The Garden District

Wednesday
This morning we explored the Area known as the Garden District, the area settled by wealthy merchants, planters and bankers, building mansions in a variety of styles, ranging from Greek revival to Italianate and Queen Anne, and so called due to the lush gardens that often surrounded them. Everywhere, shade is offered by the huge spreading live oak trees, and the scent of jasmine is in the air. All that was missing was the sun and blue skies! As well as the mansions, we also wandered round Lafayette cemetery, resting place of many German and British Protestants. In the afternoon we did a walk suggested in our guide, walking along the river, through Woldenberg Riverfront Park, past the Aquarium down to the Canal Street , ferry, which takes foot passengers across the Mississippi River to Old Algiers Point. We walked a little way along a path on top of the levee, before taking some steps down to street level and wandered the streets, passing more humble dwellings than the morning, Creole style, but still well maintained for the most part. By the time we were returning on the ferry, there were some feeble glimpses of sun beginning to appear, and we decided to head over to Pat O’Briens, a bar in the French Quarter famous for its trademark Hurricane cocktail, which we enjoyed sitting in their beautiful outdoor courtyard, the sun shining more strongly by this point. Then we joined the line to get into Preservation Hall to hear one of their jazz performances. It’s only a small place but they do performances almost every hour between 5 and 10, and there’s always a long line. It had been a long day with a lot of walking, so by the time we finally got back to our hotel after dinner, we were exhausted, and ready for bed!