Molly's New Orleans Blog '19: No time to waste.

Outer Journey

The first full day in the city arrived. I was tired, but found it in me to get up at 5:30 in the morning and head out to the square with My roommate Amy and classmate Robert. Why you ask? The cities famous Beignets.

They were delicious, but that was just the beginning of our day. As a class we met in front of the St. Louis Cathedral and met up with our tour guide Milton. The Three hour tour was about this great city and its history. Touring through the square looking at the architecture and the story behind when and why they were built. Very intriguing to listen to the knowledge of the city that Milton has. He is very intelligent and knew his stuff which is what made the tour so much fun. We started to migrate towards the world known Congo Square, as we walked the streets we were able to learn about the different style houses and the back story of why they look a certain way and what type of people lived in them.

We walked to right outside of the French Quarter and crossed the street to wear the Slaves use to conjugate on Sunday's, their "day of rest". Congo Square. It was monumental to see and learn more about. Congo Square was part of my prior research to the trip so it was neat to see the updates they had made, and learn more about the historical landmark from a local. We ended the tour walking through cemetery. I was surprised to find out that the only way you can walk through it is by tour guide, due to the high level of vandalism that was happening. The tour of the cemetery was interesting and I was surprised to find out more about the Voodoo queen, and that Nicolas Cage has already purchased his stone in the cemetery and surprisingly enough it was in the shape of a pyramid (go figure). It was so interesting to learn about the history of the people who are kept in the cemetery and their importance to New Orleans. The tour ended and we had to find our way back to the square, eat lunch and meet at the Pharmacy Museum. We speed walked to a local famous Po-Bo shop Johnny's Po-boys, which has been around sense 1950. My first experiance with Po-boys was so good. Very glad we chose to go there. Lunch was quick, and before we knew it we were at our second tour and it was packed. We then had to venture off on our own to Royal street which is filled with gallery's and little cafe's. We took some time to reflect and get a cup of coffee at Café Beignet before admiring the art in a few galleries. My favorite art, was an artist who focused on French contemporary landscape. Impeccable art that really caught the eye of many who enter the gallery. The afternoon flew by and by the time I knew it, it was time to meet back up with the class for our tour of Frenchman street, where we looked at local craft vendors and were able to listen to the home town music, Jazz. It was a long day of walking and my feet were on fire. The walk home was horrendously painful, but we made it and I celebrated with a long hot bath. Our first full day in the city was eventful and one to remember.