There's somethin' special down in the Bayou, let me tell ya. If you've never gone to New Orleans, you are missing out on some serious history, culture, food, and entertainment. I absolutely adore this city and would like to pretend I've adopted it as a home. Angie and Brad? Need a nanny!?!? ;)
I've spent a lot of time in the French Quarter, so this time I was really wanting to explore the Garden District and the infamous cemetaries scattered throughout. Lucky for me, there's a company called "Free Tours by Foot" that offers free walking tours in major cities like DC, New Orleans, NYC, Philly, & Boston. Perfect for a girl like me on a budget. In NOLA, they offer a few different kinds but I jumped at the opportunity to walk around the stately mansions and beautiful landscape of the Garden District. Bucket list check!
These were are awesome tour guides! The lady on the right seriously knew everything, was absolutely hilarious, and so incredibly helpful. Loved her! The girl on the left was in training.
Such pretty fences and posts. I love how you can see down the alley to the other graves in this photo.
Love <3
This was a huge tomb of fire fighters from a local fire company. They were all buried upon their deaths in this area as part of their brotherhood.
The inside of what one looks like. There sometimes would be up to 50 or more people buried in them. The hot sun would cook the bodies and turn them to ash and they'd be pushed back with a broom and the next body would go inside.
The first house on our Garden District tour. At the time of its building, this fence was the most expensive fence you could buy. Very unique.
This house burned down during re-modeling just a couple weeks before I visited. Sad.
This was a house Nicholas Cage used to live in and then it went into foreclosure. The property used to be the sight of a Church (and I think school) hence why the virgin statue is to the left.
The home of the Mannings! This is where Eli & Peyton's parents currently live.
Sandra Bullock's house! When we walked by there was even a package behind the fence with her name on it. Our tour guide said she isn't here often, but when she is you can hear little Louis in the back squealing on his swing. How cute.
The infamous Commander's Palace which doubled as a brothel back in the day. It has impeccable service and amazingly delicious food. I went to the one in Vegas when it was still open a few years back and it was seriously incredible. I recommend anyone who visits New Orleans go and make sure you make reservations way in advance.
Yay! My first New Orleans parade!
LOVED all of the floats and the beads tossed in the air. This was so much fun!
As you can see, I caught quite a few.
If I could visit every few months, I totally would. I absolutely adore everything about this place. Hopefully on my next visit, I will be able to explore the outskirts of town and the less touristy of NOLA. I have always wanted to tour the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and our guide said as long as you don't go in as part of a big tour group, they are very welcoming to you. They want you to see what they've been through and how they've risen in the years past. I'm not a fan of the things Spike Lee stands for, but if you get a chance, watch his documentaries on New Orleans and Katrina called "When the Levees Broke" & "If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise." Pretty fascinating stuff.
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