Oh When the Saints get Two Free Beers!

What can I say about New Orleans? It would have to be one of my favourite cities in the world. The Big Easy. What an apt name.

My arrival wasn’t too special though. I arrived at midnight and after perusing my travel guide found a place to stay. The mini bus took me to the front steps and dumped me in the middle of a suburban street in front of an abandoned house. I knocked on the door, but it was obvious this place was not open anymore – the airport tourist info had even suggested this place. Now I found myself in the middle of the Hood, with no idea what to do. I am sure a white man carrying a large backpack stood out in that black neighbourhood, but I had to find a phone fast. I must admit to a bit of racial stereotyping when a small group of black men came around the corner – I thought I was going to be mugged for sure, but they just looked at me quizzically as I walked past. I soon found a Subway with a pay phone out the front and called a cab. It wasn’t long before I was on my way – this time to the YHA on Carondelet St. Now try saying that address to a local cab driver and he has no idea what you are on about. I was obviously pronouncing it wrong – I assumed it was French and ‘Caron-de-lay”, but eventually the cab driver exclaimed “Oh, you want Karin-da-let”. Hmmm…yes, please!

At night I visited Bourbon St and was overjoyed to find the street a buzz and all the bars doing a buy one, get two more free deal!

I wish I had come to the YHA sooner because it was a gorgeous old building right off a streetcar stop. I crashed after the stressful night.

Of course New Orleans is all about jazz and I definitely wanted to check out a show, but the rest of the city is fascinating also, from the Streetcar ride, to Jackson Square, to Bourbon St and the Mississippi to just wandering the French Quarter admiring the buildings. I soon found that New Orleans isn’t one of the biggest party towns for nothing. At night I visited Bourbon St and was overjoyed to find the street a buzz and all the bars doing a buy one, get two more free dea! So there I was with 3 Buds for the rest of the night. I don’t know how I got back to the hostel, but I must have walked the whole way, pissed out of my mind. New Orleans has a reputation for a high crime rate so I was very lucky indeed I think. Especially since the suburbs between the hostel and Bourbon St were not the sort of place to linger during the day, let alone at night.

One evening I managed to get myself into the Preservation Hall to watch some live jazz. What a treat! I’m not exactly a jazz fan but the way those old boys played was magical. And yes they played The Saints as well – for an extra fee mind!