NOLA/WWII Museum/Downtown
I thought I’d be a little daring on this day and take the streetcar, not the tram, into downtown New Orleans. The front desk at the KOA let me roughly where I could pickup the streetcar. They gave me an address of a restaurant and told me to park near the river. The address got me in the general direction, but I stopped to ask a woman where I could park for the tram. That start a conversation about streetcar vs. tram. We both laughed and she said, why don’t you park over there in front of that house. I said do you think they will mind? She said, no they have one car and it’s in the garage. We chatted for 30 minutes about the neighborhood and the architecture. She then walked me several blocks to the streetcar stop and gave me details about all the buildings. I could see the streetcar coming in the distance under a canopy of old moss covered trees. I thanked her for her kindness as I boarded.
I asked for a day pass and paid my 85 cents and took a seat in the middle. The windows were all open with a mesmerizing breeze blowing through. It was fun just sitting and watching people from so many walks of life all just enjoying the moment. I followed our progress on google maps to see when we were close to the National World War II Museum. About halfway through the trip, I noticed there was a progress display at the front of the street car with all the names of the stops.
National WWII Museum
I arrived at the museum around 11:15 am. I also purchased a separate ticket for 4D experience titled “Beyond All boundaries” narrated by Tom Hanks. I toured the second floor for an hour before the presentation started at 12:30. The film is a powerful and immersive retelling of the events of World War II, featuring archival footage, special effects (snow, rumbling seats, a 3D fusalage, etc.), and a score by composer Hans Zimmer. Tom Hanks' narration adds to the emotional impact of the film, making it a unique and informative experience.
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans is a destination for anyone interested in history or the military. The museum offers an immersive and comprehensive look at the events and people that shaped the war, with exhibits covering everything from the causes of the conflict to the battles and the aftermath. The museum features an impressive collection of artifacts, including vehicles, weapons, and personal items from soldiers and civilians alike. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience what life was like during the war, and a variety of films and multimedia presentations provide a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play. The museum is a moving tribute to the men and women who fought and sacrificed for their country, and a powerful reminder of the impact of the war on the world.
Having taken many photos, I picked some that I feel exemplify the wide spectrum of events, the depth of suffering, and the optimism for peace that World War II brought. The total number of servicemen and civilians killed worldwide as a result of the war is staggering and the following may be extremely underestimated:
WORLDWIDE CASUALTIES
Battle Deaths - 15,000,000
Battle Wounded - 25,000,000
Civilian Deaths - 45,000,000
Afternoon Of Photos
I went to the 40s style cafe inside the museum for a very late lunch. The food was actually very good. I spent some time in the gift shop looking at the hundreds of books, knowing I had no room for another book.
I wanted to spend the afternoon just walking and taking photos. I went back to the Bourbon Street area to photo graph buildings and signs.
I went to Louis Armstrong Park in the late afternoon. As I walked, I saw a couple walking near one of the waterways and noticed the guy was in the water with a net. I inquired about what he, Chad, was trying to catch and he explained that there is an invasive species of fish living in the water there. His fiancé, Racquel, explained that he has an aquarium with invasive species. We chatted about various things for a while and I asked if I could get a photo.
Racquel and Chad in Armstrong Park
The park was fairly quiet and the sun was bringing out colors in everything. I tried to capture this vibrance that seemed to touch everything.
I stopped by the bar where “Tonia Lady T Johnson and the Heavy Hitters“ were playing two nights before. I saw Evelyn standing at the door again and said hello. She told me that there was a DJ playing music tonight. We chatted for a little bit and I asked for a recommendation for a good restaurant. She sent me around the corner to The Oceana Grill. I thanked her and asked if I could take a picture of her. The Oceana Grill was packed, but the hostess said that there was a seat at the bar. I bought the sampler of local food which was excellent.
Evelyn
Night began to settle over the city and the lights of Bourbon Street made for interesting photographs. Many people stopped to comment as I took photos. Some wanted me to take their photo with the lights, some wanted to show me their photos, and some just stopped to chat.
As I walked by the curb, I noticed six people who appeared to be living on the street. Suddenly, a large brownish-white rat darted out from a nearby shop, scurrying quickly in front of the group. One of the guys in the group attempted to catch it but failed. The rat ran into the street before turning back and squeezing into a small hole behind a rain spout by the sidewalk. It all happened in a few seconds. The group broke out into an altered state laughing session.
Streetcar Ride
I found my way to the green streetcar to take me back to my car. As the streetcar pulled up and emptied, the woman driving it said, “you need a street address to get on”. A third of the people walked away. It seems that people get on to just ride the street car at night and people that need to get to work, school or home can’t get on. The guy behind me asked me if he could use my address and I told him I didn’t have one, I was just trying to get to my car. By the time I got on, I had the address of restaurant close to where I parked. He followed me on and had obtained an address from the guy behind him.
I sat on one of the side benches and he sat down a few feet away. We had started to talk and he was in town for a conference. There was a lot of chatter on the street car at this time of night. I asked him what he did for a living, and he looked around and in his deep baritone voice said, “I’m a Federal Judge in Washington.” The entire streetcar became silent and all eyes were on us.
The guy across from me without front teeth said, “I guess I better behave on this ride.” There were a few chuckles. The judge said something to the effect of needing to come up with a different profession. A couple a the front of the streetcar had done a full 180 and minutes later were still starring at him. We continued to talk for most of the ride.
We stopped, and the Judge went to the front to ask about switching street cars. The woman smiled and said, “Your Honor” and explained how to switch.
Another guy across from me in a support walker said to me, “I used to ride my bike across the country. I’ve done it 5 times. You probably don’t believe me, but here’s a photo of me six years ago before some guy ran into me with his car.” He now gets around with the walker and has a tent for when it rains.
I made it back fairly late and immediately went to sleep.