New Orleans 2 - Sunday evening. Out into the hustle and bustle of New Orleans in search of somewhere to eat - Joanne's choice. We settled for the Attiki Bar and Grill. The food looked ok on the menu, but I guess we were unprepared for what was inside. It was a "hooker" place. No, not that, but a hooker is a smoking device similar to a middle Eastern implement that is sucked on through a hose. Part alcohol and part...well I'm not too sure. They came in vari...

Sunday - New Orleans 2 Our day 2 in New Orleans began at the Hotel's breakfast bar so we could use the public wifi. We were not going to pay $15! Interestingly wifi was free in the restaurants. We found out that we could also get the free public wifi in our room, so we were set for blogging etc. Off to walk the streets again before our swamp and plantation tour pick up at 10.30am. We walked up Chatre Street and then turned down Bourbon Street. Well, what a con...

Our hotel is just out of the French Quarter of town. This is the entertainment district, full of bars, restaurants, shops, museums and street entertainers. We did a self guided tour from the Lonely Planet as an introduction to New Orleans and the French Quarter. We visited the old convent, saw some magnificent architecture - often a mix of creole and American design. We saw the Royal Pharmacy which is more of a soda fountain shop from the halcyon malt shop da...

We told the waitress that we had just arrived in New Orleans and wanted to try something local. We elected to try the "sampler menu". The photo shows our selection. Crawfish (crayfish) étouffée - Crayfish soup, Gumbo - a creole stew, red beans and rice (spicey), fried green tomatoes, with a side of ramoulade, and a biscuit; which to me was like a cucumber fritter. Yes, it was spicey, but a great way to begin our stop over here. The waitress was friendly an...

After an un-eventful flight from Washington on US Airways we are now in New Orleans - one hour behind the east coast now on Central Time (minus 13 hours Perth). Contrary to my last blog I must have got it wrong. We have now heard that the correct pronunciation is "New Orlans/Orlins". Anyway, we are here and what a fantastic place. You couldn't get further removed from New York or Washington; culture, sounds, smells, people - yes they are even friendlier, food ...