Hitting all the Tourist Spots

October 26

It's our last day in New Orleans and we are going to pack in all the things we haven't gotten to.  

We first go to Cafe du Monde cafedumonde.com  and inhale the fabulous beignets.  I have never seen this place not packed, including late at night.

We convince ourselves that a brisk long walk along the riverfront will erase all those calories, then head to St. Louis Cathedral stlouiscathedral.org in Jackson Square.

The church is the oldest continually operating Catholic cathedral in the country.  Parishoners  have worshiped on this site since 1727.  Unfortunately the original structure burnt to the ground in 1788 when a candle ignited lace curtains on the altar.  The new building was not finished until 1794 and was subsequently annexed with two more adjaccent buildings in 1846.

Had never actually been able to get inside Preservation Hall preservationhall.com before.... it's always so mobbed, but a Monday night in October was the secret.  It's a $10 admission charge, no drinks are served and only the few at the head of the line get to sit on benches...it's standing room only and the music is terrific.  The trombonist, in particular, commands the room and just makes you smile.

We end the night next door at Pat OBrien's  patobriens.com  indulging in the obligatory Hurricane.  Three pianists/vocalists rotate at the two copper pianos...they are all good, but this particular woman does a Janis Joplin that has the room on it's feet!

And so ends the marathon birthday celebration....tomorrow head to Baton Rouge.