The consequences of Hurricane Katrina, which swept through southern states The USA turned out to be much more catastrophic than it seemed immediately after the wind died down. Three days later, it became clear that the worst was yet to come for Louisiana's largest city, New Orleans. Deprived of electricity, the city was almost completely flooded with water. According to authorities, residents will be able to return to their homes for at least two months.
Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in American history. Assessing the scale of the disaster from a height of 500 meters on the way to Washington from Texas, President Bush, who interrupted his vacation, did not hide that the restoration of the region will take not months, but years. For urgent assistance to the affected states of Louisiana and Mississippi, the President ordered the allocation of funds from the emergency fund.
No one has yet attempted to predict the exact number of victims of the hurricane. Both in Mississippi, where several coastal cities are completely flooded and destroyed, and in Louisiana. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin believes the death toll is "at least in the hundreds, but most likely in the thousands."
Experts do not rule out that the cost of eliminating the damage caused by the hurricane will not only be comparable, but also exceed the funds spent after the September 11 terrorist attack in New York. According to James Lee Witt, who headed the Federal Agency for Management in emergency situations under Bill Clinton, we are talking about “astronomical” amounts.
Trapped in water
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin addresses citizens
However, for now, the main task of the authorities is not to count the colossal losses that the United States has suffered, but to save the people caught in the disaster zone. The administrations of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana, the Pentagon and the White House joined forces to remove up to one hundred thousand people from the city, provide them with food, medicine and temporary housing, stop the looting of the city by looters and prevent the spread of disease. A state of emergency was declared throughout the state before the hurricane arrived, but now New Orleans transferred to martial law.
Currently, 80 percent of New Orleans is under water. This is what city officials feared most when Katrina moved toward Louisiana from the Gulf of Mexico. When the hurricane passed away from New Orleans, it seemed that flooding on such a scale could be avoided. However, the levee system that protected the city below sea level from the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchatrain was too damaged to hold up. Water flooded the first floors of high-rise buildings; other buildings were completely hidden by water.
The New Orleans authorities did not immediately admit that a total evacuation could not be avoided. Initially, Ray Nagin was cautious about the fact that residents would not be able to return to their homes anytime soon. But it was only when the situation took a catastrophic turn that everyone who had not already done so was advised to leave New Orleans. The city administration had no choice - the infrastructure was completely destroyed and it became extremely dangerous to stay here.
The bulk of the people awaiting evacuation are in the Superdome indoor stadium - more than 20 thousand people. Of these, eight thousand have already spent more than three days here - they took refuge from the still approaching hurricane. The rest came after the water level in the streets began to rise. The conditions in the stadium building are extremely difficult; its life support systems are not designed for such a long stay of a large number of people. The authorities allocated 300 buses to transport people from the sports arena, but ground evacuation had to be stopped, as fires prevented access to the stadiums. At present, evacuation by air has also been suspended - the decision was made after one of the military helicopters was fired at from the ground by looters.
Russian citizens also found themselves trapped in water, although not in the sports arena, but on the roof of a hotel on Gravier Street in the city center. There were 17 Russians in the flooded hotel, all of them arrived in the USA from different cities under the Work and Travel program. The Russian Consulate General in Houston took charge of rescuing the students and established contact with American rescue services. By the morning of September 1, it became known that all Russians had been taken from New Orleans to a special reception center for disaster victims. However, it later turned out that there could be up to a hundred Russian citizens in the city, and therefore Russian diplomats are now discussing with the American side a plan for the evacuation of the remaining Russians. At the same time, the United States asks not to interfere with the operation of Russian rescuers, who have expressed their readiness to fly to the disaster zone at any moment.
Death of civilization
One of the central problems now is the danger of epidemics. The water that flooded New Orleans was filled with sewage from the sewer system, and the bodies of the dead were also found under the water. According to US Health Secretary Michael Leavitt, authorities fear the spread of cholera, typhus and other serious infectious diseases. In addition, the risk of outbreaks of tropical fever and the so-called West Nile fever, spread by mosquitoes, has increased.
The situation is aggravated by the lack of electricity throughout the city. In addition to the fact that hospitals cannot fully operate without energy, authorities are also concerned about the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning for those who use autonomous generators or hastily assembled “stoves.” There is also no telephone connection, not only landline, but also, for the most part, mobile. Supplies of food, drinking water and medicine are running low.
Against this background, New Orleans was overwhelmed by a wave of looting. Uniting in gangs, people rob pharmacies, hospitals, offices, not to mention residential buildings, shops and hotels. Armed groups attack vans, including police. Shots are heard in the city (it was reported that in one of the clashes a policeman was wounded in the head), and fires break out.
To combat looting, the city mayor ordered the police to temporarily switch from rescue operations to law enforcement. Martial law allows government officials to deal with looters without unnecessary formalities. To help the police, the Pentagon sent additional National Guard forces to the affected region - another 10 thousand people arrived in New Orleans in addition to the 11 thousand who were there. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco admitted that the actions of the looters make her furious. “We will do everything necessary to restore law and order to this region,” she said.
While returning law and order is possible in a few days, restoring the infrastructure and housing stock of New Orleans will take much longer. Ray Nagin estimates that it will take two to four months to eliminate the effects of the hurricane. Only then will residents be able to return to their city, which so far, in his words, is “uninhabitable.” However, judging by photographs and reports from the scene, the mayor's opinion looks too optimistic - until the moment when New Orleans fully recovers from its experience, apparently, more than one year will pass.
