New Orleans Rock Fish

This has to be the ugliest fish in the world.  It is from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. We were visiting this favorite tourist spot with our grandchildren this weekend.  I suppose they call it a Rock Fish -- I didn't read the label.  The Aquarium is at the foot of Canal Street by the Mississippi River Ferry dock.

Devilish delights on New Orleans streets

Like they say, you never know who the devil your going to run into on the streets of New Orleans -- its worth a meander
--steve buser

New Orleans, Costumes

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Rolling on the river into New Orleans

One of my favorite things to do in New Orleans is to take the ferry ride across to the West Bank of the Mississippi River and then come right back -- you can do it in a car or as a pedestrian. For a buck you get an amazing view of downtown New Orleans rising up.   The large building in the center is the International Trade Mart. To the left of that are a couple downtown hotels. 

The dark building is, I believe the Pan American building, which only looks smaller because it is much further downtown.  Far on the right, the green glass is the entrance to the Aquarium of the Americas and behind it in bright white is Canal Place which houses the Westin Hotel, offices and a very upscale shopping center.  The ferry puts into dock at the foot of Canal Street.
--steve buser

New Orleans, Canal Street

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Sacked out

Sitting on the Canal Street ferry wharf,  these two Brown Pelicans wait for the ferry to come and whip up fish from underneath the rolling Mississippi River.  Notice the pelican on the left.  He has leaned his head so far back and opened his beak so wide that it has pushed his gular sack - usually hanging below his beak -- up through the top of the lower mandible -- a sight I have never seen before.

--steve buser

Brown Pelican, New Orleans, Mississippi River

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Rain high

It's fun to watch the rain sweep across the city and the sky go dark during the day, from the relative safety of a high skyscraper towering over the Central Business District of New Orleans.
--steve buser

New Orleans, downtown, rain

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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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Lights off, sun up -- action!

The Creole Queen and Cajun Queen sit ready to offer tourist and residents a waterborne look at New Orleans and its extensive Port system along the Mississippi River. The early morning sun, in this picture I shot a couple years back, is starting to glint off of the glassy buildings. Lights will soon be going off and the street traffic will be picking up.

Good Morning, New Orleans.
--steve buser

New Orleans, tours, Louisiana, Mississippi River

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Stone and water mix

At the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans stands this edifice for the Aquairum of the Americas.  The bright tiles against the aquamarine glass really draw your attention.  The effect is to tell you "your time inside of here is not going to be your ordinary afternoon."

By the way,  in New Orleans parlance "the foot of (street name here)" always refers to where it intersects with the Mississippi River.
--steve buser

Aquarium of the Americas, Canal Street, Mississippi River, New ORleans

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Fade to gray

I shot this picture almost exactly one year ago.  It was a rainy day and looking out across the River from the foot of Canal Street, I could see these tug going around the bid in the Mississippi. The further they got away, the harder they were to see.  Over on the right, near the top, is the furtherest  -  almost invisible in the gray rain.
--steve buser

Mississippi River, New Orleans, Canal Street

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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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High fog

This is downtown New Orleans a while back on one of those foggy days when it hides the tops of buildings but doesn't quite make it to the ground. High fog.

--steve buser

fog, weather, New Orleans, Louisiana, weather

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Not clowning around

The clownfish and the sea anemone -- a classic symbiotic relationship (check this Wikipedia article).

At the Aquarium of the Americas at the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans -- both do what they have been doing for thousands of years - the clownfish draws other fish near to the anemone who sting the preditors with venemous tentacles. The fish helps feed the anemones and help with it's other hygiene habits. Interesting story of different life forms that have learned to live together. Humans have for the most part learned that lesson, but the semesters is not quite over.

--steve buser

Clownfish, sea anemones, symbiosis, Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, Louisian

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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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Faux famous grandeur

I love the architectural details on the buildings in the city. This faux column piece is on the old Werleins building on Canal Street in New Orleans. Werlein was a noted record publisher (not all of that 'noted' was good -- read the history.) The store is now occupied by the storied and swank Palace Cafe.

