Once we reached the French Quarter, I was amazed at how alive it was. I knew it is a big tourist draw, but I wasn't prepared for the hustle and bustle that we found. As we walked through the French Market's open pavilion, the shopkeepers and booth tenders were loading their goods up for the night. A few tables were still laid out with assorted items, but their selection had dwindled from the day's shoppers. We walked on and as we passed the last of the table and shops, the pure beauty of the aged buildings that surrounded us was awe inspiring. As we continued on, the diversity of the shops we passed and the beauty of the myriad of colors used on the storefronts amazed me and I was shortly unable to really process all the visual stimulus.
After a short detour to view the river and the amazing view of the downtown area, we made our way down to Cafe du Monde, a place famous for their cafe au lait and beignets. The atmosphere at this historic cafe is indescribable. Their menu hasn't changed in 80 plus years and once you've partaken of their offerings, its easy to see why. If any of you are ever in New Orleans, this is an absolute must!
As we made a turn to pass the beautiful Jackson Square and head toward the Stl Louis Cathedral and its regal spires, we passed several street performers. Past those were several people selling beautiful paintings, rugs and tapestries, as well as a few card readers and a caricature painter. The diversity of the people passing by and those selling goods and services struck me as quite amazing. Coming from this small Utah town, I have had little exposure to true diversity and I found it to be quite a positive experience. In this place filled with people from all creeds and walks of life, it is easy to appreciate everyone as an individual regardless of their color or lineage.
The rest of our time spent in the French Quarter that evening was filled with a pleasant stroll through the streets and then a stop at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. The food was great and the atmosphere was very festive. We then made our way back to Slidell and eventually tucked ourselves in for the night.
Day 3: The Zoo and a night I'll never forget.
My third day in Louisiana was the busiest of them all. We all squeezed into the Greco's car for the drive back into the city. This was the first time I was able to actually pay close attention to the scenery and all the great sights we passed because I didn't have to drive. Once we had left the interstate, we drove through the most beautiful neighborhoods I've ever laid eyes on. Each house had its own style and the difference in architecture from house to house was astonishing. The many cultural and historical influences that have shaped this city through the centuries were apparent as we passed through the streets.
We arrived at the Audubon Zoo and after meeting the extended Greco family we began our journey through the rather expansive and beautiful grounds. The best part of the experience is that the animals held there are divided into regions based on their natural habitat. Each of these areas is designed to mimic those areas, including plant life as well as the look of the stone and history of that region. The Asian Domain has Asian plants and ancient Asian stonework and this attention to detail holds true for the entire zoo.
In an effort to keep this post short, I will simply say that our time spent there was very amazing and if ever given the opportunity, I would visit again and encourage anyone that is visiting the area to spend a day wandering through the exhibits.
After we left the zoo, we made an attempt to get to the Aquarium of the Americas before closing time, but we weren't successful. We then decided that it was a good time to check out the Riverwalk Mall. This mall sits right along the Mississippi river and is quite high-class. The courtyard we passed through to enter was absolutely stunning with its large fountain and beautiful fountain.
Once we had walked the length of the shopping complex, we stopped for a quick bite to eat and then watched the boats go by on the river. The Mississippi isn't necessarily the most appealing body of water to gaze upon, however, the twin bridges that span its breadth are quite beautiful and the activity on the surface is fascinating to behold.
It was now time for Lacey and I to part from Joe and the kids and enjoy a night out on Bourbon Street with her friends. We made this separation at the French Market and began wandering through the streets of the French Quarter once again. The buildings and people amazed me still as we made our way toward Bourbon. We stayed on the lookout for any possible future residences for me and I made sure to soak in as much history as possible.
This is all for now. I just had to get as much done as possible, and I'm not certain when I will have time to post again. I'm hoping to have the whole week's account finished this week, but I'm unable to make any promises.
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