The Creole Queen - paddleboat on the Mississippi

Streetcar

Ride on a paddlesteamer on the Mississippi. Very big brown river! The rain had gone this morning, but it was cold, with a big wind, which got worse when the boat got going...We had packed full winter coats, then thought we'd overpacked, then realised that we were needing every last layer. Apparently we were visiting in a bit of a cold snap. Typical.

Paddlesteamer went up the Mississippi for half an hour, then we visited the site of the Battle for New Orleans, where Andrew Jackson, future president of USA, led a rag tag army of locals and pirates (free pardon for all in return for use of their extensive weaponry and huge numbers) against the British, who had finished burning Washington DC, failed to take Fort McHenry in Baltimore, and were now trying for a tail-end victory over New Orleans. The boat trip included a local 'historian'/storyteller giving a commentary of the history of the development of New Orleans, and retelling the battle, so it was much more interesting than visiting an empty field and reading some signboards.

The afternoon was spent fruitlessly walking down Frenchmans Street, the plan being to find a pub that was playing music we liked and to sit and watch it. The problem - they all had video gaming, which meant that anyone under 21 was not allowed in. The other problem - our kids tended to listen to maybe 1.5 songs, then lose interest and loudly ask to go, even when we found a place where we could sit outside. Lesson learned - don't bother with Frenchman St with under 21 year olds. Just go to Jackson square and see what buskers are around.