1331 Third Street

Some of the finest 19th century houses in New Orleans are near where we're staying in the Garden District, a couple of miles west of the French Quarter. It's leafy and quiet here, a block away from fashionable Magazine Street which has lots of great bars, cafes and restaurants without the grittiness of Bourbon Street. 
Our prolonged spell of hot sunny weather has broken this afternoon with a torrential thunderstorm and downpour, which will do the area good. Several people have commented that there is a drought in Louisiana, which has been a rather unusual state of affairs.