Blog 815. Second and final full day in New Orleans.

I’m sure I remember this high rise from my very brief visit in1971. I find that the original structure, the Four Seasons Hotel was completed and opened in 1968. It still is the Four Seasons Hotel, beyond even my extravagant budget! Within, View Orleans, not only offers a 360° view from the 34th floor (weather and lightning permitting, which it didn’t do today), but a high tech audio/visual history in several touch free panels describing just about every aspect of New Orleans. This very futuristic tourist attraction was opened as recently as March 2nd this year, and therefore is only just over four months old. To do it justice, one needs a full day here alone. Operate every one of the graphic video units to the full, and you could take New Orleans as your “specialist subject” in Mastermind.

These high rises can be identified using the digital “telescopes” installed around the 33rd floor.

The Mississippi River, from the 34th floor, the outside of which was closed due to weather conditions.

And again, the Mississippi River. There is no way we would be allowed outside. Nevertheless, worthwhile views are aplenty, with digital electronic screens to explain what you are looking at.

All explained from this and other screens.

Right now, I’m in the lobby of the sumptuous Westin New Orleans, waiting for the tour bus, which in three hours covers just about all of the city. Eventually, 35 minutes after the scheduled start time, a small minibus arrived with just three others on board. We were merely transferred to an almost full similar vehicle parked almost opposite my hotel! I wasn’t impressed, and unlike the superb tour guides in the Grand Canyon, this guy mixed facts with hard to understand comedy. He knew his stuff, obviously, but I remember little. Nevertheless, we ventured to places I would never have found had I relied on my own exploring skills, and from a vehicle which was very difficult to take photographs from, I got glimpses of interesting sights which, having travelled so far, I would have appreciated dwelling on for longer.

Private cemetery of the wealthy. Sightseeing tours usually include these places on their itineraries

The tour ended after around three hours and I found my way on to Canal Street, again noisy and crowded, even in daylight hours. I had just about an hour to reach the landing pier where I would board the Creole Queen paddle boat for a two hour dinner cruise on the Mississippi River. Even before departure, a four piece jazz band were playing on one of the upper open decks, as the passengers filed slowly into the vessel, via the Dining Room where another four piece band were playing. The buffet dinner was ready for those on board to help themselves.

I chose a table both with a nearby window view, and the band also.

I’m sure the cruise started early. The all you can eat buffet was very good indeed with plenty of choice. And the magnificent sunset was unlimited!