New Orleans Evening (I)

The Jackson Square area of New Orleans, which is the heart of the oldest area of the city, the French Quarter. This square reflects the history of the city as it was laid out by the French when they founded and governed the city, the buildings were rebuilt when the Spanish governed the city (1763-1800) and the square was renamed after the USA bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The final ratification of the Louisiana Purchase, which included all of some of the territory of 15 American states, occurred in the building on the left of the large church which is Saint Louis Roman Catholic cathedral.

New Orleans Evening (II)

A second image from a New Orleans evening, this one from along one of the city's main streets, Canal Street, which forms one of the borders of the French Quarter.

A Streetcar Named Canal

An evening image of one of the modern streetcars in New Orleans running on the Canal line. Unfortunately the Desire line, which inspired the 'Streetcar Named Desire' name for Tennessee Williams' play, no longer exists.

Jackson Square By Day

This is Jackson Square in New Orleans with its statue of Andrew Jackson in its center. In the background is St. Louis Cathedral, with the identical Cabildo and Presbytere buildings, all three of which were built when the Spanish ruled New Orleans. Jackson Square was originally known as Place d'Armes under French rule of the city. It was renamed after Jackson's forces won the Battle of New Orleans over the British in 1815.

St. Louis Cathedral (I)

This is the start of a series of several images from inside St. Louis Cathedral. Dedicated in 1794 this building is the third cathedral on this site and the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in the USA. This image looks down the main aisle of the cathedral to the main altar which was constructed in Ghent, Belgium and shipped to Louisiana in pieces. The flags on the left represent the USA, the Vatican and the areas that this cathedral has religious authority over. On the right the flags represent the various nations that have ruled New Orleans.

St. Louis Cathedral (II)

The second in a series of several images from inside St. Louis Cathedral. This image is of one of the two angel statues that decorate the church's holy water basins.

St, Louis Cathedral (III)

This is the third in a series of several images from inside St. Louis Cathedral. Dedicated in 1794 the current building is the third cathedral on this site and the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in the USA. This is one of the murals on the ceiling of the cathedral. It was painted by an Alsatian artist named Erasme Humbrecht in 1872.

Going Around In New Orleans

An acrobat street performer entertains a crowd in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is one of many musicians, acrobats, etc. who perform in the area between St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square.

New Orleans, After The Rain

St. Peter Street with Jackson Square just at the right and the Portalba Apartments on the left shown just after a shower ended. The Portalba Apartments were built in 1848 from plans brought back from Paris by Baroness Micaela Portalba. The Baroness returned from Paris to her hometown of New Orleans because her father-in-law shot her, removing two of her fingers, when she refused to sign over her entire estate.

A Streetcar Named St. Charles

This is a streetcar of the St. Charles route in New Orleans, Louisiana. This route has the last streetcars operating of the sort that inspired the name of the Tennessee Williams drama 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Its route goes west from the French Quarter passing through the Garden District.

The House Of Rice

The home of the author Anne Rice in the Garden District of New Orleans. A New Orleans native she is most famous for her novel 'Interview With The Vampire' which was set in New Orleans and was made into a film starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (I)

In New Orleans it is a custom that after the actual wedding ceremony for the bride and groom to walk for a few blocks to their wedding reception carrying umbrellas and accompanied by the wedding guests and a brass jazz band. This is the start of a series of images from two wedding walks that I was lucky to see in the French Quarter. In this image a very happy bride and groom walk to their reception. The band will be the subject of the next images. The song 'High Heel Sneakers' was played during the walk to the reception.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (II)

The jazz band The Storyville Stompers as they accompany the bride and groom from the first image in this series. They are shown as they turn from St. Peter to Bourbon Street in the French Quarter on their way from the wedding ceremony to the reception.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (III)

A portrait style image of the tuba player in the Storyville Stompers, the band that played during the walk to the wedding reception. At this point he's walked about eight blocks while carrying the large and heavy tuba and filling it with air to play it.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (IV)

The bride, groom and their wedding party have reached the site of their reception on Jackson Square and are posing for a very lively group photo taken by their photographer from a second floor balcony. The band continued playing to keep the mood going.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (V)

The band from another wedding makes its way through the French Quarter from the wedding ceremony to the reception. This band is called the Kinfolk.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (VI)

In this image from the second wedding in the French Quarter the band, called the Kinfolk, gathers around the bride and groom while singing and playing.

Weddings, New Orleans Style (VII)

The wedding band, called the Kinfolk, plays with the trumpet and trombone dueling each other while accompanied by the snare drum.