Uhh…this place is crazy. I have no idea how people live here, I would turn into a lush in no time flat. I was here on a Sunday night through Wednesday morning and I have never been so tired in my life. I even went to bed before midnight every night, and I NEVER do that! All of my waking hours were spent either walking, drinking, or photographing. But mostly drinking. I loved the mix of old and new, it was really interesting to find these structures that just look centuries old next to stores with amazing french antiques next to sex shops and wild bars. Did you know that in New Orleans you can walk around with alcoholic drinks in your hand? Plural? Cut to me standing in the middle of the street holding two hurricanes, wearing a fedora and obscene mardi gras beads, wielding my camera, taking a super bowl ring off one of the New Orleans Saints and putting it on my own finger, and drunk dialing everyone back in Denver. I don’t drink often, but when I do, I do it right. Furthermore, we were staying in a haunted hotel, of which the haunted room was next door to ours, at my request. I tried really hard to stir it up, but alas, it was not interested. I ate SO MUCH good food while I was there, all the recommended things: po boys, beignets, chicory coffee, oysters, and had an AMAZING night at NOLA.
I liked how live music was everywhere…all the time. The street performers there are incredible. I really liked the details on these guys instruments:
This guy was outside of Cafe Du Monde. I realize it’s just a tuba, but it reminded me of instruments you see in Doctor Seuss books.
This is my favorite picture I took while I was there. I like the little girl up on the top balcony and how the guy is looking at me in the bottom window. This was right in the heart of the French Quarter. They were watching street performers. I like how the building was left in this damaged state. Everything there has so much character.
Speaking of character, I had this fascination with all the doors downtown. These things look like they haven’t been replaced in a million years, and I took pictures of all of them!
This bookstore was amazing. It was a bit off the beaten path, and you would never know it was a bookstore if he didn’t have books piled up on the front stoop (amongst other places, read on.)
This place was TINY and books were EVERYWHERE. This guy was incredible, he knew every book, author, illustrator, everything. There was some sort of organization system only he truly understood, but you could go in there and say anything and he would be off, scurrying around between piles of books precariously balanced on corners and ledges, stacked up on the floor till reach above your head, and come back out with a million options that may suit your literary needs. It was amazing.
“You are welcome to browse”——-good luck.
Isn’t this what the owner of a bookstore like this should look like?! This guy was great. And yes, this is the small space reserved for completing transactions.
I felt like this kind of epitomizes New Orleans, or at least my experience of it. All these side allies and girls! girls! girls! with weird men hovering outside.
I snapped this shot and then felt really awkward about it and scurried off, but I’m really glad it came out!
Apparently there doesn’t need to be an occasion for the Budweiser Clydesdales to come strolling down the street. Apparently I can operate a camera even when I can’t quite walk straight. I have no idea why I was toting around the camera on a night like this. Unwise.