Ekaterina Rogozhnikova
Basic moments
New Orleans is called the "Big Easy" in all the promotional material, and it does have a carefree quality about it. It's rare in America to see people who will stop traffic just to lean out of their car and yell, "Hey man, what's up?" And few of the people who are behind will treat this impartially and simply start driving around.
But when it comes to vacation, New Orleanians become like Manhattanites. Just one beer? No, old man, that won't do. Do you want a burger? What if we spread peanut butter and put bacon on top? And let's plop a large baked potato with sour cream next to it? Oh, to hell with it, let's have some more lobsters.
There are three "i's" in the word "Mississippi" (English i) The first two are indulgence (indulgence/remission of sins) and immersion (baptism), everything is simple here: brown sugar on bacon instead of oatmeal for breakfast, double straight instead of light beer; sex in the morning instead of coming to work early (“the tram broke down”). But the big "I" here is intermixing (stirring, mixing). To be tolerant of everything and learn from it is the soul of the city. Social tensions and racial and income divisions keep New Orleans on its toes, but when citizens strive for the great Creole ideal - the blending of all influences into something better - the result is... jazz, New Louisiana cuisine, griots storytellers (West African storytellers), rappers Seventh Ward and Tennessee Williams, French town houses a few blocks from Foghorn Leghorn mansions creaking under sweet myrtle and bougainvillea. Just don’t forget about indulgences and baptism, since the creolization of a people turns out to be diluted if they do not live the full intellectual life of an epicurean.
Story
The city of New Orleans was founded as a French outpost in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyen de Biéville (Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville). The first settlers came from France, Canada and Germany. The French brought thousands of African slaves here. The city became central to the slave trade. Due to local laws, some slaves were allowed to earn their freedom and assume a position of authority in the Creole community as les gens de couleur libres (free people of color).
The French Quarter we see today was largely built by the Spanish, as older French architecture was destroyed by fires in 1788 and 1794. The influx of African Americans after the Louisiana Purchase led to the expansion of the city, creating the Downtown Business District. (Central Business District (CBD)), Garden District (Garden District) and Aptoutn (Uptown). By 1840, New Orleans was already the fourth largest city in the country, with a population of more than 100,000.
New Orleans remained untouched by the Civil War after the Union forces quickly surrendered, but the economy began to wither with the departure of slave labor. In the early 1900s, New Orleans became the birthplace of jazz music. Many speakeasy bars and jazz house organizers failed, but the cultural claims were canonized in 1994 when the NPS established the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park). This was a celebration of the origins and evolution of America's most widely recognized indigenous musical art form. The oil and petrochemical industries developed in the 1950s, and today's tourism is another lifeblood of the local economy.
In August 2005, nearly 80% of New Orleans was underwater as Hurricane Katrina damaged its levees. But much of what makes this city unique remains untouched. (The French and Park Quarters, the oldest parts of New Orleans, are located on high ground), like the very spirit of the city.
Sights of New Orleans
New Orleans is famous for its Mardi Gras carnival. (usually in February or March), which turned out to be so successful that the city fathers turn any suitable event, be it All Hallows' Eve (Halloween), St. Patrick's Day, the onset of spring or summer, in celebration, regardless of the weather. The city loves parades, but if you haven't found a reason to hold one while you're there, you'll still be able to find a public event somewhere, and the loud trumpets will help with that.
The French Quarter, known as Old Square, is historical Center city, surrounded by Canal and Fortress streets (the latter was once a fortification), Esplanade and Mississippi River. Great fires of 1788 and 1794 over 1000 houses were destroyed in the quarter, but the buildings of the 19th century. led to the appearance of two- and three-story houses with patterned wrought iron galleries.
Start in Jackson Square, where magicians, balloon sellers and a motley crowd of originals in unusual outfits mill around the statue of General Andrew Jackson all day. The Cathedral of St. Louis is surrounded by two pieces of colonial times: the Cabildo - once a guardhouse, and then the city council, and the Presbytery - a priest's house, which became a courthouse. They are now part of the Louisiana State Museum (tel.: 504-568-69-68; http://lsm.crt.state.la.us). Exhibits in the Cabildo explore the fascinating history of trade on the Mississippi, while the Presbytery houses a cultural exhibit that explores the region's rich history through photographs and maps.
The Cathedral of Saint Louis is an 18th-century church of an 18th-century French diocese, restored in 1851, more famous for the duels that took place in its park than for its architecture. On both sides of the square are lined the Pontalba houses with wrought iron galleries on the upper floors.
Walking along Rue Dumaine past Madame John's Legacy, a French colonial house preserved as a residence, you arrive at Rue Royale, one of the most delightful streets in the area, full of top-notch antique shops. On the right, at number 1132, stands the Gallier House Museum, named after its creator, the architect James Gallier, and open to visitors. It has been restored to its original form of 1857, and if you step out onto the wrought iron balcony, you will see the ancient quarter breathing with peace. Here you can rest your soul before plunging into the bustle of the saloons on the Rue de Bourbon.
If you want to leave your visit to Bourbon Street for the night, take a modern streetcar for a ride along the Mississippi. Tennessee Williams's play A Streetcar Named Desire made this mode of transport famous. In fact, this name is given to a street about ten blocks away where there is no streetcar at all, but you can catch the tram at the former Carondelet Canal and travel along St. Charles Avenue and back through the Park District. Citizens and visitors alike use these environmentally friendly trailers all day long.
In the French Quarter, by the water, lies the French Market, where shops and souvenir shops smoothly turn into an indoor market for agricultural products and all kinds of seasonings, interspersed with numerous summer restaurants, where the traditional music of New Orleans is played - jazz. The famous 24-hour Café Du Mont treats visitors on a real French terrace to delicious coffee with milk and beignets - square-shaped pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Riverwalk Boulevard, site of the 1984 World's Fair (on the other side of Canal Street) represents a wonderful alley by the river with a market located on it.
