1st Trip to NO: final thoughts

So yes, you can add me to the list of people who loves New Orleans. It was everything I thought it would be, was hoping it would be, even more.

The music, the street performers, the artist, the food, the ambiance, just great!!

How anyone can be bored on vacation in NO is beyond me. I was there for a week %26amp; 1/2, and I didn%26#39;t have a chance to do everything I wanted to do (even without getting sick), let alone everything there is to see and do. And I only made it through 1/2 of my list of restaurants I wanted to try, there%26#39;s just not enough hours in the day.

Bourbon St: I enjoyed it very much. Where else can you get 5 different kinds of music in a 1 block radius. I didn%26#39;t see anything rude or disgusting or anything like that.

And nobody ever mentionned that for every 2 bars on Bourbon, there%26#39;s a souvenir shop. :)

Speaking of souvenirs, yes wait to buy them at the French Market. Everything is cheaper. Exception: those souvenir t.shirts you see 4 for 20$, they are the same price at the souvenirs shops or at the market. I even saw them 5 for 20$ a couple of times at the stores.

Souvenirs at stores: if you see something you really like, especially if it%26#39;s something a bit on the expensive side, make a note of where you saw it and the price and keep checking. Most stores have the same items, but at different prices. I bought a couple of glasses, and I saw those same glasses 5$ more each just 2 doors down. Same thing with a picture frame I bought.

Getting around: it is true that you can walk everywhere%26#39;s in the French Quarter, everything is close to each other. Fixing the sidewalks would be nice though, at least start with filling in the holes, never mind cracks. You gotta watch

you%26#39;re step as you%26#39;re looking up at buildings. Walk slowly. :)

Safety as a solo female traveller: I never felt unsafe, or even uneasy. I was never approached with malice or even by drunk people. Granted I was never out later than 11, 11:30pm but still. I stayed on the major streets in the light when walking after dark, had no problems what so ever. There%26#39;s always people around.

Funny thing: I was going back to my hotel one day, it was late afternoon, with a Pat O%26#39;s hurricane in my hand. A guy approached me very nicely and asked if he could maybe have a sip or 2 of my drink (he had an empty cup in his hand). I was so surprised and burst out laughing so hard that I did give him a bit. You%26#39;d expect something like that at night, but in the afternoon??? Too funny.

Oh, almost forgot. I bought a fabulous painting on my last Sunday at Jackson Square, so I have a permanent reminder of my trip on my living room wall.

Will I be back?? DEFINITELY!!!! When, as soon as possible. I do feel cheated out of the FQF as I missed 2 days, but I%26#39;m sure it would be great fun to be there for halloween too, soooo..... Gotta look at the budget, make some cuts somewhere%26#39;s so I can save up more money as fast as possible. :-)

Now I know what it means to miss New Orleans.

1st Trip to NO: final thoughts

I enjoyed reading all of these. Thank you.

1st Trip to NO: final thoughts

Thanks so much for your very detailed and awesome to read TR! I especially appreciate the feedback about being a solo female traveler, since I%26#39;m going on my first solo trip anywhere soon. I%26#39;m already thinking about getting some friends together for Halloween, though. :) Hmmmmmm...I think I%26#39;ll do some searching on the forum for that next!

Thanks again, Porelly!

Awwwwww porelly, I am so glad your trip was everything you wanted it to be. Except for the getting sick part. We really wanted to meet you, so I am sorry you didn%26#39;t make it to the M%26amp;G.

And to think, we were in the parade that passed right by your hotel! If I had known to look up, I would have seen you then!

Time to start planning your next trip. In the meantime, get the little book ';Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans,'; by David Rutledge. It will mean a lot to you now.

We%26#39;re already planning next years trip to the FQF. And my husband and I are going down this fall too.I just can%26#39;t stay away long.

I enjoy reading these reports-Its always a learning experience. Anyone buying the souvenier t-shirts please take a look at the quality of the t-shirt and usually 100% cotton and a brand name helps-and first time washing have the shirt inside out. Some of the real bargain shirts just don%26#39;t last and some bargains are truly bargains.

Thanks for your lovely trip report series! There%26#39;s still a lot left for you to do here, so come on back soon!

porelly, I%26#39;m so glad that you enjoyed New Orleans and are planning on going back. You are right about the potholes in the street, I had a sprained ankle that hurt for 3 months after my last trip to New Orleans.

I hope you are able to make it back for Halloween, that is always a great time to be in New Orleans!

Porelly, I%26#39;m missing NO after reading your report. Thanks for sharing.

thanks for these thoughts! I am so glad you bought some local art. Come back soon! :)

Great reports, some of the best I have ever read. I%26#39;m glad you had a great time and that you%26#39;ve fallen in love with the city. Hopefully you will get to come back again soon.

Loved reading your reports and I%26#39;m going to miss having a new chapter. I was so glad that you New Orleans met your expectations....I fell in love with it on my first trip, too. Thanks for sharing the fun!