled crawfish, and other seafood; étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo.

As mentioned earlier many of the buildings French Quarter relatively old and much of the architecture of the city is interesting.  Many styles of housing exist in the city, including the shotgun house (originating from New Orleans) and the bungalow style. Creole townhouses, notable for their large courtyards and intricate iron balconies, line the streets of the French Quarter. Throughout the city, there are many other historic housing styles: Creole cottages, American townhouses, double-gallery houses, and Raised Centre-Hall Cottages. St. Charles Avenue is famed for its large antebellum homes. Its mansions are in various styles, such as Greek Revival, American Colonial and the Victorian styles of Queen Anne and Italianate architecture.

Hurricane Katrina has a devastating effect on the city, and still outside of the centre of the city problems persist. However, the vibrancy of New Orleans lives on and the city remains a unique and uplifting experience, with great music, fabulous food and an incredibly big welcome to visitors.  

 

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