| This is the centre of New Orleans with the skyscrapers and two
cruise ships moored in a controversial $236 million six-month deal to
provide accommodation for the FEMA disaster relief workers. Apparently the
ships
are only about a third full. |  |
 | The ships are the
Ecstasy and the Sensation and a third is moored in Mobile, Alabama. There is some
talk now that they will be used for student accommodation for the local
university, since its premises were so damaged. Some estimate that it is costing $3,000 per person
per week. This is
just one of many problematical contracts in the relief operation. |
| In the centre of the French Quarter is the Washington Artillery
Park, a reminder of the battles between the inhabitants and the British. The
unit was originally formed in New Orleans in 1838 (as a Confederate unit)
but never actually saw service in Louisiana, so I'm not sure I see the
connection. |  |
 | This is a statue of
Joan of Arc, a gift from the French. Louisiana was originally French, then
ceded to the Spanish in order to fund Napoleon's war with the British. Then it was taken back
by the French and eventually sold to the Americans for $15 million (the Louisiana
Purchase). Louisiana in those days covered an area now covered by 14 states
between the Mississippi and the Rockies. The purchase price amounted to
about 3c per acre. |
| New Orleans is renowned for its Mardi Gras and the statue of the
joker is representative of that link. The colours used are the official
Mardi Gras colours: purple represents justice, green represents faith and
gold signifies power. |  |
 | Music is a major part
of New Orleans culture. The Cajun music is represented here but the jazz
influence is very important, hence the collection of instruments seen here. |
| The French Quarter is home to a number of artists and on the
railings around the park we have their paintings displayed (a la Montmartre).
As with most art like this I am unimpressed. This seemed the best of the
bunch. |  |
 | By the railings you
can get a horse and buggy tour of the area. Tourism is just starting to
pick up again, but with so few visitors many of the attractions are not
operating, things such as bus tours and river cruises. The area was fairly quiet with many
restaurants and bars still closed, and those that were open were not full,
but you can get your coffee and beignets again. |
| The riverside does have a huge shopping mall but most units were still closed or being refurbished
when we visited. On the
dockside are a number of tourist boats like the sternwheeler at the head of
this row. The nearest one is actually a working tug just temporarily moored. |  |
 | There is a ferry
which crosses the river about every 15 minutes. It is free to foot passengers.
The other side of the river is Algiers. (No, the river isn't that wide!)
There are only two bridges across the Mississippi River, one of which is a toll bridge,
so I guess the ferry gets some use. |
| There is quite a bit of shipping up and down. This pusher tug
with half a dozen barges in front is a typical traveller. |  |
 | But some of the ships
are quite large. This is quite a large (empty) bulk carrier heading upriver
under the bridge. |
| Chinese Hebei Ocean Shipping Co has put this 73000 ton bulk
carrier(Hebei Prince built in 1996) and its sister ship up for sale. They
have 43 ships and are wanting even bigger ships. This is clearly loaded but
I'm not sure with what. |  |
 | This is one of the
two bridges across the Mississippi in New Orleans. This is a toll bridge and
a railway bridge and is high enough for the two ships above to pass
underneath. |
 | There is a plaza with
a fountain
on the riverside which was funded by the Spanish government. It has tiles
from each of the Spanish provinces and Louisiana showing the link between
Spain and Louisiana. |  |
| When Louisiana was a Spanish province its cities had Spanish
street names. Now the road is
just known as St Ann's. |  |
 | One road in the
French Quarter was closed off with a stage set up and this band playing.
They were raising money to fund Mardi Gras, which will take place this
February, come what may. |
|