Located in the deep South of the United States, New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana and is a blend of French, Spanish, Italian, and African cultures with a large portion of Caribbean thrown in for added flavour. Being made up mostly of reclaimed swamp land and with Lake Pontcharrain to the North and the Mississippi River wending its way through the town, New Orleans succumbed to the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when the levee system failed and 80% of the city was flooded. Being on slightly higher ground, the tourist and business districts survived better than many of the low lying residential areas, some of which are still uninhabitable today. Regardless of the turmoil of the past few years the indomitable spirit of New Orleans has overcome these adversities and the city is again calling for visitors to come back and celebrate life with them once more.
Nouvelle Orléans was founded in 1718 as a French colony and became a major slave trading port with the French importing thousands of slaves from Africa. The city was relinquished to Spain in 1763 but reverted to French control in 1801 and was subsequently sold to America in 1803. The original inhabitants of New Orleans, being descended from French, African and Native Americans, were then referred to as Creole, whereas those who had emigrated from the French colony of Arcadia in North America were known as Cajun. The US civil war and abolishment of slavery had a severe effect on the local economy that was based on cotton and sugar plantations and largely manned by slave labour. Regardless of this the city eventually prospered and was recognized as one of the major cities of the US South. Jazz music developed in the early 1900s and became a defining influence on the city’s culture which has continued to this day. Even though New Orleans was overtaken commercially by other cities in the South during the twentieth century it retained its colourful and welcoming character and as a result tourism has become the economy’s major industry.
When visiting New Orleans, affectionately known as ‘the Big Easy’, be aware that things tend to move at a much slower pace here. Its all about tasting life and enjoying the company of those around you. Make sure you say your please’s and thank you’s and don’t be afraid to throw in a few ma’am’s and sir’s as well, as politeness is seen as a virtue in the South. Also remember the climate is subtropical and tends to be hot and extremely humid in summer so be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Summer daytime temperatures average around 32°C ( 89°F) and in winter its around 18°C ( 64°F).
Music has always been an integral part of New Orleans culture and there is nothing that defines the character of this laid back city more than Jazz. You’ll hear the usually upbeat, often sad, and occasionally haunting music played throughout the city - its not unusual for there to be a ‘Jazz funeral’ to mark the passing of a local well known musician. Festivals also are a major part of New Orleans’ history and culture. The most famous of these is Mardi Gras (or Carnival) which is a lively season of parties, parades and festivals that’s held over a two week period in January and draws tourists from around the world. There are parades daily, sometimes more than one, and the major parades travel along Canal Street and St Charles Ave. The larger parades avoid the French Quarter and Bourbon St due to their narrow streets. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is another major festival held on the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May and attracts thousands of tourists from around the world. Although its known as Jazz Fest the festival pays homage to all the different music styles associated with New Orleans, including Cajun, folk, R&B, modern rock and rap, blues, country and of course jazz. There are also smaller festivals held all year round such as St Patrick’s Day parade, St Joseph’s Day parade, Creole Tomato Festival, Hallowe'en Parade, French Quarter Festival and more, so no matter what time of year you visit there’s likely to be some kind of celebration happening. Be sure to allow plenty of time to arrange your accommodation beforehand as hotels book out early around festival times.
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Food is one of the sins you wont be able to (or want to) avoid on a New Orleans vacation. There are so many varieties to try, most of which are heavy on flavour (and fat) and are usually deep fried. Seafood can be found everywhere and is always fresh and reasonably priced. Local specialties like crawfish and alligator should be tried, and traditional Louisiana gumbo is delicious. New Orleans is also known for it’s love of the ‘hard stuff’. Places that serve alcohol can be readily found throughout the city and as there are no laws limiting operating hours its possible to get a refreshing beverage any time of the day or night. Its also legal to drink in public so long as its from an open container which is not glass, a can or a bottle. All bars offer plastic cups and will force you to use them if you choose to take your drink with you.
To discover New Orleans history visit the French Quarter. It’s the oldest part of town and contains many historical buildings and landmarks and is the most popular part of the city for visitors. Its here you’ll find famous Bourbon Street, a tourist favourite and home to countless bars, strip clubs restaurants and souvenir shops. The CBD, Central Business District, is chock full of shops, restaurants, hotels and museums and also houses the Arts District. Walking and cycling are great ways to get around the city, especially in the French Quarter, otherwise trolley cars, buses and cabs are readily available and charges are reasonable. Avoid Central City neighbourhood as the crime rate has remained high since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Driving is not recommended due to the narrowness and poor quality of streets in the older sectors of the city.
There are so many other things to do and experience whilst visiting New Orleans such as take a riverboat cruise along the mighty Mississippi, hop on a street car on Canal Street, or enjoy a slow paced Royal Carriage ride in the French Quarter, there are many museums, art galleries and even historic cemeteries to explore, visit the parts of town still left in ruins from the Storm, or even go on a Voodoo tour.
The incredible colours, flavours and history of New Orleans is truly unique and offers an unforgettable smorgasbord for all your senses.
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