The Park District is located southwest of the French Quarter and is bordered by Warehouse Street and Louisiana, St. Charles and Jackson Avenues. It was here that the newly minted American nobility from the cotton and sugar plantations built their homes after the Louisiana Purchase, while the Creoles settled in the Old Quarter. Mansions surrounded by parks with magnolias, oaks and palm trees (most are closed to visitors) compete with manor houses. Particularly beautiful buildings can be seen on Prytaneya Street.
The golden age of the neighborhood was brought to an end by two circumstances: the outbreak of the Civil War and the displacement of steamship transportation on the Mississippi by the railroad. Paddle steamers departing from the Canal Street pier still offer excursions along the river. Most of these trips pass the 1815 battlefield of Chalmette, part of the National Historic Park and Preserve. (Chalmette National Historical Park; take Route 46 16 km southeast). Andrew Jackson's crushing victory over the British occurred after the signing of the peace treaty, but brought him universal fame and helped him become president of the United States 14 years later.
If you want to end your trip with a taste of pre-war times, take the paddle steamer that departs several times a day from the Canal Street pier. The trip can be either as short as two hours, eating while listening to Dixieland music, or as long as ten days, with a stop along the way to the Midwest in St. Louis. (Missouri) in great cities like Natchez and Memphis.
Cafes, bars, restaurants
Louisiana, perhaps more than anywhere else in the United States, adheres to ancestral culinary traditions - not necessarily through the quality of food (although the quality here is also high), but through the rich history behind dishes that are older than most American states; and while most of us eat to live, New Orleanians live to eat. Despite the population decline after Hurricane Katrina, the number of restaurants increased by 15%!
New Orleans is a drinking city. Attention, Bourbon Street is raising his glass. Head to the boroughs and check out America's best bars. Frenchman Street in the suburb of Marigny can be called more cordial and gentle.
Most bars are open every day, often from midday until 10pm, and may remain open all night. There are no additional fees unless there is live music. It is against the law to be on the street with an open bottle of alcohol, so all bars hand out plastic travel glasses to those who are ready to move on.
Danger
New Orleans has a high crime rate; neighborhoods quickly move from favorable to ghetto. Be careful if you are far north of the suburbs of Martigny and Bywater (better to stay on St. Claude Avenue), at the southern end of Magazine Street, you start to risk if you cross Laurel Street (Laurel St) or wandered too far north of Rampart Street (Lakeside) and ended up in Tremé without a clear destination. Choose crowded places, especially at night, and shell out for a taxi to avoid walking through dark streets. In the quarter, street prostitutes often flirt with tourists, just walk by. Consider all this, but don't be paranoid. Crimes happen here, as throughout America, mainly among those who know each other.
Medical services
Louisiana Medical Center - Medical Center of Louisiana; www.mclno.org; 2021 Perdido St (Perdido Street); 24 hours. There is an emergency department.
Transport
To/from the airport
There is an information desk in the A&B lobby. Airport bus (Tel: 866-596-2699; www.airportshuttleneworleans.com; $20 per person one way) drives people to hotels in the city center. Jefferson Transit (Jefferson Transit) (Tel: 504-364-3450; www.jeffersontransit.org; adults $2), road E2, the bus waits for passengers outside at Gate 7 on the upper level of the airport; stops at Ealine Highway (Airline Hwy (Hwy 61)) on the way to town (terminus at Tulane and Loyola Avenues). After 7:00 pm travel only to Tulane and Carrollton Avenues in Mid-City; To get to the CBD, you need to drive 8.05 km through a bleak residential area, where you must change to a Regional Transport Authority bus (Regional Transit Authority (RTA)) - the best option for an unplanned transfer, especially if you are carrying luggage.
The cost of a trip to the city center by taxi is $33 for one or two passengers, another $14 for each additional passenger.
Car and motorcycle
It's worth driving if you want to explore what's beyond the block, but don't forget that parking within the block is a problem. Garage rental costs approximately $13 for the first three hours and $30 to $35 for 24 hours.
Public transport
Regional Office passenger transport (Regional Transit Authority) (RTA; www.norta.com) operates local buses. The fare for buses and trams is $1.25, plus 250 for transfers; express buses cost $1.50. You must pay in small change of the appropriate denomination (exactly). RTA tourist passes for one to three days cost $5/$12.
The RTA also operates tram lines. The historic St. Charles streetcar is only making a short circuit of the no CBD due to hurricane damage to the tracks in Uptown. The Canal Streetcar makes a long trip up Canal Street to City Park, stopping at Carrollton Avenue. The Riverfront Line runs 3.22 km along the waterfront from the Old US Mint, past Canal Street to the Convention Center (convention center/convention center) at the headwaters of the river back.
To order a taxi, call United Cabs (Tel: 504-522-9771; www.unitedcabs.com) or White Fleet Cabs (Tel: 504-822-3800).
You can rent a bike at Bicycle Michael's (Tel: 504-945-9505; www.bicyclemichaels.com; 622 Frenchmen St; daily rental $35; 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Mon., Tue., Thu.-Sat., 5:00 p.m. Sun.) in the suburb of Marigny.
Road there and back
New Orleans international Airport Louis Armstrong (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) (MSY; www.flymsy.com; 900 Airline Hwy) is located 17.70 km west of the city, mainly operating only domestic flights.
