Besides
eating and
drinking like there was no tomorrow, the girls and I didn't have any set activities to partake in while vacationing in New Orleans.
While wandering the banks of the Mississippi River one afternoon we decided on a whim to make reservations to ride the
Steamboat Natchez -
A classic expression of America's great steamboat tradition.
The daytime jazz cruise departs twice daily from the Toulouse Street Wharf at 11:30am and 2:30pm. An adult ticket will cost you $24.50 for two hours of cruising time, or $35.50 of you opt in for the creole lunch. We opted for the 2:30 - 4:30 time frame sans lunch and boarded the boat promptly at 2pm.
We settled in with some Abita Beers and shortly after embarked on the mighty Mississippi adventure.
They don't call this river the mighty Mississippi for nothing - the current is unbelievably strong and the width between the river banks is exceedingly vast.
View from the docked ship, above. Cruising along, below.
It is probably hard to decipher the strength of the current through photos, but it was a site to behold. *The Mississippi is the is the
fourth longest river in the world and the
tenth most powerful river in the world* (Just to give some perspective, thanks Wiki.)
What you
can easily decipher from these photographs is the murky color of the water. There's nothing traditionally beautiful about, but in all its brownish green silt and sediment murkiness, I managed to be completely taken in.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,
amiright? It's more about appreciating the river for what it is, taking in new sights and landscapes.
I appreciated that the steamboat ride offered some nice cityscape views.
Partly cloudy blue skies were a clear indication of gorgeous weather. Hot and humid weather, actually, but wonderful, glorious, embraceable heat. You may recall this trip was well over three weeks ago when the sun was still a distant memory in Boston. (Pretty sure It was 40 degrees and rainy at home.)
The boat in and of itself was fun to explore, we were able to check out the control room and the inner workings up close!
Starboard side, looking pretty empty! There were plenty of folks aboard, they are probably all seeking shade.
I checked out the Bow...
And the Stern
There was quite a bit of activity happening on the river itself.
Ships from Hong Kong and Singapore were hard at work.
Note the cranes claw moving debris (?) from one ship to the other.
"Little" boats chugged along
Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Martime ships, The Cape Kennedy and Cape Knox are docked at one of the nearby wharfs.
The banks are not the epitome of picturesque, either. Devastation from Hurricane Katrina is still felt in certain areas for sure.
The Domino Sugar Corporation Refinery towers over the banks of the river.
We were told this is the second largest sugar factory in the world (the first is in Brazil.)
It was a little surreal, realizing that
this is where our sugar comes from?!
Zoom.
Really?
Really? It's just that, it looks a little dirty! It looks like an abandoned warehouse. Perhaps it never fully recovered from the wrath of Katrina, either :(
But the city is vibrant and alive.
A view of Downtown - a cable car cruising by on the left, Jackson Square on the right.
The Crescent City Connection Bridge connects the East and West banks of New Orleans. We moved towards it on the end of our journey, just as the Carnival Cruise ship (far right) was departing.
It was a fascinating not to mention eye opening cruise aboard the
Steamboat Natchez, one I'm thoroughly glad we got to experience. Definitely consider checking her out if you ever visit New Orleans!
Previous Indulge Inspire Imbibe recaps of vacation The Big Easy:
The Best of Bourbon Street
It is pretty much a compilation of miscellaneous photos that didn't make it into the previous posts. I hope you enjoy and thanks for letting me re-live this trip for as long as possible. Until the next adventure.....
The days spent soaking up the French Quarter on foot were truly memorable. The city is one of a kind.
Prominent architecture includes fancy balconies where the delicate wrought iron weaves intricately over blackdrops of richly colored pink buildings.
Harsh weathered exteriors are a contrasting facade from those that are clean and polished. Where the balconies give off of a regal feel on one street corner, they are rough and worn down on the next.
The contrast between the two is ever so striking. 
The houses are often distinguished by wide paneling and painted shutters, I even spotted one with disco balls hanging from the roof! 
The Bourbon Street bars follow suit with weathered brick and balconies, adding flare with bright neon signs and lights, beads and bras, glitter and glitz. 
Our hotel was a real gem, here is the view from our 8th floor room at the Ritz Carlton, situated a block from Bourbon at 921 Canal Street. 
The courtyard was especially pleasant, offering a serene atmosphere to relax. We didn't spend too much time here, just enough to order a bloody mary before venturing out one morning. 
We spent a little more time one evening in the Ritz's swanky Davenport lounge where famous Jazz musician Jeremy Davenport performs on a regular basis. His show was a good time, the vibe is upbeat and everyone makes their way up to the dance floor sooner or later!
Jackson Square is a charming section of the historic French Quarter. Be sure to wander over if and when you visit. 
A statue pays homage to our 7th President Andrew Jackson who (before his presidency) served as Major General leading a poorly equipped army to victory at The Battle of New Orleans on January 8th, 1815 against British troops that far outnumbered ours. 
This poignant victory marked Andrew Jackson a hero. 
The St. Louis Cathedral is another well known landmark of Jackson Square. 
Fountains grace the square along with artists selling their wares and donkeys offering carriage rides. 
The Fleur de Lis is a notable French icon. This stylized symbol is played up in all the shops and stores and below in lively Jackson Square artwork. 
If you haven't already, make sure to check out Tricia's Guide to The Big Easy over at Not All Who Wander Are Lost. She manages to wrap up the trip nicely in one post while still hitting the major highlights and offering some more in depth travel advice. 
They say the world is a book and those who don't travel only read one page. I feel it is a privilege to travel at all, and especially with these ladies. 
I can only hope the future has in store for us many more girls vacations!
