Jazz and joy in New Orleans!

Arriving at the airport in New Orleans, the first thing meeting me, is a huge statue of Louis Armstrong playing the trumpet. So I thought, hey, this can`t be anything than good. There was already music streaming from the loudspeakers – and the music was to follow me the whole week through.

New Orleans is full of music. These guys were really good and check out the little one - just adorable! — New Orleans is full of music. These guys were really good and check out the little one – just adorable!

New Orleans – the city of blues and jazz – had some hard times, but it has managed to keep its joy and love for music alive through all of it. It is like breathing music wherever you go – the city is alive!

The underground music bars were my favorites!

Hotel tip:

I stayed at the Hampton Inn, which I can recommend, situated only a 10 minute walk from the French Quarter and close to the Convention Center, the Mississippi River as well as highlights like the Mardi Gras World. Here, one can see the Mardi Gras wagons and sculptures all year round.

Band playing at the Mardi Gras World (the picture is blurry because I just could not keep still!)

To take a ride on an old and traditional steam boat on the Mississippi listening to good live music was a special experience. For the ones seeking more action (I did not experience it myself because I got sick, but it was recommended to me by my friends who did it, they had lots of fun), one can go on a swamp tour on an airboat – fly over the swamps and see alligators!

The steam boats just fascinated me completely - they are beautiful! — The steam boats just fascinated me completely – they are beautiful!

The Creole Queen - a proud and powerful name for a boat — The Creole Queen – a proud and powerful name for a boat.

This was a good reason not to fall over board on the steam boat - the end rear paddlewheel! — This was a good reason not to fall over board on the steam boat – the end rear paddlewheel!

There are several other nice tours for all kinds of interests; Garden Tours, Plantation Tours, Katrina Tours or even Ghost Tours. For those interested in vampires – well, you can imagine. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the view), I don`t belong to them.

Restaurant tips:

There are so many good restaurants in the city, all serving delicious sea food and creole specialities. A famous restaurant in the Street Royal is the “Court of Two Sisters”.

One of the most well-known and most awarded restaurants in the city - Court of Two Sisters! — One of the most well-known and most awarded restaurants in the city – Court of Two Sisters!

Need some extra charm? Before entering the restaurant you have the chance.! — Need some extra charm? Before entering the restaurant you have the chance!

I had a taste of the claw fish in a restaurant just a few blocks from the Court of Two Sisters and can really recommend it, the “Royal House Oyster Bar”.

This street turned out to be my favorite one instead of Bourbon Street - The Royal Street or "Rue Royal" - good restaurants and sweet little stores full of temptations! — This street turned out to be my favorite one instead of Bourbon Street – The Royal Street or “Rue Royal” – good restaurants and sweet little stores full of temptations!

Even though not a real restaurant, it has to be mentioned here as it was one of my favorite food experiences in New Orleans: having Beignets at the famous Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter. This was a true “wow”!