Union Passenger Terminal (Union Passenger Terminal) (Tel: 504-299-1880; 1001 Loyola Ave)- it contains a Greyhound (Greyhound) (Tel: 504-525-6075; 5:15-1:00 p.m. and 2:30-6:00 p.m.), from which buses regularly depart to Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) ($18 to $23, two hours), Memphis (Tennessee) ($63 to $79.11 hours) and Atlanta (Georgia) ($84 to $106, 12 hours). Amtrak (Amtrak) (Tel: 504-528-1610; ticket sales 5:45-10 p.m.)- trains are also operated by Union Passenger Terminal and travel to Jackson (Mississippi), Memphis (Tennessee), Chicago (Illinois), Birmingham (Alabama), Atlanta (Georgia), Washington (Columbia region), New York City, Los Angeles (California) and Miami (Florida).
New Orleans is one of the largest cities in the United States and a very attractive tourist destination. His geographical features and a vibrant mix of cultures have resulted in a distinctive style that combines French, Spanish, Caribbean, African and American influences. Moreover, even a long stay in this city is fraught with more and more new discoveries: colorful parades, colorful street vendors, special architecture, Creole gardens and much more.
New Orleans is the birthplace of American opera, jazz music and Louis Armstrong himself! It is worth noting that the Americans themselves nicknamed this city “foreign”, since in spirit it is more similar to European, and most of all, French.
It must be said that after Hurricane Katrina, some suburban neighborhoods of New Orleans are still in a rather depressing state. However, the main part of it, on the contrary, looks as if no disaster ever happened.
Region |
Louisiana State |
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Population |
343,829 (2010) |
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Population density |
759 people/km² |
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$, USD (American dollar) |
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Timezone |
UTC-5 in summer |
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Postal code |
70112-70119,70121, 70131,70139-70143,70145,70146,70148-70154,70156, 70167,70170,70172,70174-70179,70181 70190,70195 |
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International dialing code |
Climate and weather
In New Orleans, the weather conditions are formed by a humid subtropical climate, characterized by mild winters and hot summers. The average temperature in January is +11...+ 17 °C, and in July - +26...+33 °C. The average annual precipitation is 1630 mm, with the bulk of it occurring in the summer, with October being the driest month.
The best time to travel to New Orleans is considered to be from late November to June.
Nature
Located in the southwestern United States, New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana. It lies on the picturesque banks of the river Mississippi, not far from its confluence with Gulf of Mexico. In the north the city is bordered by a lake Pontchartrain, and in the east - with the above-mentioned bay. total area New Orleans is 907 km², of which only 51% is land.
Attractions
In New Orleans, almost every neighborhood is an island of unique culture with important historical monuments. One of the most interesting places became a magnificent French Quarter with many beautiful mansions. The street is considered its center Bourbon, where popular nightlife spots, restaurants and luxury hotels are located. Among other attractions in this area, it is necessary to highlight Jackson Square with Saint Louis Cathedral, which is made in the original architectural style. Also worth noting French market and New Orleans Mint, which now houses a museum.
Well, in general, in New Orleans there is a huge number of different cultural institutions, galleries and exhibition centers. For example, an interesting collection is collected in National Museum Second World War. Also very noteworthy Contemporary Arts Center, where exhibitions of talented artists, photographers and sculptors are constantly held. In addition, it is recommended to visit:
- The New Orleans Museum of Art, which houses a rich collection of paintings from various eras,
- Museum of Religion,
- Ogden Museum of Southern Art,
- Museum of Family and Children,
- Museum of Nature,
- Mardi Gras Festival Museum.
Other attractions worth mentioning are:
- Old Ursuline Convent Monastery,
- ancient cemeteries of Saint Louis and Matairie,
- Federal Memorial Hall,
- bridge over Lake Pontchartrain,
- Tulane University Complex,
- mysterious Voodoo Temple.
In the vicinity of the city you can also find several interesting historical sites, for example, the town Shalmitt, where a battle took place in 1815, led by the famous General E. Jackson.
Nutrition
With over a thousand restaurants, bars and cafes, New Orleans is a true gourmet haven. Moreover, local establishments offer a wide variety of cuisine: European, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, etc. However, the most popular here are restaurants specializing in Creole dishes, brought here by the first colonists. In such establishments, first of all, it is recommended to try “ gumbo"(stewed seafood and vegetables with rice), " jambalaya"(ham with sausages, rice and tomatoes), " etoufi" (stew) and red beans. In addition, in New Orleans you can always enjoy a variety of seafood dishes, such as crab soup, baked oysters, fried shrimp and mussels.
Also the pride of local chefs is “ beignets"(a kind of donuts) and " muffulettas"(original sandwiches). It is worth noting that the desserts here are also not at all similar to the American ones: buns, croissants, cakes, popsicles and ice cream.
The most common beverages include fruit and vegetable juices, milkshakes, sodas, iced tea and coffee. If we talk about alcohol, then it has a wide choice: from first-class bourbon to specific beer.
Accommodation
New Orleans has a wide variety of hotels and hotels, both old and recently opened. They are located mainly in the central part of the city, since some suburban areas have still not been fully restored after Hurricane Katrina. The cost of living, as elsewhere, depends on the category of the establishment, as well as its location. The city has many very cozy and very inexpensive hotels that are scattered throughout its territory, for example, Queen & Crescent Hotel(from $45) or O'Keefe Plaza Hotel(from $67). Also here, as in any major American city, there are luxury hotels ( Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans) and budget hostels ( AAE Bourbon House Mansion).
