New Orleans - 3

Okay, here are the last of the pictures from New Orleans. Enjoy!

This juggler was one of the folks entertaining us at the Mardi Gras party we attended that week.

                                         

A local artist draws caricatures of the guests at the party.

This girl on stilts had us all impressed with her ability to navigate through the party crowd without tripping over someone and falling down.

 

                                       

A New Orleans landmark: St. Louis Cathedral

 

Another popular building in New Orleans. It houses the Rivers Edge Restaurant and is across the street from the Cafe du Monde.

 

The aforementioned and world famous Cafe du Monde. The beignets are to die for! 

 

A freighter hard at work on the Mighty Mississippi River.

 

                                       

Tourists wait by the balcony of the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street for revelers to earn the Mardi Gras beads that they hold.

Hope you enjoyed the mini tour of New Orleans! Be sure to tune in tomorrow!

New Orleans - 2

Just a few more pics from my trip to New Orleans last year. Enjoy!

Aboard the Creole Queen

 

                                    

"Mother's Restaurant" is world famous for their Po Boy sandwiches.

 
                                      

A yellow banner advertises Satchmo Summerfest. Satchmo, also known as Louie Armstrong, was one of New Orleans' favorite sons.

                                         

Headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras? You can rent a balcony to watch the festivities!

 

                                          

New Orleans has some of the prettiest ironwork I have ever seen. Here is a sample of what I saw while I was there.

 

                                             

New Orleans is also known as a haunted city, with zombies, vampires, etc. Above are two of the characters I saw in this particular store.

                 

Street performers are common around the city. I have no idea what the silver guy was supposed to be, but the street band was playing a tourist favorite, "When the Saints Go Marching In."

                                     

"Death" hanging out on Decatur Street.

 

       

A wizard musician and street dancers entertain the crowd on Bourbon Street.

Bourbon Street and St. Ann

                                        

Saw this sign along Bourbon Street: "Female Impersonators. Men Prettier Than Girls." Scary, but probably true. 

                                        

Also seen along Bourbon Street: "Jazz Funeral: Where People Are Dying To Come In." The group I was with had the opportunity to hear a local high school band from the St. Bernard parish play the Jazz Funeral. It was a very moving experience.

I will wrap up tomorrow with a few more shots of New Orleans. Be sure to come back!

 

New Orleans - 1

I had the great opportunity to visit New Orleans in July of 2008. Here are a few pictures I took around town. The people were very, very nice and appreciative of the help the city was receiving from any number of groups who are assisting in the rebuilding of the Crescent City, and for the tourists that were returning to spend their vacations there. All were most welcome!

I saw this sign in several places around New Orleans and could indeed feel it being lived out by the citizens of the city. 

                                         

Winston Churchill

 

                                           

Riverwalk Marketplace, located right by the banks of the Mighty Mississippi!

                                           

The Creole Queen. I was fortunate to be able to take a jazz dinner cruise on the Creole Queen during my visit!

 

                                           

Just had to take a picture of this restaurant in New Orleans called "Fat Tuesday!"

 

    

Fountain and one of the plaques on the wall surrounding the fountain. Click the picture for a larger version.

That's all for today. Part 2 tomorrow!

Universal Studios - 3

Great day today! Took the day off to run some personal errands and met up with a friend for lunch and then spent the afternoon shopping and taking in a movie! Saw a gnome, or wizard, or something on a street corner advertising for a local apartment complex. Not sure what that was about, but here are some more pics from my adventures at Universal Studios. Hope you enjoy them!

Saw this outside of one of the studios' attractions: Earthquake. Could you imagine this happening in real life?

A new attraction being built at the studios. Don't know what it will be called. The rest of the pictures are from the New York and San Francisco lots at the studio.

Tomorrow, something different. :-)