Monday, July 22, 2013

New Orleans, and the "Great Camera Theft"

Who out there has visited New Orleans?

I LOVE historic cities. I could sit in one, people watch and imagine for months with nothing else to do. So, as we planned to head across country to visit family (Florida to Utah), we decided to make it a road trip and take a special stop each day. The first evening landed us in New Orleans.

Wow. Talk about beautiful. Our hotel room was in the historic French Quarter, and the floorboards were uneven beneath carpet, the doorways arched, and the elevator just large enough for my 5 person family to squeeze in. B-E-A-U-tiful. I was a snap-happy tourist, documenting every little detail--from the windows in our hotel room (the kids loved sitting on the carpet in front of them and watching the pedestrians below,) to the street performers and the historic chapel. Contrast that with the cross dresser I met, and even the devil on the corner of Bourbon street--literally--tail, horns, full length red suit. (The kids stayed in the hotel for that little exploration.)

My oldest is taking creative photography, so about the time we stopped to get world-famous biegnets (they can't top the ones at Grand Lux Cafe), I turned the camera over to him. He pretty much ran the batteries dry, and then the fatal moment we asked him to carry home our leftovers... He still swears someone lifted the camera off his shoulder. I think he left it on a bench and walked away. It's not until we got to the hotel he said anything, and by then, the camera was long gone. *sigh*

So no, these are not my pictures, but I did take some almost exactly the same, and what a fun visit! I could postulate for the next month about what became of our camera, and what a great story that would make.

Interesting discovery: They literally wash the streets of New Orleans with soap and water every morning. Yup. Giant trucks come down the streets to clean them between 6 and 8 a.m. (I don't think the 5 second rule applies to dropped food there.)

Decision: It was an interesting stop, but I'm SURE glad I don't live in a city where they feel obligated to scrub the road every morning.

Have you visited New Orleans? What's the most interesting/inspiring place you've ever been?

(P.S. Come back Wednesday for a chance to exercise your human-lie-detector skills and win a book, and next week for Roswell, New Mexico and the Alien invasion!) 

36 comments:

  1. Yep, been there and so enjoyed it!

    That's a shame about your camera. I can't stop thinking about who took it, what they did with your pics...maybe they took more pics and passed it on to someone else who also took pics and then... :)

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    1. I know right? I'm somewhat worried pictures of my littles are going to pop up somewhere on the web. Somewhat.

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  2. That sounds awesome. Never been there though. Sorry about your camera. Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip! :)

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    1. It was a great one--even with the little snaffoos.

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  3. Wow, sorry about your camera. :( I'll bet he feels really bad about it, though.

    I have never been to New Orleans, but it is on my list of Must Dos!

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  4. I am dying to visit New Orleans. It's on my Bucket List.

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    1. It's not actually something I ever thought I'd do, but we were passing through, so why not, eh?

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  5. I would love to go there. It looks like a fun place. I'm sorry about your camera, though.

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    1. Fun, interesting, and definitely somewhere I don't mind leaving behind.

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  6. I was in New Orleans 20 years ago for Mardi Gras and can't wait to go back! Your trip sounds like a lot of fun! A month of Blog...

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    1. Goodness, I would not be brave enough to hit that place during Mardi Gras, but it was certainly an interesting environment.

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  7. New Orleans sounds like a blast! I'm glad you're having a great time, with the exception of the camera. Well, things like that happen to everyone.

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    1. Yeah. That'll teach me for handing my camera to a 12 yr old boy, eh? ;)

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  8. I've not been there. It looks like a fun city to visit, though.

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    1. If you know how to avert your eyes at the appropriate times. ;)

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  9. Sorry about your camera. I bet he never misplaces a camera again.

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    1. That's for true. The poor kid has been so torn up about it.

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  10. Sorry to hear about your camera. I hope you're still enjoying your trip.

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  11. Maybe you'll get your camera back. You hear weird stories about stuff like that. Glad you had a wonderful trip. I would love to see that city one day!

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    1. LOL. I had hopes like that initially, but New Orleans is like NYC. (Or worse.) You get the distinct impression there are hundreds of desperate souls just hiding in the wings, hoping for a pricey camera to fall into their lap.

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  12. I've never been, but it looks beautiful (although from what I hear, I'm not surprised they wash the streets every day). I hope your camera materializes somewhere, like spontaneous generation. It's technically possible.

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    1. LOL. Technically. Meanwhile, we inherited another one from some generous relatives who just replaced theirs with a newer model.

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  13. I'm impressed with the cleaning of streets with soap and water, but yeah, what goes on in New Orleans...

    I hope you have fun in Roswell!

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    1. Had, yes, had fun in Roswell. Blog while on the road? No, I'm not that gifted. ;)

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  14. I've never visited New Orleans. I'd love to see it, though. I've heard rumors of ghosts there. Did you have any experiences with the paranormal?

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    1. I SO wanted to take the ghost tour, but we just didn't have enough time. I can totally see myself writing a ghost story about that place. =)

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  15. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. Unfortunately I don't travel much. I did go to the Biltmore Estate once. I don't write historical fiction, but I couldn't stop thinking of all the fun stories that could take place in that huge house. It would make a fantastic story if the camera showed up again!

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    1. Wait a minute, I distinctly remember reading a little something you wrote about a ghost from the Titanic. I'd say that incorporates "historical," even if it is in the modern age.

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  16. Bummer on losing the camera! But it sounds like you had a great time; it looks fun. I've never been east of Colorado. That is SO weird about them scrubbing the streets! I can't imagine that... When I was 12 I lived on the island of Sitka, Alaska. Brrr! but we had fun sledding down the hill by our mobilehome, and playing on the rocks pretending they were ships with waves crashing against them. :)

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    1. Wow, Carol. That sounds magical. I've always wanted to get out to Alaska. One day it's going to happen, and probably for a couple weeks to months--if I get my way.

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  17. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. It looks so majestic and like another world! What a fun trip you had. It was great to see you again, and I am glad your travels were safe! So sad about the camera, though.

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    1. There has to be a balance, eh? It was a blast, and SO good to see you too!

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  18. every city has its peculiarities..
    and it seems more peculiar to outsiders :)

    I've been to few interesting places.. they have different festivals and rituals.. it's fun to have such experiences.. especially on the way..

    It wasn't Camera's best day.. it suffered pretty bad

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Hit me with your cheese!