New Orleans City
The KOA in New Orleans offered a shuttle bus into the city and back at 5:15 pm. They also sold tickets for the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing tour. There was a couple on the shuttle bus with me and they had decided to do the sightseeing tour as well. We were dropped a block from Jackson Square and the siteseeing double-decker bus was around the corner.
Hop-On Hop-Off
The Hop-on and Hop-off sightseeing tour in New Orleans is a popular way to explore the city's historic landmarks, cultural attractions, and vibrant neighborhoods. The tour allows visitors to travel at their own pace, hopping on and off at any of the 17 designated stops along the route. For me, as someone who was unsure of what I wanted to see or had too many things to visit within a short time, I found it useful to create a list of the sights to see as we travelled.
Our tour began at Jackson Square, where we boarded an open-air double-decker bus. The buses are equipped with comfortable seats, panoramic windows, and an audio guide that provides information on the sights and history of the city. The route includes many of the top attractions in New Orleans, such as the St. Louis Cathedral, the Garden District, the National WWII Museum, and the Mardi Gras World. Passengers can choose to stay on the bus and listen to the audio guide, or they can hop off at any of the designated stops and explore the area on foot.
We came to an intersection where many bikes were piled up. These bikes were involved in fatal cycling accidents, and there were similar stacks in other parts of town. Unfortunately, the guide did not provide any information regarding the timeframe during which these accidents took place.
During the Hop-on and Hop-off sightseeing tour, I was hoping to take some photos of the various sites we passed by as we wound around the city. While it was a nice way to be introduced to the city, I found that most of my photos were uninteresting and out of focus. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to stand on the bus, and the angles were often not suitable for photography. Additionally, the speed at which we were moving was too fast to capture any sharp images. As a result, I took mental notes of the sights I wanted to revisit later to capture better photos.
We learned that there are balconies and porches on buildings. While not technically a balcony, second-story porches are a common feature of New Orleans architecture. They are typically located on the second floor of a building and are supported by columns or posts. We learned that porches may be screened in or have a railing, but I didn’t see any examples. Balconies are not as wide as a porch and there various ways to attach them to the side of a building.
Overall, the tour is a convenient way to discover the best of New Orleans.
Bourbon Street And More
After getting off the sightseeing tour, I went to Jackson Square. As I entered the park, newly weds came across the street, and I couldn’t resist taking a few photos. They were speaking Arabic and I asked where they were from. They told me Chicago and I learned that the family had come from Egypt.
King and Queen Hold Court
On the other side of Jackson Square, the King and Queen were watching a group of musicians play classic New Orleans street music and they invited people from far and wide.
Interesting Things
Right off of Jackson Square is a building where William Faulkner wrote Soldier’ Pay. It’s now a bookstore and the owner told me the area of the book store is where he lived and wrote. He shared the kitchen and bathroom with the rest of the tenants in the building.
You also see things that make you laugh, like the pole with all the No Parking signs.
There were also decorations still remaining from Mardi Gras.
The Poets
I sat and watched these guys for about 30 minutes. They write instant poems on any subject. Sometimes they write together and sometimes alone. I wondered how much longer they would be in business given that chatGPT can instantly write a poem about anything. Hey chatGPT, write me a 15 line poem about three funny dudes in New Orleans that write poems instantly about anything. They are even willing to get paid in drugs.
In the heart of New Orleans,
There lived three funny dudes,
Their poetry was instant,
And their wit,
oh how it exudes.
They'd write on any topic,
From love to politics,
And they'd do it for drugs,
No need for economics.
With their quick tongues and minds,
They'd craft verse on the spot,
The crowds would gather 'round them,
And they'd give it all they've got.
Their words would flow like jazz,
As they riffed on the streets,
The city was their canvas,
Their rhymes, the perfect beats.
So if you're ever in NOLA,
And you need some verse in a hurry,
Just seek out these three funny dudes,
Their talent will make you worry.
I stopped to watch many musicians all around town. In the late afternoon, I stopped in the bars to checkout all types of music.
My favorite was the soulful blues and Motown sound of “Tonia Lady T Johnson and the Heavy Hitters”. I was standing outside this bar, and the woman at the door, Evelyn, said, “Do you like them?” I said the singer has an amazing voice. I went in and pulled out the camera, ordered a stout and took some photos. I could only stay for about 30 minutes because my shuttle ride would be coming.
The buildings
I walked and was fascinated by all the different styles of architecture. It looked like a museum over several centuries.
The Photographer
I came upon a photographer / Artist, Wes Fowinkle and one of his images really grabbed me. It was black and white of a church flooded by Katrina. We talked for a while and I learned that he uses an old 8”x10” camera from 1895 to take some of the photos. He makes his own glass plates. This can be dangerous because of the chemicals. He said he could see the ether gas rolling over the glass. His website is fowinkart.com.
Wes Fowinkle
I made it back to the shuttle bus stop with five minutes to spare.
When I got back to the campsite, I cooked dinner and then went to sleep.