The Trip: Day 7
Day 7
New Orleans
I had big plans for New Orleans...but 1 full day doesn't really offer enough time for "big plans," so I had to settle for little plans.
We wound up splitting up, because I had plans and they didn't want to be part of them (which was fine with me), so they wandered off by themselves and I took off for the St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery.
The walk there was interesting; my first impression of New Orleans was the smell...if it didn't smell like urine then it smelled like rotting trash. Not everywhere, mind you, some streets were stinkier than others; but the problem is that the garbage cans are on the sidewalk and lots of people have dogs. The second impression was that it's nowhere near as scarey as I was lead to believe; I never once felt threatened or fearful. Although, I will mention that I wasn't much impressed the night before as we were driving through the Quarter looking for our lodgings...I guess I prefer NOLa during the day.
I didn't realize when I headed out, but St. Vincent is actually 3 cemeteries, so I only went to the one, until I got discouraged because I couldn't find anyone on my list! So, I went back to the Creole Inn (will discuss momentarily) and looked at Find A Grave to try and figure out what the problem was...that's when I discovered that there are other people who are apparently unaware that St. Vincent is actually 3 cemeteries.
Armed with this new knowledge, and an increased list of names, I prepared to head back out to the cemeteries. That's when my parents returned and agreed to drive me over there...it's a good thing they did, because I had totally forgotten that the cemetery closes at 3:30 pm. Had they not been there, I would have been locked in the cemetery! (Which, wouldn't have been all that bad, per se, but there are no toilets and very little shade; I had left a note, so when I didn't return they would have come looking for me). While I only managed to find one name on my list, it wasn't a total loss because I ran into someone who works there and he explained a few things to me; just because the name isn't on the stone doesn't mean the body isn't there; just because the name is on the stone doesn't mean the body is there.
That night, we ate dinner at La Peniche, a restaurant just outside of the French Quarter. The food was quite good, I recommend it.
The place we stayed in is called the Creole Inn. It is a no-frills establishment just outside of the Quarter, owned and run by a retired military couple. It is a Bed & Breakfast without the breakfast, basically. But it's very homey, the hostess was friendly, and it puts you just outside of the French Quarter. The one issue I had was that there was no hot water in the shower...ever. But, if you don't mind taking cold showers, then it's a great place to stay.
New Orleans
I had big plans for New Orleans...but 1 full day doesn't really offer enough time for "big plans," so I had to settle for little plans.
We wound up splitting up, because I had plans and they didn't want to be part of them (which was fine with me), so they wandered off by themselves and I took off for the St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery.
The walk there was interesting; my first impression of New Orleans was the smell...if it didn't smell like urine then it smelled like rotting trash. Not everywhere, mind you, some streets were stinkier than others; but the problem is that the garbage cans are on the sidewalk and lots of people have dogs. The second impression was that it's nowhere near as scarey as I was lead to believe; I never once felt threatened or fearful. Although, I will mention that I wasn't much impressed the night before as we were driving through the Quarter looking for our lodgings...I guess I prefer NOLa during the day.
BELOW: Holy Trinity Church. It's for sale. I passed this on my way to the cemetery.
I didn't realize when I headed out, but St. Vincent is actually 3 cemeteries, so I only went to the one, until I got discouraged because I couldn't find anyone on my list! So, I went back to the Creole Inn (will discuss momentarily) and looked at Find A Grave to try and figure out what the problem was...that's when I discovered that there are other people who are apparently unaware that St. Vincent is actually 3 cemeteries.
Armed with this new knowledge, and an increased list of names, I prepared to head back out to the cemeteries. That's when my parents returned and agreed to drive me over there...it's a good thing they did, because I had totally forgotten that the cemetery closes at 3:30 pm. Had they not been there, I would have been locked in the cemetery! (Which, wouldn't have been all that bad, per se, but there are no toilets and very little shade; I had left a note, so when I didn't return they would have come looking for me). While I only managed to find one name on my list, it wasn't a total loss because I ran into someone who works there and he explained a few things to me; just because the name isn't on the stone doesn't mean the body isn't there; just because the name is on the stone doesn't mean the body is there.
BELOW: St. Vincent Cemeteries. 1) Gates to Cemetery #1. 2) A row of tombs. 3) Wall of vaults. 4) Vault tomb. 5 & 6) Nobody home! Empty wall tomb. 7) The construction (or deconstruction) of a row tomb.
That night, we ate dinner at La Peniche, a restaurant just outside of the French Quarter. The food was quite good, I recommend it.
The place we stayed in is called the Creole Inn. It is a no-frills establishment just outside of the Quarter, owned and run by a retired military couple. It is a Bed & Breakfast without the breakfast, basically. But it's very homey, the hostess was friendly, and it puts you just outside of the French Quarter. The one issue I had was that there was no hot water in the shower...ever. But, if you don't mind taking cold showers, then it's a great place to stay.
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