Preservation Hall, New Orleans, November 2015

Preservation Hall is the Mecca for lovers of traditional New Orleans Jazz of the early 20th century. I had visited Preservation Hall in the 1990s and was keen to go again. It is just a tiny room where you are packed in, close to the players and the rest of the audience. I'm sure the hall has not seen a lick of paint in the last half century. But the music is not to be missed. We lined up on one night but could not get in and so went another night, queuing for an hour to listen to one of their one hour long concerts. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band travels widely, but there is nothing to compare with listening in the Hall itself.

On the street

Waiting for the musicians

After the concert.  

New Orleans, November 2015

We made our way from Memphis to New Orleans, a long drive in the truck. We like to be in to the campground by dark and we just made it. It was Thanksgiving, so not much was on -- but the French Quarter was very busy as always. We were able make several trips in what was a pretty quiet time for us. We had a good look around the Lower Ninth Ward -- in fact our (excellent) RV park was only a mile from the Lower Ninth Ward. We were able to join in to the Nine Times Social Aide & Pleasure Club's annual second line parade in the Upper Ninth Ward (I will post photos).

Particularly enjoyable was to take the trolley from the terminus of the Saint Charles line to Canal Street via the Garden District. It takes nearly 45 minutes to run the complete distance but to see the 19th century homes is a must see.

New Orleans is the most European of cities in the USA .. and all the best for that. These shots were taken at Jackson Square in the French Quarter .. there is, of course, music everywhere in the city. 

Andrew Jackson statue

Basilica