Entertainment and relaxation
Except historical places and museums, New Orleans has a number of different entertainment venues, so you definitely won’t get bored in this city. For example, there is a magnificent zoo here Audubon, where animals live in spacious enclosures that fully correspond to their natural habitat. Not far from the zoo there is a city aquarium Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, offering a variety of colorful fish, as well as an interesting collection of birds, frogs and giant sea turtles. Those who prefer to spend time in nature should definitely visit the beautiful with many ancient trees, benches, gazebos and walking paths. Moreover, it is ideal not only for a relaxing pastime, but also for active sports. It is worth noting that in order to explore it completely, you will need at least a whole day. Smaller but no less beautiful is Audubon Park, which boasts numerous fountains and statues, as well as lush vegetation. In addition, it is perfectly equipped for cycling, walking and walking. Fans of eco-tourism and hiking are recommended to visit National Park Jean Lafitte with many tourist routes, and for nature lovers - Botanical Garden New Orleans Botanical Gardens, on the territory of which there is a wonderful collection of roses, orchids, ferns and other exotic plants.
In addition, New Orleans can boast of an abundance of discos, nightclubs, bars, pubs and jazz clubs that are open until dawn.
Purchases
For those who love shopping, New Orleans is ready to offer a large selection of a wide variety of stores offering all kinds of goods: from the most ordinary to the very original. First of all, it is recommended to go to French Quarter, where the most popular shopping, luxury boutiques, jewelry stores and souvenir shops are concentrated. Also in this area there is a colorful French market, simply amazing with the abundance and selection of its products. Moreover, you can walk for hours through its rows, where merchants offer various delicacies, art objects, clothes, dishes, original items and much more. It is worth noting that prices in this market are very attractive.
In addition, it is worth visiting shopping centers Riverwalk And Oakwood Center, within the walls of which there is a great variety of shops and fashion boutiques. In addition, high-quality fashionable clothing, accessories and much more can be found in stores on Jackson Brewery.
The city will also appeal to lovers of art and antiquity, as there are many antique salons and small galleries of young artists scattered throughout the city. In general, in New Orleans there are a large number of very interesting and rather unusual shops, for example, a voodoo goods store The Island of Salvation Botanica, where a mysterious and slightly terrifying atmosphere reigns. Moreover, voodoo dolls are considered one of the main souvenirs of the city, and the memory of the voodoo queen Marie Laveau is still alive here. Other popular souvenirs include colorful carnival costumes, masks and jewelry, which are sold in both specialized and regular stores.
Transport
The main public transport in New Orleans is red trams, whose routes run along the central streets of the city. They go quite often and always strictly adhere to the schedule. The fare on the tram is about $1.7.
In addition to trams, you can move around the city by buses, which are available almost 24/7 on weekdays, although they run a little less frequently on weekends. Travel tickets are sold at special kiosks and from drivers; their cost is also $1.7.
It is worth noting that for lovers of excursions it will be most convenient to travel on foot, since almost all the main tourist sites are located very close to each other.
Connection
There are telephone booths installed on all the streets of New Orleans, allowing you to make a call to any city in the world. Negotiations are paid for with coins and telephone cards, which can be purchased at any large store or post office.
Mobile communications are provided through a huge number of operators, and roaming is available to all tourists. It is worth noting that in the United States for the full functioning of communication it is necessary tri-band telephone.
Internet access is provided in almost all hotels and public institutions. In addition, there are a great variety of free and paid Wi-Fi access points.
Safety
Despite the mixture of different cultures and nationalities, for tourists, staying in New Orleans does not involve any serious dangers or troubles. At the same time, you should never forget about the basic rules of caution. For example, you should not carry large sums of money or very valuable things with you, and in public places you should be wary of pickpockets.
Business climate
New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and the most important industrial center with its own port on the river Mississippi. The city's economy is mainly based on shipping and trade, with most local companies involved in shipbuilding, logistics and transport. In addition, New Orleans is major center petrochemical and oil refining industries, since a huge amount of oil is produced in the Gulf of Mexico and processed at enterprises in this region.
Real estate
The consequences of Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans, are still being felt, as this disaster caused enormous damage to the city, estimated at several tens of billions of dollars. However, today, after a long period of stagnation, the demand for local real estate is beginning to increase. Moreover, both newly built new buildings and old houses are popular here. Currently, you can buy an average-sized home for about $85,000, but the cost of houses damaged by the hurricane is still very low. However, in the future, analysts predict an increase in prices for all residential properties in the city.
New Orleans is home to a wide variety of music festivals and lavish celebrations:
- Essence Festival,
- Sugar bowl,
- International Jazz Festival,
- Southern Decadence,
- Dog Parade,
- Voodoo Music Festival, etc.
The main local festival, which is definitely recommended to attend, is Mardi Gras. It takes place every Tuesday before Catholic Lent and is a lush and colorful carnival. This holiday is very similar to the Slavic Maslenitsa and also symbolizes farewell to winter.
So I got to city of New Orleans- left behind and NY, And Chicago, And American West Coast cities, and amazing National parks states of Utah, Arizona and Nevada - it’s time to finally “slow down” a little and relax in largest city state of Louisiana, known for its easy approach to life, and then with renewed vigor rush to Miami and further along East Coast of the USA.
Upon arrival in New Orleans, a little adventure awaited me at the motel that I had pre-booked through Booking.com. The fact is that in the interval between booking and my arrival there, I happened to change my credit card. The hotel, on the eve of my check-in, tried to write off money for my stay and failed. And, without thinking twice, he put someone in the room reserved for me, and upon arrival I was offered the most shabby and wretched closet that they had unoccupied. Of course, there was a small and slightly obscene disagreement with the motel staff and, as compensation for the “moral damage” I suffered, I was offered to stay in their sister-hotel of a higher class for the same money. In short, everything ended well, because the original hotel turned out to be an outright homeless place. True, later the cleaning lady at the new hotel cut my towel, but I don’t think there was any malicious intent in this - it was just that it was also white and I hung it in the bathroom to dry. Well, she decided that it needed to be replaced - and took it away along with the hotel towels. However, attempts to find him and return him were unsuccessful.
