The Big Easy

After a short trip from Lafayette we arrived in New Orleans for a full day of sight-seeing. First stop was Mardi Gras World. Mardi Gras is a festival held in New Orleans on Shrove Tuesday. The floats and costumes are fabulous and all made at Mardi Gras World. We watched a short film that explained the custom of the parade and how they actually make the very elaborate floats. We were then able to tour the large factory where they are made. It was interesting and very colourful.

Stop number two was the Central Market area in the French quarter for lunch. Stephen and I walked around for a while before sampling the world famous Beignets (French doughnuts) and fried shrimp Po Boys (French bread roll). The architecture is very French.

Back on the bus we toured New Orleans looking at the various parishes (this is the only state in the USA where districts or counties are called parishes). The houses are incredible, as are the tree lined streets with their tiny 'pocket parks'. It is a simply beautiful city. We toured the most affluent areas and the poorest. We saw the devastation of Katrina, some 12 years on and we saw the growth and regeneration that is finally underway. We also visited one of New Orleans' famous above ground cemeteries. For the most part New Orleans is at sea level, in fact some areas are up to 11 feet below sea level. This means that when you dig a hole it actually fills with water, hence the use of tombs and vaults.

This evening we dined at the best restaurant in New Orleans called C.J.Fins. To say the food was delicious is an enormous understatement. In fact Stephen believes that the fish and scallop main he enjoyed was in fact the best seafood meal he has ever eaten. I must admit.....it was amazing.

We are now relaxing in our beautiful room at the historic Hotel Monteleone watching the weather channel which is reporting on Hurricane Irma which is due to hit the state of Florida head on over the weekend. We have been very lucky. Hurricane Harvey was to the left of us and Hurricane Irma to the right. However many people on our tour are booked to do a Caribbean cruise for 8 days, starting on Sunday. They have been told that they cannot fly into the area and that their cruise, if it goes ahead at all will be delayed until Wednesday next week and will be reduced to 4 days. They are all scrambling to make alternative arrangements as many of them have other tours booked for after the cruise as well. Scenic is doing its best to keep everyone informed but it is a constantly changing and very dangerous situation.