Monday, London celebrates the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe or VE Day. It is easy to forget, how badly the England suffered in World War II, vast parts of the city were leveled by bombs, people lived in fear, many people, including some of my family evacuated never to return home. VE Day is a big landmark in history.
Westminster is a maze of closed streets and walkways, security barriers, and people. Thousands and thousands of people. If you love crowds it is pure joy, if not, it is not the best time to visit London. But this is when we are here. The unseasonably hot weather has passed, cooler but not cold here today.
A good number of years later J and I went there for one of his conferences, and spent most of the time eating our way through the French Quarter. Lunch at Galatoire's on Bourbon Street was an experience I will always remember. I have been back to New Orleans several times for various meetings and conferences. I look forward to going again.
Louisiana is on the Gulf of Mexico, at the southern end of the Mississippi River. It is a great place to visit, I will gladly go back, but I wouldn't want to live there.
Never had a desire to go. If I did it would be New Orleans and that's it.
ReplyDeleteThe French Quarter and the Garden District are worth a visit, it will always be a little strange around the edges, that is part of the charm.
DeleteI’ve heard great things about New Orleans, but I never got there. SG loves it. As for the rest of the state, not at all interested.
ReplyDeleteThe politics are very weird. The food of New Orleans can be amazing.
DeleteI'd like to learn more about Cajun culture, given that they are the descendants of French-speaking Acadians driven out of (i.e. "ethnically cleansed") from the Canadian Maritimes by the British.
ReplyDeleteUnique in the US Louisiana has an entirely civil code based law system, no common law tradition. It is the only US state where you have to have legal grounds for your children to not inherit from you.
DeleteI love the history and architecture in parts of New orleans and, well, the food, too!
ReplyDeleteI'd teleport in, have a fabulous time, and then teleport out!
there is newish terminal at the airport
DeleteI took some of my children there for a long weekend years ago and we had such a great time. Something for everyone to enjoy and so much to see.
ReplyDeleteI have been there for a couple parades
DeleteI've never been there but our daughter has several times so I've enjoyed it through her visits.
ReplyDelete20 years ago you would have loved Bourbon Street.
DeleteI think I would be one of those avoiding the crowds.
ReplyDeleteBourbon Street after dark is a zoo.
DeleteOne year we were in New York City on 9/11 and the thousands and thousands of people were at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. At first we thought about avoiding the area, but then the thoughts of "Why not" happened and so we went. All of the tributes lining the fountains really touched peoples' hearts.
ReplyDeleteNew Orleans has a personality and charm all of its own. The first time we went there our hotel was on Bourbon Street and our room was on the Bourbon Street side. So noisy until the wee hours of the morning. Lesson learned.
The Sheraton on Canal Street is close and quiet.
DeleteI know the humanity would bother me.
ReplyDeleteIt is a city surrounded by water.
DeleteI love New Orleans! I wonder if the city is like Chicago and Illinois: a love/hate relationship.
ReplyDelete