…The next morning I slept off after my driving adventures in Monument Valley, Grand Canyon And Antelope Canyon, so I crawled out for a walk around the city closer to lunch. First impression: it’s not for nothing that the city of New Orleans is called “carefree” in America, I immediately really liked it, there is some kind of right “vitamin” in its air - it’s somewhat similar to Cuban Havana, albeit very distantly. The city is just as cheerful and un-Americanly goofy, at least in the area of the famous French Quarter. One of the most famous nicknames of the city of New Orleans is The Big Easy. Its exact origin is unknown, however, it very accurately reflects the special relaxed atmosphere of the city, carefreeness and ease of perception of life.
The climate in New Orleans is tropical, in mid-October plus 30, which is not surprising, since the city is located at the latitude of Florida, almost on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. After the cold weather in the higher elevations of Arizona and Utah, it was a pleasure to wander around in shorts and bask in the sun. The abundance of tipsy citizens with bottles in their hands is striking (New Orleans is one of the few cities in America where open drinking on the streets is not punishable). In addition, the distinct smell of weed was detected on multiple occasions.
Besides alcohol, New Orleans is a city jazz, Mardi Gras carnival(Mardi Gras - “Fat Tuesday” or, in our opinion, Maslenitsa) and blacks: According to statistics, as of 2013, African Americans made up 58.9% of the total population. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, demographers predicted dramatic changes in the city's population structure: according to their data, after the consequences of the disaster were eliminated, only 30% of evacuees returned to New Orleans; the lion's share of those who returned are wealthy whites - blacks simply do not have the money to start over and they are forced to live where the authorities evacuated them. But so far, visually there are much more blacks in New Orleans than in those US cities where I have been before - but this fact rather adds exoticism, a feeling of not giving a damn and an easy perception of life, rather than causing any problems and inconveniences. The blacks here are very relaxed, good-natured and friendly - a couple of times, however, someone came up to me and began to theatrically rub in about their hard life in the hope of getting a couple of dollars for their story.
But still, as in many other places in America, it is advisable to exercise reasonable caution in New Orleans - the city is considered quite criminal and as you move away from the city center, areas quickly turn into ghettos. Unless absolutely necessary, it is better not to wander into the suburbs of Martigny and Bywater, to the southern part of Magazine Street, beyond Laurel Street (Laurel St) and north of Rampart Street (Lakeside). But there is no need to become paranoid either - according to police statistics, the vast majority of crimes occur among those who previously knew each other. The most important thing: do not wander around the slums with an expensive DSLR and do not count hundred-dollar bills in the light of a lonely lantern. In principle, it is absolutely not necessary to go to all of the above unsafe places - there is nothing special to see there, all the most interesting things in New Orleans are concentrated inside the so-called “old square” (Vieux Carre), the heart of which, in turn, is the world famous French Quarter.
French Quarter of New Orleans:
The famous Bourbon street, the main street and semantic center:
Houses with cast iron balconies - along with a unique atmosphere, are a symbol of New Orleans:
Bourbon Street New Orleans is home to an abundance of cafes, bars, strip clubs and fun-loving people. Prostitution in Louisiana, as in most other states, is officially prohibited, as is repeatedly reminded by advertisements in hotels and other public places (listing penalties for violating this law). Despite the ban, this phenomenon is clearly thriving here.
Bourbon Street looks even more interesting in the evening and at night, when saloons, jazz cafes, strip clubs and just taverns open, and it itself is filled with tipsy, cheerful people.
South of the riotous Bourbon Street runs parallel to it Piano(Royal), street of art galleries and street musicians:
To get into the right mood, even a teetotaler needs to explore the authentic drinking establishments of the French Quarter. Most bars are open every day, usually from noon until ten at night, and many are open all night. If there is live music, they may ask for an additional fee to attend. Despite some alcohol liberalism, the laws of the state of Louisiana still do not encourage drinking alcohol on the streets, so all bars hand out plastic travel glasses to those visitors who want to continue their walk through the hot spots and drinking places.
If you have strong nerves and are not superstitious, I recommend visiting Voodoo History Museum, located on Bourbon Street, between Dumaine and St. Ann.
In addition to Bourbon Street, another “center of gravity” in the French Quarter is Jackson Square(Jackson Square) on the southern outskirts, between Chartres Street and the Mississippi River, where there is a particularly high concentration of street musicians, artists and tarot card readers. To the north of the square rises Basilica of Saint Louis:
Monument to the founder of the city of New Orleans (Nouvelle Orleans) Jean Baptiste le Moine de Bienville:
The Frenchman chose a very good place for the new city: by the beginning of the American Civil War New Orleans rounded out the top four largest ports in the world.
Basic life in French Quarter of New Orleans concentrated between the street Channel(Canal) in the west, street Dauphin(Dauphine) in the north, street Orleans(Orleans) on the east and street Decatur(Decatur) in the south. South of Decatur goes Mississippi River, and one of the lines runs between Decatur Street and the embankment old tram- another attraction of New Orleans.
