I was never sure about visiting New Orleans, mainly based on the fact that everyone said I should. This may sound a little odd but the reality is that the more someone tells you to go somewhere, the less likely it is that you will enjoy it once you get there, because they have hyped it up too much. Despite a lot of people telling me how much I would love NOLA, I didn’t really give it a chance until I heard Charles Wooten talking about it on his blog. There was just something about the way that Charles described the place that really excited me, and so I decided that the next time I headed to the States, I would check it out.
This turned out to be one of those places where the hype wasn’t over the top, and here is why I think everyone will fall in love with New Orleans.
Live Music
The first thing that hits you when you start to walk around this city is just how much live music there is on display. This starts on the street, with buskers taking on a whole new level of professionalism. Here there is not just a man with a guitar, but full scale brass sections rocking out in the streets. Beyond this you are going to find a huge amount of music being played in the bars, of all genres and in just about every bar. This is very much the home of live music.
The Food Choices
New Orleans really does have a fascinating cultural past, with influence from Haiti, France and the rest of the USA. The result is this amazing mixture of heritage and tradition, which as always is best found and best represented in the food choices which you will find here. Personally I absolutely loved all of the creole food, the likes of Jambalaya which is one of the most amazing spicy rice and chicken dishes I have ever tried. There are the usual US influences too, such as the poboy and the range of BBQ joints which you will find in the city. Whilst there are some great restaurants here in NOLA, my personal favorite dishes were found in the markets and on the streets of the city.
Partying
The party scene in New Orleans is absolutely incredible and there is absolutely no surprise that this is the city where they will host Mardi Gras each year. There is not so much a drinking culture here, as much as there is a fun-loving culture. This means that the place is enjoyed by people young and old, who are just coming here for a great time. If you are looking for a party weekend with amazing people, plenty of live music and some of the most delicious food in Louisiana, look no further than New Orleans.
This is very much one of those places which absolutely does live up to the hype that people give it.
