French Quarter Lust

Attention friends: this is my last NOLA post! It has been fun and exciting to recap the trip for you intermittently over the past few weeks. This final installment is a photo montage dedicated to the sites that make New Orleans, New Orleans. It is pretty much a compilation of miscellaneous photos that didn't make it into the previous posts. I hope you enjoy and thanks for letting me re-live this trip for as long as possible. Until the next adventure!The days spent soaking up the French Quarter on foot were truly memorable. This city is one of a kind.Prominent architecture includes fancy balconies where the delicate wrought iron weaves intricately over backdrops of richly colored pink buildings.Harsh weathered exteriors are a contrasting façade from those that are clean and polished. Where the balconies give off of a regal feel on one street corner, they are rough and worn down on the next.
The contrast between the two is ever so striking. The houses are often distinguished by wide paneling and painted shutters, I even spotted one with disco balls hanging from the roof! The Bourbon Street bars follow suit with weathered brick and balconies, adding flare with bright neon signs and lights, beads and bras, glitter and glitz.

Our hotel was an absolute gem. Below is the view from our 8th floor room at the Ritz Carlton, situated a block from Bourbon at 921 Canal Street. The courtyard was especially pleasant offering a serene atmosphere to relax. We didn't spend too much time here, just enough to order a bloody mary before venturing out one morning. We spent a little more time one evening in the Ritz's swanky Davenport Lounge where famous Jazz musician Jeremy Davenport performs on a regular basis. His show was a good time, the vibe is upbeat and everyone makes their way up to the dance floor sooner or later!Jackson Square is a charming section of the historic French Quarter. Be sure to wander over if and when you visit. A statue pays homage to our 7th President Andrew Jackson who (before his presidency) served as Major General leading a poorly equipped army to victory at The Battle of New Orleans on January 8th, 1815 against British troops that far outnumbered ours. This poignant victory marked Andrew Jackson a hero.

The St. Louis Cathedral is another well known landmark of Jackson Square.

Fountains grace the square along with artists selling their wares and donkeys offering carriage rides. The Fleur de Lis is a notable French icon. This stylized symbol is played up in all the shops and stores and below in lively Jackson Square artwork. If you haven't already, make sure to check out Tricia's Guide to The Big Easy over at Not All Who Wander Are Lost. She manages to wrap up the trip nicely in one post while still hitting the major highlights and offering some more in depth travel advice. They say the world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page. I feel it is a privilege to travel at all, and especially with these ladies. I can only hope the future has in store for us many more girls vacations!