THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND performing in New Orleans

I have finally arrived in New Orleans, it was hard but I made it and now I am ready to write some stories about this wonderful city. I have already taken about three hundred photographs on my digital camera and I have been sorting out the good ones. You are going to be amazed at what I have discovered about this gem of a city thus far. Honestly, I was amazed at how nice it is here, this city is recovering and nothing is going to stop the people of New Orleans from having a good time doing it.

First of all, there is a party going on all the time, I mean it; when I was walking to the French Quarter from the Union Terminal, I turned a corner and found a street festival in full swing. It was full of people about a thousand of them in this lush green park called Lafayette Square, it sits on a city block, which by the way is on the parade route for the Mardi Gras processions. The festival aptly named; "Wednesday Nights at the Square" was jumping to the sounds of THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND; this group was way past hot they were cooking! I will tell you this; they were putting on a show in the traditional style befitting great Dixie Land jazz. I spent an hour or so there listening and bouncing to the wonderful sounds.

Not only was the music great, but there were about a dozen venders with booths set up for beer and sandwiches and other such delights all of this food was traditional New Orleans cooking. Another thing, every one was so friendly and polite, it was nice, and I discovered this party was a local event very few tourists were there. It seemed like a personal celebration for the local people who worked and lived in that one area. It was in the heart of the Central Business District amidst the high rises and the antique buildings.

One of the sponsors was a company which some may recognize; Hancock Bank and from what I understand they are going to present these Wednesday night festivals (a celebration of recovery) until June.

I still have not recovered from all that strenuous traveling so this article will be a little short, but it will have about a half dozen pictures to go with it. I hope you enjoy this city as much as I do.