Well, having read and heard a lot about New Orleans, I thought that this city must have a lot of charm, especially French, because it was a French colony. It seemed to be a city with small narrow alleys and French-style houses, with large squares with fountains around which there are many cozy outdoor cafes where it is very pleasant to drink hot coffee with a croissant. At least the name “The French Quarter” led me to such impressions.
But it often turns out that our imagination does not match reality. We drove to Louisiana from the Texas side. The difference between two states has precipitated at once. The former French colony with the comparison of a rich western state looked like casual dress. In fact, I was quite disappointed because I didn’t feel particularly well. Abandonment was everywhere; he felt easily in everything. It was visible in the quality of the roads, in the places of rest of the drivers, the poverty was heaped in the small towns that we passed through. As we drove from Houston toward New Orleans, the tiered plains turned into woods that closed in on the highway. After having already driven to the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, the area became swampy.
We have finally driven to New Orleans, which was found to be a not so big city. We have not realized it since we are right in the center of the city. The way to the hotel where we had booked the room was quite difficult. We had to fight our way through the pedestrians that filled the narrow streets. It was clear from the beginning that an atmosphere of total weakening and apathy towards everything reigns in the city. Installed in the hotel we went sightseeing. I have only passed my eyes through the streets of the city and have noticed that there are many cozy cafes and bars.
I decided to go to New Orleans. I have made programs. What would I like to see? Where would I like to go? But I found myself in this city. I completely forgot about all the programs and brochures. I just took a walk through the streets of the city and began to observe everything.
The United States always had the need to have a part of Europe. So New Orleans, or rather a part of the city, is a part of Europe. Canal Street is the main street of the city. This street divides the city into two parts: American and European. The European part of the city includes both the spirit and architecture of the French Quarter and the somber Spanish courtyards. The main sight of the French Quarter is Bourbon Street. The hilarity of the roosters starts here at night. The street looked exactly like in my imagination. Going down Bourbon Street you may see bar after bar, restaurant after restaurant; you can hear the music from the open doors of the restaurants and lots of lights. Everything is mixed, accumulated and captured. The walk becomes a transition from one musical zone to another which is in itself something very unusual.
It seemed that constant music and eternal holidays always reign here. Unfortunately, Bourbon Street looked like this only at night. During the day he looked completely different.
Although it was very unfortunate that he only had five days to study that city, to visit all the places. I had very little time to immerse myself in that atmosphere of the city. It was such an unusual, even bizarre little town that it was unlike any American town I have ever seen. New Orleans is truly outclassed among all the American cities and American values you know.
