Traveling is one of the most interesting and exciting experiences a person could obtain throughout life. My last travel destination took a turn to New Orleans that is located in the state of Louisiana in the United States. This trip was different from the others, as for the first time I decided to enjoy my own experience, rather than plan everything in advance. New Orleans is one of those cities that I have heard about, yet never wanted to visit for a specific purpose. In contrast to such popular tourist destinations as New York or Washington, New Orleans holds an incredible non-touristic atmosphere. The majority of the streets are not filled with tourists and people are generally very kind towards visitors. As I stepped off the airplane, I understood that the trip will be one of the most unusual experiences I have ever had. I traveled in April when the sun was already too hot, yet the chill was provided by the windy weather.
There are few hotels in the entire city and they are located beside right across the street. It could seem unusual at a first glance. Yet, it is vital to acknowledge that they are located in the developed area of the city. Few years ago New Orleans witnessed one of the most tragic events in the United States environmental hazards. The hurricane immensely harmed the citizens at the same time physically and psychologically. Even though many years had passed, the city recovers slowly.
I booked a room in the Roosevelt hotel that belongs to my favorite Waldorf Astoria network. The most exciting part of the stay was a pool at the roof of the hotel that revealed an incredible view on the city. The most stunning feature of the sight was a once gorgeous skyscraper that was torn in pieces by the hurricane and reminds people of the tragedy.
However, the city should be judged by its people rather than architecture. The most unique experience was that New Orleans has its sound and it is a sound of jazz music that is literally streaming from each corner of the city. People feel comfortable taking a saxophone and playing for their own enjoyment on the main square of the city. The food in the city is too good to be even worded. For me, the taste of New Orleans can be described through macaroons offered in one of the small stores within the French Quarter. As the city lays on the river, its smell is a mixture of freshness and sultriness of the heated pavement. There are plentiful interesting sites in the city, but for me the most pleasant and delightful remembrance remain hand-made scarfs from a store located next to the main square of the city. There is hardly a city that would leave such personal connections as New Orleans.
References
- Charters, S. (2006). New Orleans: Playing a jazz chorus. New York: Marion Boyars.
- Gotham, K. F. (2007). Authentic New Orleans: Tourism, culture, and race in the Big Easy. New York: New York University Press.
- Karlin, A., & Dunford, L. (2009). New Orleans city guide. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet.
- Levitt, J. I., & Whitaker, M. C. (2009). Hurricane Katrina: America’s unnatural disaster. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
- Tucker, S. (2009). New Orleans cuisine: Fourteen signature dishes and their histories. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.