New Orleans's tall icons draw "close"

I was struck by the seeming juxtaposition of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and a Carnival Cruise Line ship heading out of port and down the Mississippi River.  Of course, the two are far apart, but the long lens needed to capture this shot compresses the space and makes them appear as next door neighbors.

Notice all the waving people (if you can make them out) on the upper decks of the cruise ship.  The photo looks east across the French Quarter.  The ship is making its turn off of the short section of the Mississippi River from the Greater New Orleans Bridge to Canal Street where the river actually flows due north.

French Quarter, street corner music

On the street corner, the day after the big Superbowl game, these French Quarter musicians were make quite a lot of good sounding music with simple instruments.  I was impressed with the deep rich sounds, the base player was getting out of that washtub.
--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Music

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The Big Clean Up -- Superbowl style

So there we were, pushing our way down Bourbon Street after the big Superbowl game Sunday.   The crowds were so packed, forget about moving, it was getting hard to breath.   Were the streets dirty?  Every once in a while you could catch a glimpse below you and it was not a pretty sight.  Most of the time, you were lucky if you could see your shirt pocket with the crowds being so packed sardine-like.

Then the next morning you walk out and the streets are shining -- slightly damp from a night time hosing, but clean and fresh smelling.  This is a shot from Royal Street as we walked down to breakfast.

New Orleans is the best in the world at three things:  the Superbowl, Mardi Gras, and cleaning up after the big party.
--steve buser

Superbowl, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, French Quarter

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French Quarter Feathery Festival Finery for Mardi Gras.

You could be well dressed for Mardi Gras in New Orleans just by donning one of these fashionable boas.  The boas were all laid out in a French Quarter shop we passed on Monday, but few minds were on Mardi Gras -- they were still harkening back to the Saints stunning (not so stunning for the true believers, just incredible) win over the Colts.  Now that the big welcoming-back parade for the Saints is passed, the city can get back to Mardi Gras.
--steve buser

Superbowl, New Orleans, Mardi Gras

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Mardi Gras football -- Superbowl style

Hey, every dog has his day on the gridiron, doesn't he?  This was the Krewe of Barkus parade in New Orleans just a few hours before the big Sunday game between the Saints and the Colts.  Mardi Gras was almost on hold for the Superbowl, but when you march through the French Quarter just before the game, every street has a ready-made crowd.
--steve buser

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Superbowl

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"Who Dat" 'ers fill the streets.

Before the big game Sunday night, fans turned out en masse in the French Quarter, to nervously cheer on theire team.   I didn't catch any pictures after the game, because it was too packed to try.  The French Quarter was filled with revelers, and Poydras Street became and impromtu parade of cars sounding their horns to the sounds of who dat?

I didn't hear any estimates of crowd numbers, but the real crowd numbers are likely for Tuesday night when the city welcomes home it's heros as the Saints parade through the the Central Business District.

"Who dat say they going to beat the Saints?"  Nobody now.
--steve buser

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Jackson Square performers evoke the feel of the French Quarter

I was just having fun in Gimp with this French Quarter scene I shot a some time back.  I was using some of the filters.  THis is an old vintage picture photo filter with a frame filter.

I'll show you another version of the same shot on my next post --see which one you like the best.
--steve buser

New Orleans, Jackson Square, Jazz

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Hope your day is a French Quarter Day

Another fun day in the French Quarter, nuff said.
--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

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Starry plaza

From high above, this is the plaza on the Canal Street side of Harrah's Casino. That isn't a statue in the middle --it's someone walking slowly across. Notice the shadows are stretching out across Canal Street and toward the French Quarter as the evening tones down the colors.