This type of urban transport was glorified in the play Tennessee Williams "A Streetcar Named Desire". You can take the tram at a stop located near the former Carondelet Canal and travel along St. Charles Avenue through the Park District, the bourgeois part of New Orleans. It was here that the “new Americans” who got rich from the sugar trade built their homes, while the Creoles and other poorer city dwellers settled in the Old Quarter. Spacious estates surrounded by parks with palm trees, oaks and magnolias have survived to this day. Particularly beautiful buildings from the era of the “Sugar Kings of Louisiana” can be seen on Prytanea Street. The Park District is located southwest of the French District and is bordered by Warehouse Street and three avenues: Louisiana, St. Charles and Jackson.
Walking around New Orleans, I didn’t find any reminders of the sensational Hurricane Katrina, at least not in the city center. Since New Orleans is surrounded by water on three sides (the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, Lake Pontchartrain) and, moreover, most of it is below or at sea level, since its founding by the French colonists, the famous Caribbean hurricanes have been a constant “headache” for residents and authorities. New Orleans experienced a mini-apocalypse in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina damaged its levees and flooded about 80% of the city. But, fortunately, the French and Park Quarters, as well as other parts of the old city center located on a hill, were not damaged by the elements. And if the French Quarter survived, it means that everything is in order with New Orleans itself - and in 2006, one of the carnival carts at Mardi Gras was decorated with the inscription: “Hello, Katrina, the party is starting!”
Another impression from New Orleans: the food here is delicious! Which is not surprising, since the city was founded by famous gourmets - the French. The mixture of French cuisine with black and local influences has given the world a very original and interesting Creole cuisine - and the city of New Orleans is one of the most suitable places to get acquainted with it. At least, after the rest of America with its total dominance of hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, New Orleans is just “some kind of holiday” - as Karabas-Barabas said. In this sense, I can recommend trying the crab cake in a cafe on French market(French Market) near Mississippi Riverfront and turtle soup (although the soup is very much for everyone):
In addition, Creole cuisine was influenced by the culinary traditions of the Cajuns - immigrants from Canada, who, according to Creoles, eat everything that floats, flies and stands on legs - except ships, airplanes and chairs. Connoisseurs of local culinary art recommend trying jambalaya(jambalaya) is a Creole version of paella and gumbo(gumbo) – vegetable stew with okra pods. In general, a Creole dish tastes better the more difficult it is to identify its ingredients.
You can also sit in the 24-hour Cafe du Monde, located on a real French terrace and treating visitors to real brewed coffee (and not espresso diluted with boiling water - this gastronomic incident is very common in America, and in Europe it is so and is called: Americano) and beignets - square-shaped pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. At all, French market and the place itself is colorful and worthy of attention: the usual indoor agricultural market is successfully complemented by shops, shops and summer restaurants, where the indispensable New Orleans jazz sounds.
In addition to the French Quarter, the attractions of the city of New Orleans include the Mississippi embankment with its monument to immigrants:
...After walking through the French Quarter of New Orleans, I bought a ticket for a two-hour ride along the Mississippi on an authentic paddle steamer Natchez the next day ($27.50, departs twice daily, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.). If you take a boat trip with lunch, it will cost 38.50 bucks.
What else to see in New Orleans and its surroundings
Remember Mark Twain: down the Mississippi on a paddle steamer. In the morning I took the bus to the intersection of Canal and Basin streets, and from there I walked through the French Quarter to the Natchez steamboat landing (located at the end of Toulouse Street). At 11:30, the steamboat set sail and for two hours took vacationers along the symbol of the American South: the great Mississippi River, first east, towards the Gulf of Mexico and the seaport, and then back to the city. My impressions: without much enthusiasm. That is, the ship itself, of course, is interesting and you could even go into the engine room (they say that the ship’s bell is cast from 150 silver dollars, which is the key to its “purest sound”), but the landscapes on both banks of the Mississippi during the walk are somewhat disappointed. There was something worthy of a camera only at the very end, when we sailed past downtown New Orleans and past Natchez’s competitor, the Creole Queen steamship: 
The rest of the time, the banks of the Mississippi were dominated by a dull industrial landscape - docks, warehouses, an oil depot...
The guide spoke with pride about the oil depot on the ship's radio: they say, Louisiana in general and the city of New Orleans in particular are very industrialized places, how much GDP is forged there and other similar garbage. Personally, this would be interesting to me if I came there to look for work. And as a tourist, the oil depot only spoiled the view of the surrounding area. In general, in my opinion, a paddle steamer trip on the Mississippi is not worth the time and money. O Well, unless you’ve already seen everything in the city of New Orleans itself and you have absolutely nothing to do in it.
If you are a fan of long river trips, then in New Orleans you have the opportunity to purchase a tour along the Mississippi for ten days - with stops along the way to the Midwest in the cities of Memphis and Natchez and a final point in the city in St. Louis (Missouri) .
Excursion to the Louisiana Swamps
Having disembarked from the ship, I decided to slightly correct the impression that had formed and, having reached Canal Street, there I purchased a Swamp tour at a discount - an excursion to the wetlands stretching between New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Its unique ecosystem is home to alligators, pelicans and other interesting animals. The price of the tour at a street agency was 52 bucks, I bought it at a discount for 45. I can safely recommend this excursion to everyone who is interested in nature and wildlife. First, we were taken by bus for about forty minutes to a certain nature reserve, then we were loaded into a large boat and rode along the rivers and streams in this swampy area for an hour and a half:
On the way we saw alligators - they swam very close to the boat and the guide fed them some special sugar gingerbread.
According to him, alligators are very peaceful creatures and in order for them to attack you, you need to really “get them” with something.
