New Orleans 1: First Time

I planned this trip a few weeks ago, when I learned that my favorite uncle was heading out on the cruise of a lifetime—to see the ancient ruins of the Aztec, Inca, and Maya civilizations. While I couldn’t take the equivalent time from work (new job), I was able to book a few days off, in order to meet my uncle and cousin on their way back. So here I am in New Orleans, for the first time, sat poolside at the Best Western in the French Quarter.

I have never been to New Orleans before, but did spend some time in Baton Rouge as a teen—back when I was planning to make it my home. That lasted too briefly, and I never took a trip up the road to see this magical city.

But here I am now, armed with a desire to see the world's greatest uncle, and a personal agenda—to soak up as much as I can from a long weekend in the deep-deep south. New Orleans is surreal. Taylor Swift is in concert all weekend. There’s a reggae Festival all weekend. Today will be a music procession (2nd Line) that traverses several miles of the streets of the city. In general, there’s lots to see and do: lots of people day drinking and smoking weed, beautiful tropical plants and flowers on every road, music everywhere, incredible food, art and architecture…and then there’s the homelessness. This place has a complex history and present.