New Orleans: new to me but not to many

Will and I went to New Orleans with the Simmons last weekend. I have heard, read and seen the pictures of New Orleans so many many times in the last few years. It always sounded like a mysterious fun place to me. It turned out to be true. We roamed around the French Quarter and nearby places, lots to see and do. We sat at the park in front of the big tall statue of Andrew Jackson enjoying the breeze and watching the people. We listened to the Jazz band playing in front of the old old Cathedral and people dancing in the street, looking very happy. We drove around and saw the old cemeteries and ruins left from Hurricane Katrina - very sad. We ate lunch at a restaurant called NOLA owned by my favorite TV cook Emeril Lagasse, very tasty. The streets were not so full of people I thought. When night fell, we went to Bourbon street- Wow!!! Lots and lots and lots of people some dancing, some talking, most drinking and walking. I heard music coming out of many different places and people dancing, eating and drinking in them. No cars on the street but only people of all kinds and ages (no children though). We went to Pat O'Brien. There I had my first "Hurricane." Willie and Bill said that it was just the same as they remembered it from 30 years ago. We even sung along and clapped our hands when we knew the songs. It was marvelous. I stopped and bought a beautiful mask on Canal Street and some colorful New Orleans beads. It was fun. I felt like I was uncovering a mystery. It really was fun. To top this off we 'skyped' with our grand daughter Elizabeth and her parents.