If you missed yesterday’s post, we went out on the town in the French Quarter last night. What a blast!
This morning we’ve been taking it a little slow, cleaning a bit, laundry, fixing a few small issues and resting.
The Garden District
Well, I did it again – took a bunch of photos on my camera and they disappeared.
The garden district was beautiful. We also saw one of the cemeteries there – my favorite so far.
New Orleans Cemeteries
NOLA cemeteries are unlike any I’ve ever seen. The early French settlers buried their dead underground, but with half the city below sea level (-8’), the city often flooded and the bodies/coffins would wash up.
The solutions – above ground tombs. You can find these cemeteries throughout the city.
Occasionally, you may see a jazz funeral in NOLA. After service, family and friends move from the funeral site to the final resting place while marching to the beat of a brass band.
Back to the French Quarter
The Mississippi 
Lock Wall 
Jackson Square
THIS UNION MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED
Andrew Jackson
We stumbled across Jackson Square not understanding the significance of it or of the man it’s named after.
Originally named Place d’Armes (lit. ’weapons’ square’), it is the site of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
In 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson (later President) led the United States to victory against Britain, who was trying to take New Orleans.
In his political career, Jackson fought for the rights of the common man against aristocracy. He owned a large slave-owning plantation, was one of the founders of the Democratic Party and displaced 60,000 Indians from 5 tribes, moving them west (the Trail of Tears).
Beignette’s
Anthony Buchanan playing at Cafe Beignette – I really enjoyed him!
Original French Market Coffee Stand
Joan of Arc – Maid of Orleans
Very cool statue in honor of Joan of Arc
Other Statues, Fountains & Art
Jacques the Butcher 
Ghost Bikes
Ghost Bikes are bicycle that have been damaged (usually in a severe accident) painted white and placed near where someone on a bicycle was injured or killed.
This mangled pile of ghost bikes below is near an intersection that’s had a lot of crashes. It just appeared one day – no sign or explanation. But the message is clear.
PhilippiJoy 