New Orleans

We made good time to New Orleans and stayed in the Auberge New Orleans Hostel which was by far our favourite hostel on this trip.

This statue is the focal point of one of the newest ghost stories in New Orleans

Eager to start exploring, we booked an evening Ghost Tour around the French Quarter. Ghost stories are passed down orally by the community and are just one of many factions of the funky atmosphere that is New Orleans.

This house depicts classic New Orleans architecture. When the style was popular, streets would have wall to wall second story porches. 

Some stories date back hundreds of years while others are only a few years old. Ghost stories are such a proud part of life in the French Quarter that some real estate agents go as far as advertising whether a property is allegedly ‘haunted’ or not. 

Whether or not a property is allegedly 'haunted' goes far in New Orleans real estate. 

After our tour we watched some of the street performers in the square before heading up to the infamous Bourbon Street for a night on the town. 

Talented street performer plays crystal glasses. 

Jackson Square at night

We perused Bourbon Street, New Orleans's infamous party strip. 

Starting the night with a strawberry daiquiri slushy

The live music in New Orleans was was awesome. We listened to a number of live bands during our stay.  

Amazing live band at Krazy Korner

Sitting at the piano bar at Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar

Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar is apparently the oldest bar in New Orleans. We sat around a piano and threw requests out over drinks.

Mounted police making sure everyone stays cool

We also met some locals at The Boondocks Saints just off Bourbon St. Overall it was a really fun night.

Cool architecture in the French Quarter

In the morning we took another walking tour with Free Tours By Foot. This one took us into the history of the French Quarter.

Pet chinchillas at our hostel

Lafayette Cemetery Number 2.

We took another tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery Number 2.

Decorative horse hitch in the Garden District

Nicholas Cage and Anne Rice both owned this house at one point. Many celebrities live in the neighbourhood.

One of many beautiful mansions in the Garden District 

Andrew Jackson statue at Jackson Square

Inside St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square

While we were in town, the Louisiana State Museum had an exhibit on Hurricane Katrina and another on Carnival. 

Carnival exhibit inside the Louisiana State Museum

Live jazz on Frenchman Street,

Frenchman Street is just to the East of the French Quarter and is lined with pubs and bars that offer live jazz and blues music. we stuck around for a few drinks and listened to a couple of different bands.

Status of some of New Orleans's favourite blues musicians 

New Orleans may not be the cleanest city we've been to but we had a lot of fun. It certainly has a lot of cool history and character to it.