Canal Street, in early times was to have a canal running down it to connect Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River. But, it ended up being a just a wide median. Or, in New Orleans parlance a "neutral ground." Actually,one could say it was THE "neutral ground." It separated the French Quarter from the cultures on the opposite side and acted as a natural and neutral barrier.
--steve buser

Harrahs Casino, New Orleans, Louisiana

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I'm walking in New Orleans

There's a more residential side to the French Quarter in New Orleans. It's not all just tourist shops, bars and restaurants. There are a significant number of houses, condos and apartments. It's a pretty exciting life -- you're able to catch a lot of festivals and fun and just walk home.
--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, festivals, music

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Pirated space

It is only a block long. But, if bricks could talk. Pirates Alley, in the middle of the French Quarter by St.Louis Cathedral. Pirate's Alley next to the Church? New Orleans.
--steve buser

Pirate's Alley, New Orleans, Louisiana, French Quarter

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New Orleans Jazz gets an early start

You probably think of old time-worn musicians when you think of New Orleans Jazz.
Remember, though, that every one of them got there start in their earlier years. Here, a young jazz earns their reputation and some cash in front of the St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
--steve buser

Jazz, New Orleans, St. Louis Cathedral, Louisiana

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Wax nostalgic. Go ahead, you deserve it.

This one is for you. No, over there.... YOU! THe nostalgic one. I know it is a big -- probably too big for a computer monitor. But, it is perfect for printing out and hanging on your wall. Enjoy. If you don't know how to do it, just right click on the picture and choose "Save the image as." From that point it's up to you to get it into a graphics program, drop it in Word or PowerPoint... what have you. Whatever it takes to get a good reminder of New Orleans. Decatur Street at St. Philip -- right in heart of the French Quarter fun.
--steve buser

Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, French Quarter
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Spilling the party

Everyone loves a good party.  This picture from last year shows how the party spills into the French Quarter from Canal Street and the surrounding area.

--steve buser

party, French Quarter

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Take your wonder wandering

One of my favorite things to do is to walk around the French Quarter and pick out buildings I like. This one on Rue Chartres is one of my favorites because of the wrap around balcony.

--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, balconies

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Capture the Big Easy memory

You are in the Big Easy. Walking on the MoonWalk, along the mighty Mississippi River. The world famous French Quarter is to you back. Sure seems like the perfect time to stop and get someone to take a picture for your memory book.

-steve buser

New Orleans, Moon Walk, French Quarter, Mississippi River

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Flying the Moon Walk

Everyone enjoys doing their own thing along the Moon Walk in New Orleans. The French Quarter levee spot is a favorite walkers and flyers, including this brown pelican.

--steve buser

Moon Walk, Pelican, Mississippi River, New Orleans

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Out of the fog

Cleaning up my picture files and straightening out the files. I am finding several shots like this foggy day on the riverfront in the French Quarter -- shots I never got around to using.   I can't explain it.  It's just hard to keep things in order when you are posting at a rate of a picture a day -- that includes shooting, processing, filing and all.  

But, I keep it up.  It keeps me focused and observant.  Observant of all the things that go on around me that I never really noticed before.

--steve buser

Fog, Mississippi RIver, New Orleans, Louisiana

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Ride the muddy Mississippi

Things can get a little busy on the Mississippi River.  Oh, heck,who are we kidding, things can get a lot busy. This is the front of the Canal Street-Algiers ferry heading into downtown New Orleans.  You can see the wake just ahead of the gawkers from a tug boat that just passed with a massive load. 

Straight ahead is the World Trade Center. On the right (in green) is the Aquarium of the Americas and behind that One Canal Place with the Shops on Canal shopping center is located. 

The ferry ride is a great (and cheap) way to get a good look at down town.  Go across to Algiers, take in Mardi Gras World, or just spend some time on the levy. Then ride back.  No car needed.  The top of the ferry is for pedestrians.

--steve buser

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Night brights the lights

As night settles in, the lights take on a new brightness in downtown New Orleans. Like groomsmen surrounding a bridef (left to right The World Trade Center, the Hilton Hotel, the Crescent City Connection bridge, Harrah's Hotel and Loew's Hotel stand around Harrah's Casino (front) at the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans.

One interesting note about the Mississippi River here, which flows just out of site to the left -- for a few miles, from the Crescent City Connection, to just past the French Quarter, the river is flowing directly northward.

--steve buser

Harrah's Casino, New Orleans, Louisiana, Canal Street, Mississippi River