The Overland, Day 19/24.
I am only very slightly unimpressed with my hotel in New Orleans. The bedroom furniture is chipped, and the fridge door is hanging off. Boy! are they parcemonious with the cream for the bedroom coffee maker. Just one thumb-nail sized pot of hard to access whitener for as much coffee as you like! And if I want the implied river view, then I guess I will have to go down to the river! My bed, however, is magnificent and rather hard to extricate one’s self from, especially when you don’t actually have to. But, I’m in New Orleans, not some uninspiring location closer to home. The likelihood of ever being here again is slim. But for much of the day, I struggled to get my act together. I did tour New Orleans on the hop-on hop-off bus which takes around 90 minutes to complete a comprehensive loop of the city. My ticket is valid tomorrow morning, and I should have time to go round again before a conducted coach tour in the afternoon.
Tonight, I should have been on a dinner cruise on the Mississippi River. I had a very brief knap in my hotel room, and at last, felt back to normal and looking forward to a pleasant evening. I showed up as instructed at 6pm for a 7pm start.
It turns out that the ”Creole Queen” had been booked for a private party. I spoke to the ship’s captain who appeared concerned by the double booking. Fortunately, I can be accommodated on tomorrow night’s trip, the day before Independence Day. This is better all round. I expect to be “more rejuvenated” than ever I was today! Tonight, I dined at the Coterie Restaurant and Oyster Bar, a typical New Orleans eatery in the City’s French Quarter, which came highly recommended by the Hotel Concierge, who, throughout the day, has been extremely helpful, and approachable. Slightly off the beaten track, this restaurant/bar was quite atmospheric. I can’t remember what I ordered but there was gumbo, chicken, and rice in what I imagine was a typical Cajun dish but with no fish, as mentioned in the menu. I still avoid fish which I believe I now have an intolerance for.
After my meal, I ventured into a very noisy Canal Street. The evenings are extremely pleasant, the fierce humidity of the day giving way to something much more manageable. I did wonder if it was the heat which got to me today. Then, I remembered that smaller piece of cheesecake I allowed myself on The Sunset Limited. Tonight, I had recovered from the fatigue of today, and decided, after dinner, to experience a piece of “Saturday Night New Orleans.” Ye Gods, it’s noisy out there. Canal Street with its tramway down the centre is quite unlike anywhere I have ever been before. Music booms out of seemingly everywhere. Evangelists blast out doom and gloom to non-believers, rappers blast out incomprehensible lyrics to loud and exciting thudding music. People dance in the street. Protesters protest through earpiercing sound systems. Yet, I want to be in the middle of all this. It’s hard to walk here on a Saturday night, perhaps being just two days away from Independence Day, and of course, the 182nd anniversary of The CUNARD LINE. Just 18 years to go for the BIG 200th! Will I make it? I’ll be 91 then. If I stay away from Amtrak cheese cake, I could be in with chance! Actually, will Cunard make it? That’s a thought!
I sign off just before 11 pm, thanking you all for reading. See you (That is, I shall no doubt write) tomorrow.
All the best, David, 23.00 in the DoubleTree Hotel. Now to take the laundry down!
David's Cruise 