Arrival
In November 2018, I took a 3 hour flight to New Orleans, Louisiana. Once I landed in Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the nice breeze was refreshing for me. Especially since I live up north, the weather was just perfect for me. I loved the fact that once I got out of the airport to catch a taxi, the residents of New Orleans were very friendly and talkative. It was very different compared to any other place that I have ever been to. I remember that the taxi driver that drove us to the hotel, was very nice. He told us stories and jokes all the way there.
Music
Once we got into the hotel, we unpacked and decided to go walking through the city. After a few minutes of walking, I noticed a band of about 3 to 4 people playing instruments and singing at the same time. However, this was different. The music they were playing caught my eye because it was something I have never heard before. The music was very upbeat and lively. After just a few minutes of performing, they had a whole crowd surrounding them. People were even dancing to the music. It amazed me how quickly jazz music can make the energy of the area so happy.
Food
Now, in New Orleans, their people might be nice, but their food is something else!
For me, I was starving so I had to find a place to eat. So I just went to the nearest place to grab something. I had arrived in a small cafe named Cafe Beignet. Before I walked up to the menu, there was a really long line, so I kind of thought in my head what I would probably want to eat. It was near the end of lunchtime, so I thought I would just have a simple sandwich or something like that. But once I saw the menu, the server told me that there is a very special thing that they make called, "Beignets"! A asked her what it was and she said that it was basically a doughnut that had powdered sugar on top of it. I was reluctant at first, but I ordered half a dozen of them (I saw everyone taking half a dozen, so I kind of just went with the flow!). After few minutes went by, I got my order of Beignets hot and fresh. I have to be honest, they tasted SCRUMPTIOUS! When you put it in your mouth, the powdered sugar dissolves and fuses with the dough perfectly. Ever since then, Beignets are now one of my favorite foods to eat. In New Orleans, there are other types of foods of course, like Gumbo, or Fried Alligator, which taste wonderful as well, don't get me wrong. But for me, those Beignets really caught my taste buds!
Famous Places
Throughout Louisiana, there are several attractions to see. But the major places that I fell in love with, were the Jackson Square and Bourbon Street. There also other places in Louisiana that are amazing and interesting, such as the Laura Plantation. I just loved the French Quarter in general. It was so lively and it not only has the St. Louis Cathedral in it, but it also has a very famous street that New Orleans is known for, Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street is the busiest and most lively street in all of New Orleans. I would like to think that this street comes alive at night, just like Las Vegas, but all just on one street. I wonder how many people visit that street in a day. There must be several of thousands of people.
Now, for Laura Plantation, it is a very different mood once you step onto that property. When I toured the plantation, there was a very sad and depressing type of feeling. Everyone was very quiet and silent there. There is one main reason for this. There were slaves on that farm that were killed. However, in Louisiana, having a plantation with slaves was not something that was eye catching to tourists like me. It was the bright colors and interesting architecture that were done on the house. When I walked on the property, I was very sad for the slaves that worked on this farm. It was depressing to see the conditions that they were once staying in. This was a very eye-opening experience and something that I will never forget.
Departure
Well, as we all know, everything must come to an end. As I packed my back, I thought about all the wonderful people I met and all of the beautiful places I got to visit during my time in New Orleans, Louisiana. It made me realize how lucky I am to be able to travel to such wonderful places at such a young age. For that, I am grateful for all that I have in life. But before I got a taxi to got back to the airport, I made sure that I had a few Beignets as my last meal there!
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