Post by Robin Hood on May 31, 2011 22:04:33 GMT -6
I had a couple of free night certificates from Marriott that had to be used up by June 1st and I actually had a couple days off of work so I called to see what was available in New Orleans for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Spring Hill Suites downtown had an open room for the two nights I would be in town so I booked it.
I am now working in Jackson, MS so it was just a quick little ride down I-55 to NOLA, left work at 5pm on Sat. night and headed right out on the highway and was at the hotel and checked in by 8pm and that included a pit stop to fill the car and empty my tank.
Once I was checked in I quickly changed clothes to something a little more casual and headed straight for the French Quarter, it is about 1/2 mile from the hotel and is not a bad walk down Tchoupitoulas St. and it is well lit and safe. I walked up to Bourbon St. to find the party. Stopped and grabbed a Hurricane to sip on while I cruised Bourbon St. I stopped in the Hustler club and paid the VIP price to gain access to the balcony ($15 bucks before 10pm), it is actually a pretty nice place and they have a nice balcony fairly centered on Bourbon St., bought a bag of beads and proceeded to have a little fun with the passing ladies... I was actually pretty disappointed at how many tits I actually had flashed my way... I think the final count was 9... one lady flashed only one. I didn't stay out too late Sat. night, I was back at the hotel and in bed by 1am, which in NOLA is pretty damn early.
Got up about 8am Sunday morning and walked back down to the Quarter to Cafe Du Monde and sat enjoying my Cafe Au Lait and Beignets while watching the coming and goings of all the people near Jackson Square, the weather was warm, but not ridiculously hot yet... Finished my breakfast and walked over to where the mule drawn carriages are parked and struck up a conversation with one of the drivers, turns out he was a transplant to New Orleans after he retired in Buffalo... I can't say I blame him for leaving Buffalo. I took his tour which was pretty touristy but still enjoyable and I did learn a few things about the French Quarter that I didn't know.
After my buggy tour I walked around the square exploring some of the local art work for sale. I had heard about a walking photo tour of the French Quarter and decided to give the guy a call to see if he had any space available, turns out he didn't have anyone booked for Sunday at all so he said if I wanted to go he would do it for half price. As it would turn out it was some of the best money I have ever spent. I met him about 2pm in front of the Cathedral. He asked about my photo skills and what kind of things I would like to see, after he found out I was a more advanced shooter and was looking to capture stuff that was unique to the French Quarter, we took off for some of the more residential neighborhoods. We even stopped at his house and I was given the nickle tour. He actually lives in one of the traditional creole homes, and it was BEAUTIFUL inside and out. He asked that I not shoot inside his home, but outside was fair game. After a full FOUR HOURS of touring the quarter we parted ways, not only did I get a kick ass tour from a local, but I would like to think I gained a friend as well.
It was a little after 6pm and the light was perfect for shooting some more so I walked down to Royal St. and focused mostly on the street performers. About 7:30pm I was actually starting to get pretty tired and I am sure I was starting to stink pretty bad as the heat was kickin pretty good all afternoon, so I grabbed a cab for a quick ride back to the hotel for a shower and a ch-ch-change of clothes.
Headed back out about 8:30pm to find someplace to get some dinner so I snagged another cab back to the Quarter and found a little Bistro off the beaten path and enjoyed a nice leisurely dinner and some REALLY good wine while listening to the Jazz band playing in the club across the street. I was back in bed by midnight.
Got up Monday morning and snagged a cab to Jackson Square to find some breakfast, popped in a little place and had some Pain Perdu (REAL FRENCH TOAST) and it was amazing, I think you would be really hard pressed to find crappy food anywhere in the Quarter. I had a few hours to kill before I had to head back to Jackson so I walked up to Royal St. and focused mostly on shooting more of the Street performers. Headed back to the hotel about 2pm and headed back to Jackson, MS.
All in all it was a great little getaway, I could have used another couple days, but I will take what I can get and hopefully it won't be another 20 years before I can make it back to New Orleans.
Photo Album
I am now working in Jackson, MS so it was just a quick little ride down I-55 to NOLA, left work at 5pm on Sat. night and headed right out on the highway and was at the hotel and checked in by 8pm and that included a pit stop to fill the car and empty my tank.
Once I was checked in I quickly changed clothes to something a little more casual and headed straight for the French Quarter, it is about 1/2 mile from the hotel and is not a bad walk down Tchoupitoulas St. and it is well lit and safe. I walked up to Bourbon St. to find the party. Stopped and grabbed a Hurricane to sip on while I cruised Bourbon St. I stopped in the Hustler club and paid the VIP price to gain access to the balcony ($15 bucks before 10pm), it is actually a pretty nice place and they have a nice balcony fairly centered on Bourbon St., bought a bag of beads and proceeded to have a little fun with the passing ladies... I was actually pretty disappointed at how many tits I actually had flashed my way... I think the final count was 9... one lady flashed only one. I didn't stay out too late Sat. night, I was back at the hotel and in bed by 1am, which in NOLA is pretty damn early.
Got up about 8am Sunday morning and walked back down to the Quarter to Cafe Du Monde and sat enjoying my Cafe Au Lait and Beignets while watching the coming and goings of all the people near Jackson Square, the weather was warm, but not ridiculously hot yet... Finished my breakfast and walked over to where the mule drawn carriages are parked and struck up a conversation with one of the drivers, turns out he was a transplant to New Orleans after he retired in Buffalo... I can't say I blame him for leaving Buffalo. I took his tour which was pretty touristy but still enjoyable and I did learn a few things about the French Quarter that I didn't know.
After my buggy tour I walked around the square exploring some of the local art work for sale. I had heard about a walking photo tour of the French Quarter and decided to give the guy a call to see if he had any space available, turns out he didn't have anyone booked for Sunday at all so he said if I wanted to go he would do it for half price. As it would turn out it was some of the best money I have ever spent. I met him about 2pm in front of the Cathedral. He asked about my photo skills and what kind of things I would like to see, after he found out I was a more advanced shooter and was looking to capture stuff that was unique to the French Quarter, we took off for some of the more residential neighborhoods. We even stopped at his house and I was given the nickle tour. He actually lives in one of the traditional creole homes, and it was BEAUTIFUL inside and out. He asked that I not shoot inside his home, but outside was fair game. After a full FOUR HOURS of touring the quarter we parted ways, not only did I get a kick ass tour from a local, but I would like to think I gained a friend as well.
It was a little after 6pm and the light was perfect for shooting some more so I walked down to Royal St. and focused mostly on the street performers. About 7:30pm I was actually starting to get pretty tired and I am sure I was starting to stink pretty bad as the heat was kickin pretty good all afternoon, so I grabbed a cab for a quick ride back to the hotel for a shower and a ch-ch-change of clothes.
Headed back out about 8:30pm to find someplace to get some dinner so I snagged another cab back to the Quarter and found a little Bistro off the beaten path and enjoyed a nice leisurely dinner and some REALLY good wine while listening to the Jazz band playing in the club across the street. I was back in bed by midnight.
Got up Monday morning and snagged a cab to Jackson Square to find some breakfast, popped in a little place and had some Pain Perdu (REAL FRENCH TOAST) and it was amazing, I think you would be really hard pressed to find crappy food anywhere in the Quarter. I had a few hours to kill before I had to head back to Jackson so I walked up to Royal St. and focused mostly on shooting more of the Street performers. Headed back to the hotel about 2pm and headed back to Jackson, MS.
All in all it was a great little getaway, I could have used another couple days, but I will take what I can get and hopefully it won't be another 20 years before I can make it back to New Orleans.
Photo Album
