19 Apr 2016

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Hello world, happy Tuesday. 

Sunny In Every Country

Visiting New Orleans for the first time proved to be an experience. Personally I’ve never been able to travel to the southern part of the United States with the number one reason being most West Africans immigrated to Northern Eastern cities. 

I have to admit that New Orleans has changed my perception about America culture. Often times, I think of America as the land of opportunities, leader of the world, has no culture of it own. But New  Orleans is nothing like most states in America. There aren’t many places in the USA that wear their history as openly on their sleeves as New Orleans. This city’s very facade is an architectural study par excellence.

Sunny In Every Country

Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

HISTORY

Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans

Situated on a bend of the Mississippi River 100 miles from its mouth, New Orleans has been the chief city of Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico’s busiest northern port since the early 1700s. Founded by the French, ruled for 40 years by the Spanish and bought by the United States in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, New Orleans is known for its distinct Creole culture and vibrant history. Significant battles of the War of 1812 and the Civil War were fought over the city. In its last hundred years the key struggles of New Orleans have been social (poverty, racial strife) and natural (hurricanes, floods and slowly sinking land).

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

THINGS TO DO

Sunny In Every Country

Where do you start with such a beautiful city like New Orleans?  It’s one of the few places where you refer to it in the past, present and future. New Orleans is all about beauty and experiencing the divine through mortal senses. There’s joy here, from great food to the best concert of your life, and serenity, found in the shade between live oaks or while watching fireflies on Bayou St John.

BOURBON STREET

BOURBON STREET

 Bourbon Street in the famous French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana where the party literally never stops. Spend a few hours, a few days, or the rest of your time on Bourbon Street and I bet you’ll never be bored, and maybe never sleep either. There is much to do on Bourbon Street regardless of your taste in music, clubs, food, or just people watching.

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Bourbon street

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

French Quarter, Bourbon Street

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Just Relax Foot Massage. Right on the intersection of Canal and Bourbon street. It felt so good and gave me more energy to continue my exploring by foot. 

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

 JACKSON SQUARE

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Jackson Square

Sprinkled with lazing loungers, surrounded by sketch artists, fortune-tellers and traveling performers, and watched over by cathedrals, offices and shops plucked from a Parisian fantasy, Jackson Sq is one of America’s great town greens and the heart of the French Quarter. The identical, block-long Pontalba Buildings overlook the scene, and the nearly identical Cabildo and Presbytère structures flank the impressive St Louis Cathedral, which fronts the square. In the middle of the park stands the Jackson monument – Clark Mills’ bronze equestrian statue of the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, which was unveiled in 1856. 

The inscription on the Jackson statue, ‘The Union Must and Shall be Preserved, ’ was added by General Benjamin Butler, Union military governor of New Orleans during the Civil War, who basically wanted to rub it into the occupied city’s face (it worked). Free music is performed here, or near here, on a fairly regular basis.

Sunny In New Orleans

Jackson Square, Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans Louisiana

Sunny In New Orleans

The Mississippi River

LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK

Sunny In Every Country, LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK

Louis Armstrong Park, home of the legendary Congo Square. During the slavery era, slaves and Black Indians would gather each Sunday to sing and dance in Congo Square, producing music that would provide the foundation for all contemporary music as we know it—jazz, hip hop, rock and roll, rnb, etc.

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Country

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Country

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Cuntry

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Country

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Country

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Country, Congo Square

 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK, Sunny In Every Country

 FRENCHMEN STREET

 FRENCHMEN STREET, New Orleans, Sunny In New Orleans

FRENCHMEN STREET, New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

If it’s music that you crave or just a peek into the New Orleans way of life, then Frenchmen Street is a must-see. Known as the “locals’ version of Bourbon,” Frenchmen is an entertainment district located within walking distance of the French Quarter. It offers an amazing variety of venue styles and music ranging from traditional jazz to blues to reggae to rock all week long. Many clubs along the strip don’t even charge a cover! But in true New Orleans fashion, do give a cheer after a great trombone solo and throw a few bucks in the tip jar to show your appreciation. 

Frenchmen offers a lively street culture that creates a seamless experience of music and fun both inside and out of the clubs that line the district.

 FRENCHMEN STREET, New Orleans

 FRENCHMEN STREET, New Orleans

FRENCHMEN STREET, New Orleans

 FRENCHMEN STREET, New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

New Orleans

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

He wanted a picture with me on my camera, so we asked his friend to take a picture of us. The people here are insanely sweet. 

Sunny In New Orleans

Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans

New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans

FOOD

New Orleans is a city for foodies with fine dining and historic cafes all around the city from the bustling French Quarter to the picture-perfect uptown Garden District. The food blends fancy French cuisine with local cooking styles to create distinctive Creole and Cajun dishes that are original to the city. I ate like a pig because every food in New Orleans is insanely delicious. 

