My work sent me to New Orleans for a conference and I decided to come a couple of days early to see the city. My first morning in New Orleans, I woke up to sunrise over the French Quarter and the Mississippi River. I was excited to get down there and see the city before the heat and crowds filled the streets. This is my favorite time of day to explore an area.
French Quarter & Riverwalk:
The French Quarter
The French Quarter is the most recognizable and famous part of New Orleans and the state in general. The French Quarter used to be all of what was the city. This area was first established by the French in 1718 as a shipping port. It was a struggling city until 1762 when it was transferred to Spain. Today the French Quarter still has a beautiful mix of French and Spanish in the buildings.
It was in the 1790s that the lacy wrought iron was introduced to the city. It was a display of wealth as houses started to feature private courtyards. It would not be until the 1890s that the Vieux Carré, or Old Square, evolved into a tourist destination. Today it is one of the most vibrant and most visited cities in the country.
St. Louis Cathedral & Jackson Square
The wrought iron details around the French Quarter showcased the city’s growing wealth during the late 1800s. Another example was the building of the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral. This is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the country.
A statue of President Andrew Jackson stands between the cathedral and the river. He was the hero of the battle of New Orleans. After the war, he moved to Tennessee that he would call home for the rest of his life.
Cafe Du Monde
I had to stop at the famous Cafe Du Monde. Even this early, there was already a jazz band playing outside. People were diving into the hot and sweet beignets that the cafe is known for. There are many beignet cafes around the city, but there is no beating the original and the city icon.
Cafe du Monde was first established in 1862 in the part of the city then known as the French Market. It is open 24 hours a day on every day of the year except Christmas day. The menu is simple offering only their famous beignets and coffee. There is no hostess, you just go in and find a table. Sit down and wait for the server to come to you. Know if you go that they only accept cash.
Joan of Arc Statue
Just down from Cafe du Monde is the golden statue of Joan of Arc. She is the patron saint of New Orleans. The statue was a gift from France to the citizens of New Orleans. Joan of Arc is so loved in the city that someone wrote the word ‘beloved’ above her name.
Historic Buildings
The French Quarter is full of music venues, great restaurants, and what seems like an endless amount of street parties. Before everything opens up is the best time to wander through the streets. You can admire the beautiful architecture without the crowds or cars. It is a completely different view of the French Quarter than when the noise and business of the day begins. I really loved the old post office tucked away on a random corner.
The other favorite for me was the old tile street signs. These signs have the names from when the city was the capital of what was the Spanish Province of Louisiana. It has a whole different feel to Bourbon Street when it was called Calle D Bourbon. It just sounds so much prettier.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is one of the oldest bars in the country built sometime around 1722. Since then it has been inviting visitors in to enjoy the rustic feel of what Bourbon Street was at first. The name came from a legend story of the smuggling Lafitte brothers. They supposedly used the bar as a front for their ill gotten goods. Whether the legend is true or just a clever marketing strategy is unknown. But the famed bar remains a favorite spot in the French Quarter.
The Riverwalk
After the French Quarter I went for a walk down along the river where there are a number of memorials. It was such an interesting walk that showed a completely different side of New Orleans.
Immigrant Memorial
The first one was the immigrant memorial. This memorial honors all those who came from other places to be part of the growing diversity of New Orleans. Large numbers of Italian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants came to the area looking for somewhere to call home.
Holocaust Memorial
Down from the immigrant memorial was the city’s Holocaust Memorial. Tall colorful slides create a moving remembrance to those who were lost to the tragedy of the Holocaust. When you stand at the right angle you see a star of David appear in the colors.
Along the Mississippi River
The Riverwalk offers a great place to see the city and see some unique touches of New Orleans. Not to mention walk by the massive river that separated the country and became a landmark in itself.
River Boats
And what would a giant river be without a couple of river boats making their slow movements through the water. New Orleans has two river boats, the Natchez and the Creole Queen. Visitors can take a ride down the river on one of these beautiful and historic boats to see the city.
It has been a fantastic day walking through the French Quarter and down along the river. Even though they call it the Big Easy, this city is not at first easy to unravel. It has a long history and deep culture that has been influenced by so many over so many years.
If you enjoyed this visit to New Orleans, then you may be interested in these other places:
Mardi Gras in Mobile – Alabama
Thanks for coming along with me today to this visit to New Orleans. May your day start with jazz music and hot beignets.
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