I was not going to write about our trip to New Orleans because I have been there several times. But then I realized I had never written about the city, and it is one of my favorites!
I will touch only on the places I saw this time, with a little of the history of why I love it.
New Orleans is like no other city in the USA, with its Creole and French roots, its diverse populations and its jazz. I love walking down the streets in the French Quarter and hearing the music and watching the bands play on street corners.
We cannot go to New Orleans and not have beignets. Each time we go to our favorite shop and get an order of three to share. I eat one, my husband has two. Personally, we like Café Beignet. I know that many enjoy a different spot. But this one right off the square and next to the police station is the best for me!
I also go to the same restaurant on the corner of the plaza by St. Louis Cathedral. The windows all open and you feel like you are sitting outside while inside. And yes we went there this trip as well. I was especially happy that in New Orleans you had to show your Covid vaccine record to enter a restaurant. It made me feel a bit safer.
I did visit the Audubon Aquarium of The Americas. The last time I went there was 20 years ago, before Hurricane Katrina destroyed the aquarium and released many of the sea life. It is definitely different then what I remember, plus there is construction nearby, and renovation inside, but I enjoyed my hour or so walking around by myself. My favorite spots were the Amazon Rain Forest set up in a giant greenhouse structure, and the sea horses. But the Great Maya Reef area was also fun. For me aquariums are great activities for both the young and young at heart.
My second stop was more educational than fun. I went to the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience, where I learned much about southern Jewish population and Civil Rights activism. The museum did a good job in showing how Jewish men moved into the south as peddlers and then as store owners. Their activities against racism were important to the Civil Rights movement. Although I knew that they had played a part in changing how people were treated, I was not aware of the extensive work of the Jewish population of the south to help. Another good spot to go!
During past trips to New Orleans, I visited the National World War II Museum/National D-Day Museum. It is a wonderful spot that really takes hours to visit completely. Wear good walking shoes and schedule yourself properly. Learning about D-Day and the boats that helped in the Invasion of Normandy was the information that still sticks in my mind. The Higgins Boats, which were used in the invasion, were designed by a New Orleans manufacturer Andrew Jackson Higgins. The Higgins boats played an important role in the invasion, a fact that has stayed in my mind for years.
I love New Orleans because there are so many museums and historical sites to explore and so many wonderful restaurants to experience the tastes of the city. The history of Mardi Gras and the diverse communities of New Orleans makes is interesting and delightful!
After the hurricane and Covid issues, it is a city that needs support and love. At one event I attended, the waitress told me how happy they all were that our convention was held, because it gave them hope and an income which helps keeps their spirits up. With the rise in the new Covid variant, I know that people are nervous about traveling. I understand. I will say that New Orleans is doing its best to keep people safe. I wish all cities were doing the same. In the meantime, I salute the New Orleans Spirit.
https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium
zicharonot 