I’ve always known that, if I ever did it, the minute I stepped in the French Quarter in New Orleans, I’d be blown away on many different levels. Even knowing that, I was still blown away on so many levels....
I’ve visited a few cities in the US in my life. Many of them had crazy histories that were well worth listening to. But none of them compare to New Orleans. I dare say that New Orleans is the only city in the US that has a history that is comparable to some of the cities in Europe.
The city is probably settled in the most god awful land in the US. One can argue about Death Valley getting up to 150 degrees F during the summer, but seriously, living in a swamp, in the deep south, on land that is below sea level.... Yeah. I can’t even imagine the conditions, well before common medicine, living in such a place. The diseases that would rampage through every now and then were devastating....
As far as WHY it was held, that’s simple, it’s the mouth of the largest river in the US which is the sea port gateway to the middle of the entire USA. The fact that the 2nd oldest building in the city is a blacksmith shop where a pair of the most important pirates who ever lived smuggled goods into the US is still standing is amazing. Building is now a bar, but it was built in 1774.
You can’t go to New Orleans, or even mention it, without being reminded of Voodoo and rampant superstitious religious practices. The oldest Catholic Cathedral in the US stands in the French Quarter at the head of Jackson Square. It’s a hub of the ‘occult’ with tarot and palm readings all around it.
The dichotomy of seeing all that in the same vicinity is a surreal experience, one that is extremely hard to describe. But there is absolutely no wonder at how so many stories pop up in around the area. From vampires to zombies, the histories of the city have direct clues that point to crazy occurrences that are like reference points in a novel. All in all, it makes for great tours and stories in the area.
Of course, you can’t even talk about such things without cemeteries. The above ground vaults are something creepy and surreal all to themselves. You get into the stories about how they work, and realize how many people are interred in such a small area, its hard not to get somewhat overwhelmed with the knowledge of how the dead live on in histories, stories, folklore, religion, and in the architecture.
The French Quarter is an enigma unto itself, and its quite something to see. Out of every place I have ever been in the USA, nothing was as beautiful and amazing as New Orleans, and I didn’t get the chance to really explore it in the slightest. Most of the time, we were just enjoying the hell out of the food....
Speaking of the food, read New Orleans: A City of Amazing Food Now!
powered by
Bumpin
Bumpin
