Day 41 "Big Easy, the Crescent City" 10-24-14

We are really here. We got a taste of this jazzy city last night. Walking the same streets this morning looking for a good coffee spot it was almost eerie quiet. Our hotel had basic breakfast options available but we were looking for more in our ongoing local foodie quest. We wanted the real deal and Cafe du Monte was supposed to be that but we could tell a little too late we got something wrong. More of a tourist trap but we made the best of it and headed out on our day. Hate to waste a meal but no Biggy.

Our Frenchmen Hotel was nearly perfect

We gathered more info and were soon on a trolley heading for City Park rather than Audubon park as planned. We spent some very peaceful time there mostly enjoying the sculpture garden and even recognized the work of some artists from other museums we've visited. We had picked up giant Muffelata sandwiches which were big enough to feed a family of four. Maybe we were too full to go over to the botanical gardens but we enjoyed our stay and made our way back on the trolley. It was packed full by the time we got off to wander the French Quarter as Laurie had some shopping ideas left. We enjoyed Jackson plaza, Frenchman's market and another pass through the streets we had walked the night before. We stumbled by the building that had collapsed into the street and caused some concern about the structural safety of other buildings.

Trolleys provide a unique form of public transit here

We missed the Voodoo Music but enjoyed the park

We were well provisioned

Great shady trees in the park

The art was fine too

And fun too

Every place you look has style &astride to tell

Old buildings can fall down

Spotted Cat Music Club rocked on with attitude while renovations were underway

We had a dinner picnic in a nearby park with the rest of our lunch sandwiches and wandered back for an early evening and to get packed up. There was louder music outside tonight and more happy sounds coming from around us in the hotel.

Even the corner markets are colorful

It is very clear that more time is needed to explore the greater area here and it should come earlier in a trip so we have more energy. It has still been a great stop on our grand tour. Tomorrow we will be on the return leg of the tour with home just s few days and nights away on the train.