New Orleans promises you 300 years of stories, celebrations and one of a kind culture. And it doesn’t disappoint.

Known as the Big Easy due to its unhurried pace of life, so different from the bustle of New York’s Big Apple, the city sits alongside the Mississippi River and you’re guaranteed a warm southern welcome as soon as you enter it.

The French Quarter is New Orleans’ [Nu Orleens] oldest and most famous neighbourhood. It’s also the most dynamic and Bourbon Street is inevitably crowded. The street runs through the middle of the quarter and is known for its bars and famous eateries suce as Galatoire’s, located at 209 Bourbon Street. This restaurant’s location could always be determined by a characteristic line of patrons along down Bourbon Street, as patrons waited for hours just to get a seat. The restaurant is still open today and it’s loud and busy, but the shrimp creole and turtle soup are spectacular.New Orleans

Historically the quarter was considered a quarter of loose morals with bars, gambling dens and brothels lining its streets and by the mid 1900s, more than 50 different burlesque shows and exotic acts could be found here. The rest of the Quarter is full of brightly coloured Victorian properties with their famous wrought-iron features, providing a distinct and immediately recognisable backdrop for the promise of fun. Frenchman Street, which has many properties dating from more than a century ago, is home to Creole cottages, a New Orleans single storey design with a steeply pitched roof that dates back to the 1790s. Creole townhouses also line the route, two, three and sometimes four floors tall, with the distinctive New Orleans iron balconies on their facades and high ceilings inside.New Orleans

Another street with its roots way back in New Orleans’ history is Royal Street. It’s known for its antique shops and art galleries and has been named as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world, for rare gems such as furniture from Royal households. Every afternoon, three blocks in the Quarter are closed to traffic and street performers take charge of the pedestrianised space. Expect to hear some good jazz from outstanding home-grown musicians.New Orleans

Half a block away is the Hotel Mazarin, a fine example of a Creole townhouse, which claims to have the French Quarter’s most elegant courtyard. It offers rooms and suites, some with the famous iron balconies and serenity is guaranteed, despite the hotel’s proximity to the Bourbon Street and Royal Street.

Mandina’s Restaurant is beloved by locals and is one of many places in New Orleans to try Creole cuisine. Opened as a grocery store, it evolved into a pool-hall that sold sandwiches before becoming today’s restaurant in 1932. Damage by Hurricane Katerina has necessitated renovations that have changed the original interior, but there’s no changing the fundamentals – great food, large portions, and a welcome that is as warm as the people who live in this lovely, easy-going city.

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