 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| New Orleans is extremely diverse and exciting. Our famous Superdome stadium dominates the downtown skyline and is the home of our New Orleans Saints football team. Because of our high ground water table, it is necessary for us to lay our dead to rest above ground, in burial vaults, which are beautiful and mesmerizing. Our infamous French Quarter, which includes Bourbon Street, is definately the place to be during Mardi Gras, which happens in early spring each year for about 2 weeks. Costumes, beads and trinkets are the prizes sought after by all who visit during that time. |
I live in a suburb of New Orleans, called Harvey. New Orleans is surrounded by many suburbs, but all still refer to themselves as "New Orleanians". We have too many cultures here to mention in one samll paragraph, and all are appreciated equally. Many famous people live here, such as Fats Domino, John Goodman, Anne Rice and the famous jazz musician Pete Fountain to name a few. Our various suburbs and cites are not listed as counties, but parishes, as this is a Catholic state. |
If someone were to come and stay with me, I would take them for a frozen strawberry Daquiri, and then off to the French Quarter we would go. A steamboat river cruise would be next, followed by a cool break in the Aquarium Of The Americas, home to thousands of rare and diverse waterlife. I would take them to see a hockey game of our New Orleans Brass at the New Orleans sports arena, and take the haunted New Orleans tour. It all would be followed by a crawfish boil at my house with all my family and friends. |
| Mardi Gras happens for about 2 weeks during early spring. All of the surrounding areas participate. Activities include very elaborate parades, with huge floats carrying around 40 people in full costume who throw beads, stuffed animals, and the occasional pair of panties to the crowds of thousands of people who line the streets. It is all brought to an end on Fat Tuesday, when the whole town just lets their hair down and has a great time. The police will sound the alarms at midnight, signalling the end of the festival on Fat Tuesday. |
| Just like the culture, our food is equally diverse. Everything from Cajun Cuisine, to authentic Mexican can be found. My favorite is mexican Quesidillias and Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya. Chase it with a cold beer and there is nothing better! |
| What to do for fun depends on the type of person you are. There are historic tours of old military barracks and Antibellum mansions, swamp buggy tours for the more outdoors loving, and a constant supply of church fairs, festivals and carnivals to keep you busy. |
Football is very popular here, because of the New Orleans Saints, but hockey is gaining popularity due to our very own hockey team, the New Orleans Brass. I think it's so popular because it is so hot here most of the time, to see men skating around on ice is refreshing! |
| Louisiana and America in general make me very proud because of the many kinds of people that live here, and contribute to their society in so many ways. We are not all snobby socialites obsessed with success and money, or homeless as Hollywood portrays us. We have a strong sense of family and commitment, to family and friends. Come visit! |
| New Orleans, Louisiana, USA by Pamela |
| The French Quarter |
| left, Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya |
