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April 17, 2005
The Big Easy
I am having a love/hate relationship with New Orleans. Things I love about the Big Easy: beautiful architecture, rich history, and delicious food. One word about the cuisine: succulent! So far I had seafood gumbo, shrimp creole, Cajun fried chicken, red bean rice with sausage, and rabbit jambalaya, po-boy, fried catfish, and beignets. I've never been happier gastronomically. The architecture here is so interesting in that there are three primary influences that came together in a wonderful fusion of art and culture: the West European (French and Spanish), West African, and Native American. As a lover of art history, just knowing the minute differences in the influences between one building to the next is personally intoxicating. We took a tour of the history of Creole culture here, a time in pre-American history where people of many races were able to coexist quite peacefully without much regard to skin color.
Things I don't like about New Orleans. I visited the (in)famous Bourbon Street and I must say, I'm just glad I decided not to drink that night. Nor do I intend to drink anything for a while, especially after witnessing what went on there. First of all, the entire place smelled of vomit, cigar smoke, piss, and alcohol. Second, and even more convincing, is seeing 50 year old woman take off her top in hopes of garnering a few beads while her husband cheers her on. There are drunk people everywhere, stumbling over each other, trampling on horse shit, vomiting in the streets, all in drunken debauchery of the worst kind. I left Bourbon Street with a sour taste in my mouth and my clothes reeking of funk.
But the rich history and food definitely makes New Orleans a place I would want to visit again in the future, when I have more time to do a more thorough exploration of this magical place.
Posted by Charlie at April 17, 2005 01:26 AM