The Big Easy, the Crescent City, Paris of the South, N’Awlins, the Birthplace of Jazz, NOLA. Whatever you call it, I call it magical.
The first time we explored this city was a roller coaster. On our last day there, Justin got horribly sick with the flu and my family suffered a pretty serious loss. Even though it had been a fun weekend, it just left us feeling weird. We needed another chance.
Within an hour of arriving in town, we had dropped our bags at the AirBnB and were walking by the colorful porches and carnival decorations. The breeze was warm and the sun felt amazing. It was already off to a perfect start.
Walking the streets, exploring the neighborhoods, we saw more of the city this time. I just kept repeating over and over how much I loved being there. It reminded me of the feeling I got in Laos last summer.
When I fall in love with a place, it means I can close my eyes and immediately be back there. The details stick with me longer. What does the Big Easy make me think of?
I imagine walking down Frenchmen Street with the sounds of brass instruments floating out of every window and people laughing while walking with their daiquiris and hurricanes in giant plastic cups. The memories flood back of our weekend with our friend, Katie, and the matching sweatshirts we bought and wore on Bourbon Street while enjoying 3 for 1’s and listening to karaoke.
My mouth starts watering for food – chargrilled oysters, hushpuppies, king cake and beignets. I always want to remind myself not to wear black because I’ll be covered in powered sugar within seconds of sitting down at Cafe du Monde.
I reminisce about the strolls through the Garden District. Each beautiful mansion has a story and I could stand on those tree lined streets for hours coming up with different plot lines. The grand porches look so inviting, but also so far out of the reach of my life.
The amount of city that is left to be explored makes me love it even deeper. We got out of the tourist areas this visit and strolled through City Park. Under the giant trees, we strolled along the quiet paths in the Sculpture Garden. Exploring Mid-City and Treme by just wandering block by block. There is so much we haven’t seen, so much left to experience. I love places that leave me wanting more.
It’s the history, the resilience and struggles, the music, the stories, the friendliness, the colors and the feeling that you are in a place that is nothing like the rest of the country. All of those things made me fall in love with New Orleans.