Famous local pelicans (I don’t know what exactly they are famous for, but they were almost made into the emblem of the state of Louisiana):
I personally liked this second excursion much more than the paddle steamer trip on the Mississippi - but that’s all about taste and color...
The latest in women's fashion in New Orleans: a lady in a cap “a la Gleb Zheglov”
— I’ve seen these often over the past few days in the city :-) by the way, I’ve never seen men in caps.
How to get to New Orleans
By plane: There are currently no direct flights between Russian cities and New Orleans, so you will have to fly with at least one transfer - in New York or in one of the European hubs; The minimum price for a round trip ticket (two transfers) is approximately $600.
To search for flights to Las Vegas, you can use this search form:
By train: From the largest cities in the United States, New Orleans can be reached by Amtrak train (1001 Loyola avenue); schedules and prices can be found on the website www.amtrak.com.
By bus: New Orleans is connected to other US cities by a network of Greyhound routes. Buses arrive and depart from the station located at 1001 Loyola avenue. To check the schedule and purchase tickets, visit www.greyhound.com.
How to get from New Orleans airport to downtown
The region's main airport is Louis Armstrong International Airport. Louis Armstrong International Airport(www.flymsy.com) is located in the suburb of Kenner, you can get from the airport to the city by bus E2, a ticket costs $2, the stop is located next to exit 7 of the airport on the second (upper) level - next to the check-in counter Delta Airways. Along the way the bus stops on Airline Highway (Highway 61) final stop at Tulane and Loyola Avenue. After 7:00 p.m., the bus only goes to Tulane and Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City. The cost of a trip to the city center by taxi is $35-40 for one or two passengers, another $15 for each additional passenger.
Life hack: how I save on hotels and insurance
In addition to traditional and well-known tools - such as Booking or Hotellook, new online services have recently appeared that make the life of a traveler much easier and pleasantly protect the thickness of his wallet. One of them - Roomguru– I use it myself all the time and recommend it to all my friends and acquaintances. This service compares prices for an object in 30 booking systems at once and offers you the most interesting options. In addition, it tracks discounts and special offers.
As for good working travel insurance, it was not easy to find before, but now it has become even more difficult due to the constant jumps in the exchange rate of the ruble against world currencies. For the last few years, I have been purchasing insurance for my travels through an online service - here you can compare the products of different insurers and choose what suits you best:
More articles about the USA:
The history of the development of New Orleans is closely connected with many cultures: French, Spanish, American, African American, German, Irish and others.
La Nouvelle Orléans (New Orleans) was founded by the French in 1718. With an important strategic location, New Orleans is located near the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The rivers of the Midwest, flowing into the Mississippi, form a grand transportation system. Trade in industrial goods, consumer goods and agricultural products was (and remains) very profitable and convenient thanks to relatively cheap river transport. Cargo exported from the United States was transported to numerous ports in New Orleans, where it was unloaded, stored, and then transported to ships to the Gulf of Mexico. In the same way, goods imported to the United States pass through New Orleans.
The city received its name in honor of the French regent Philippe d'Orleans, who in turn received the title thanks to the French city of Orleans. Spain gained control of New Orleans by 1763, but France regained control in 1801. Napoleon Bonaparte, in dire straits, sold France's colonial possessions (Louisiana) in 1803 to the United States. Thus, the area of the United States doubled, and English-speaking settlers poured into the city. The new residents clashed with the native French-speaking population living in the French quarter and settled along Canal Street in what is today the Central Business District.
In 1815, an important battle of significant historical significance took place near the French Quarter. The Battle of New Orleans was the main battle of the Anglo-American War of 1812-1815. The British tried to take control of the strategically important New Orleans, restrict trade and undermine the US economy. The surrender of New Orleans to the British would greatly reduce the value of the acquisition of Louisiana, however, the combined forces of the Americans (army, armed citizens, former slaves and even pirates under the command of Jean Lafitte) defeated the British troops.
Historically, New Orleans became the largest slave-holding center. Two-thirds of the more than a million slaves who came to the southern United States passed through the slave market, and the city became the main beneficiary of this business. Slave labor was actively used on cotton and sugarcane plantations, which large quantities were located in the region.
By 1830, the French-speaking population remained in the majority in New Orleans. By this time there was a large influx of German and Irish immigrants. By the end of the 19th century, the use of French had declined significantly.
By 1840, with the population doubling, New Orleans was considered the wealthiest city in the country. Overall, by the mid-19th century, New Orleans had reached the peak of its economic prosperity. However, further development railways and the explosive growth of cities west coast led to the fact that the importance of New Orleans began to decrease.
In the 20th century, other cities in the US South (Atlanta, Dallas, Houston) overtook New Orleans in population. The city's economy had always been based more on trade than industry, but after World War II the industrial sector shrank even further. In 1960, the largest population of the city was recorded - 627 thousand. Subsequently, the number invariably decreased, which is not typical for southern cities.
Since the second half of the 20th century, relations between white and black populations have become strained. Like most major cities America, New Orleans experienced the “white flight” effect, when white residents left the city and moved to calm and safe suburbs. Over time, New Orleans became an increasingly black city, with enormous differences in education and income levels between white and black populations. Growing poverty was accompanied by rising crime.
At the end of August 2005, New Orleans experienced a tremendous shock when it was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Most of the city's residents evacuated in advance, but dams and engineering structures could not cope with the flooding and 80% of New Orleans was flooded. The total number of victims in Louisiana is estimated at 1,500. Most of the New Orleans residents who left the city never returned. In the summer of 2006, there were 223 thousand people in the city - half as many as before the hurricane. The enormous damage caused to the city has not yet been restored. As of 2010, New Orleans has a population of 343 thousand.
