DAY 29 - Iron Grannies tour the Big Easy

Leonard and Celia took us all over New Orleans today, and we were out for 9 hours!!  Not sure which is more tiring - walking 20 miles or sightseeing.  First we went to the 17th Street Levee which was breached after Katrina and was the cause of major flooding.  We also saw the new pumping station that will hopefully prevent another flood disaster. The next stop was beautiful City Park with its huge oak trees, lots of green space, an amusement park for kids, an art museum and a fabulous sculpture garden which we thoroughly enjoyed. Several major sculptors have works on display including Robert Indiana's LOVE, Rodin, Claes Oldenberg, Henri Moore, George Segal and George Rodrigue's Blue Dog.  On the way to the French Quarter we decided to park the car near the famous cemeteries and take the streetcar down Canal Street. We walked on Bourbon St., shared a hurricane with 5 straws at Pat O'Brien's, went into the St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square, had beignets and coffee at the Cafe du Monde, walked all over the Riverwalk along the Mississippi, had dinner at a trendy restaurant, Couchon, in the warehouse district, took the streetcar back and then drove on St. Charles St.  

Leonard and Celia were great tour guides and we appreciate their generous hospitality.