I remember as a youth making Werlein's one of my stops on my frequent trips to Canal Street. It was just a big fabulous music store. . I loved to wonder among all the grand pianos they had on display. The store closed in the beginning of 2003.

--steve buser

ps: Our son Charlie competed in the Houston Marathon this weekend. He started running marathons with his one, a year ago. He has a lot under his belt since then. See the account in my new blog : Southeast Texas Daily Photo.

-- steve buser

Technorati Tags: New Orleans, Werleins, Canal Street, history, music

Go ahead. Stretch your neck out

Feel like a little stretching this morning.   This Brown Pelican got his gumption up.  He is not stretching, though, because he is sleepy or just waking up.  The ferry boat from Canal Street in heart of New Orleans over to Algiers  (actually the other way around) is coming up to dock.  That means a good chance that it will stir up a few fish.  It is going to be a good meal.  Stretch that throat and get readdy.

-- steve buser

Technorati Tags: Brown Pelican, pelican, birds, feather, New Orleans, ferry, Canal Street

Face the feeding frenzy

Fish feeding time at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans is frenzied favorite of the crowds, not to mention the fish. The site is at the foot of Canal Street by the Mississippi River.

--steve buser

Technorati Tags: Aquarium, fish, stingray, Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans

Treasure at the end of Canal Street

This is Canal Street from up on high at its "foot" at the Mississippi River. Most visitors only get to see the downtown part of the street, but it leads from the River out toward Lake Ponchartrain. The Street Car ride is a fun adventure. It ends in the Cemetaries area. ( see Top 12 Things to Do in New Orleans on the left column for details)

That area of the city is also where City Park is -- a real urban treat that was beaten down by Hurricane Katrina but is rising back. I remember it as a child as a place of wonderment and fun. Climbing on Live Oak trees that have bent to the ground, making them accessible to little feet.

There is the amusement park with the famous carousel, the bayous with all the wildlife (ducks, geese, swans ibis, herons, racoons and more), the grecian play spaces and Story Land. Some areas are still under repair, but it is a full day of family fun.

--steve buser

Ghostly gator

This is the famous white alligator at the Aquarium of the Americas located at the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans. The foot of Canal seems to be pretty much a favorite location for tourists and locals alike. Shopping, Mississippi River walking, casino, great eating, street cars, French Quarter -- it all comes together right there.

-- steve buser

Sparking interest

They are filming out front of our office this week. World Wrestling Entertainment feature film 12 Rounds has the crew filming on the street car tracks that run down the middle of Canal Street. It's been fun to watch, but it seems to take them forever to set up shots. This shot has been in the works for three days now. Apparently, the shot is to make it look as if the street car hits the black car in front. If you look very closely you can see there is a forklift like device under the car that is hooked into the street car. As it goes down the street, the device is suppose to flip the car and some pyrotechnics will be shot to make it look like the car explodes.

The man on the ladder is setting up the camera -- the camera is also attached to the car and street car -- the car, the camera and the street car all move together.

So what is the film about? Their web site says "Detective Danny Baxter is about to have the worst day of his life when an evil crime lord kidnaps his girlfriend and forces him to go "12 Rounds" around the streets of New Orleans."


--steve buser

Stretching out your neck

This is another montage look at the quartet of Brown Pelicans from yesterday's post. They have been hanging around by the Canal-Street-to-Algiers Ferry Boat landing next to the World Trade Center in New Orleans. When the ferry starts approaching from Algiers Point, they get out of the squatting position on the left and start stretching their bills and gular sac as you see from the various positions. They put on quite a display. I can only think that they area expecting a pretty full meal of some large tasty fish.

--steve buser

Technorati tags: Brown Pelican, birds, Mississippi River

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

Sweet River, sweet life.

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