It’s time for another trip down memory lane, but this time a bit of a more recent memory than the last, and this time we’re staying in the country. In 2009, the world was blessed with the movie The Princess and the Frog, and since watching that movie, the upbeat liveliness of New Orleans has intrigued me completely. From the bright colors, to the food, to the jazz music, New Orleans seems like such an interesting and exciting place to visit.
I’m sure that most people have heard of Mardi Gras, but nowhere does Mardi Gras like they do in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” which signifies the last day before the period of Lent begins. This event is so big in New Orleans that the event itself has a website which lists different things to do during Mardi Gras, helps visitors find hotels for their stay, and even has a countdown until Mardi Gras. Much of the celebration is centered around the Carnival, which is the time leading up to the actual event of Mardi Gras. During this period, there are multiple parades, parties, and events to bring people closer together, as it has been doing since its beginning in medieval Europe. Along with these festivities, New Orleans also offers entertainment in many other forms.
Some of the most popular sources of entertainment in New Orleans are the swamp tours. During these tours, visitors ride in kayaks through the swamps of Louisiana, witnessing the wildlife firsthand. These tours have become very popular as there are not many other places that allow tourists to ride their own kayak and be in control of their own tour. Another very popular source of entertainment is going to Preservation Hall to see a live music performance. Preservation Hall is the “backbone of New Orleans’ music history” and is one of the most popular live jazz spots in the entire world. For those who are not as big a music buff as myself, there is certainly something for everyone! New Orleans is the home of the Saints NFL American Football Team, their home turf being the New Orleans Superdome.
As I have talked about in many of my other blogs, I am very interested in the architecture of the places I want to visit, and New Orleans has so much be
autiful architecture to offer. First, the St. Louis Cathedral is one of the most breathtaking cathedrals I have ever seen. This cathedral is the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, and with good reason. This cathedral honestly looks like a castle, and the landscape around it is absolutely breathtaking. New Orleans is also the home of the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which contains art from artists all over the world, making it one of the most elaborate sculpture collections in the world.
With all of the amazing things to do and see, New Orleans is definitely on my travel bucket list, thanks to Disney and the creators of The Princess and the Frog.