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans

One of the most famous spots in New Orleans is Cafe Du Monde. The Original Cafe Du Monde is a traditional coffee shop. Its menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. This is a hot tourist spot but don’t let that stop you. Open 24/7. The lines can get long but they move pretty fast. 

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans

New Orleans, Cafe Du Monde, Sunny In Every Country

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

P.S: There is money in this picture not because I want to show off money but simply to inform you that they only accept cash. I had to go to the ATM across the street before I could eat my delicious beignets! 

Sunny In New Orleans

The restaurant is inside the W hotel in French Quarter. I really like the decor and the feel of this place. I love how this place is decorated. You will definitely open your mouth in awe at the decor.I had breakfast here twice. I ordered the french toast, really sweet but worth every calories.

New Orleans, Sobou, Sunny In Every Country

Sobou, W hotel New Orleans

Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans, Sobou

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

The food here was too good. It like a buffet style. You are given a table, go stand in line to order and pay for your food before eating. The line can be long, but trust me it’s worth the wait. I ate everything on my plate.

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country, K-Paul's Kitchen

K-Paul's Kitchen, Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans

Frenchmen street, New Orleans

This was truly a traditional New Orleans food. I ordered the crawfish and oyster. It’s was so good that I had to pay another visit before heading to the airport the next day.

Frenchmen street

New Orleans, Frenchmen Street, Sunny In Every Country

 WHERE TO STAY

As you look for the best places to stay in New Orleans, the most important factor to consider is location… especially since it covers a lot of ground and has so much to see and do. Depending on whether you’re coming to New Orleans for the first time, for business or to relax, there are different neighborhoods that you may want to look into for your visit.

Below are the places I will recommend when you visit New Orleans:

 THE FRENCH QUARTER

French Quarter, New Orleans

The French Quarter is a great place to stay, especially if it’s your first visit to the city. However, it can be more expensive because everyone wants to stay in the French Quarter and there are a limited number of rooms. The other drawback is that sometimes the Quarter can be noisy.

My suggestion at French Quarter is the W Hotel New Orleans. 

W Hotel New Orleans, New Orleans, French Quarter, Sunny In Every Country

This 5-floor hotel is in the heart of the French Quarter, 2 blocks from Bourbon St and the Storyville District, 4 blocks from Jackson Square, and 9 blocks from Riverwalk Marketplace

Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans, W Hotel New Orleans

W Hotel New Orleans, New Orleans

W Hotel New Orleans

W Hotel New Orleans

W Hotel New Orleans

W Hotel New Orleans

 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

New Orleans, Sunny In New Orleans

The Central Business District is home to trendy restaurants, popular bars, art galleries and of course the Superdome! So if you want to get out of the French Quarter or are coming to town for a football game, it’s a great place to stay. It can also be more affordable (although it has its share of luxury hotels too). It’s also within walking distance to the French Quarter, just in case you want to visit there too. Hotels tend to be quieter and more spacious than in the French Quarter, as well as many cater to business traveler needs with business centers, Wi-Fi and other useful amenities.

My suggestion for Business Central District is the Aloft Hotel

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

 I have never stayed at an Aloft hotel before but have heard good things, so I was excited to try it out.

I was given a corner room on the 15th floor with great views of the city, and even the Superdome! I loved the apartment-style feel, the bathroom was open to the bedroom with a space up top above the “wall” which was pretty neat. It had a very modern, techy vibe, and the room was huge!

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft New Orleans

 Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Sunny In New Orleans, Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft Hotel New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

Aloft Hotel New Orleans

Aloft Hotel New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

LOCAL HOUSES

New Orleans, Airbnb, Sunny In Every Country

A friend suggested that I try Airbnb. I was hesitant at first , because I have never done it before. It’s seem strange to be staying at a stranger’s house, but I wanted to have an open mind. It was the best decision I made because I got to really experience a feel of living like a local in New Orleans. My host house was simply beautiful, super stylish, yet comfortable. She was very nice and helpful with things I should do, eat and when to visit certain locations. She has the sweetest dogs. I will definitely recommend trying Airbnb to experience New Orleans like a local. 

Airbnb, New Orleans

Airbnb, Sunny In Every Country, New Orleans

New Orleans, Airbnb, Sunny In Every Country

Airbnb, New Orleans

Airbnb, New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

Airbnb, New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

Every house in the neighborhood was beautiful and unique. 

Airbnb, New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

Airbnb, Sunny In New Orleans

New Orleans, Airbnb

Airbnb, New Orleans

Even though I’ve lived in the United States for more than 18 years, there were general stereotypes that I had about the United States that New Orleans has changed. It is certainly unlike any other city in the United States. New Orleans is a city with soul. It’s seen some hard times, but it lives on with a zest for life unmatched by most places. The energy, food, and music scene make New Orleans one of the most eclectic and vibrant cities in the United States. 

New Orleans, Sunny In New Orleans, Sunny In Every Country

I hope this long post helps inspire you guys to visit New Orleans.

All Images are taken by me. Please do not use my photos without giving credit.