We had a beautiful morning walk down Royal St across the entire French Quarter on our way to Washington Square in the Marigny District. The Creole land developer Bernard de Marigny laid out a development on his family's plantation on the Mississippi River but just outside of the New Orleans City limits. Elysian Fields Ave, named after the French Champs-Elysse runs through the area and was designed to be the main street of the Marigny. The Street is wide with an even wider median which used to contain the tracks of the Pontchartrain Railroad, a 6 mile line that ran from Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River. The Railroad stopped running in 1932 after 100 years of service. Large Live Oaks now occupy the median where the tracks once carried passenger and freight trains.
Parade Ladders
On our way to the Marigny we walked past sections of ladders lining the curbs along the Mardi Gras parade route. Families set these ladders up with a box on top for their kids to view the parade. Many ladders have family names claiming the ladder.
Ladders Line the Parade Route
Ladders Line the Parade Route
Sharon demonstrated for us how she used to climb the ladder as a young Mother with a child in hand to view the Mardi Gras parades.
Sharon explaining the ladders
On our walk down Royal there is plenty of beautiful New Orleans architecture in the buildings as well as interesting signs and balcony railings. The photo below is a good example with exquisite detail in the concrete, a beautiful old balcony iron railing and an almost art deco like sign advertising "K.C. Steaks". This looks like something from the art deco period of the 1930s. The Pearl has been open since the 1920s.
Art Deco Pearl Sign, a restaurant opened in the 1920s
When we came to St Peter St while still on Royal St we passed the locally owned Rouses Market, a Louisiana supermarket started by J. P. Rouse in 1923. The Company originally started as the City Produce Company and now is a small chain of Supermarkets with locations across Louisiana.
Rouses Market
We continued our walk past a series of beautiful buildings, all decorated for Mardi Gras,
905 Royal Hotel built in the 1890s
This little shotgun house is tucked between two taller French quarter buildings
A great example of iron balcony railings and nicely landscaped
Arriving at the corner of Governor Nichols St. and Royal we found the little market and deli, Verti Marte. This is the foodie place for an authentic New Orleans Po Boy and according to Sharon, the best in the City. Lines are long and is a lunch spot mostly for locals.
Verti Marte, Home of the Po Boy
Eventually the street takes on a different character as it becomes more residential and narrower. This row of colorfully painted shotguns is delightful.
Delightful Shotguns in the Marigny
Our short walk across the French Quarter ended in the Marigny at Washington Park. Our bicycles were waiting for us on the sidewalk complete with helmet.
Paul, Libbie and Anne outside Washington Park ready to bicycle the Marigny
Typical Neighborhood Bar and Store in the Marigny
Colorful Shotguns in the Marigny
Colorful Shotguns in the Marigny
On our bike ride we stopped to visit St Roche Chapel and Shrine. St Roche is nicknamed the patron Saint of good health. He was born in 1348 and ministered to victims of the Plague in Europe. When Yellow Fever struck New Orleans the pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church prayed to St Roche to protect his parish.. None of the parishioners of Holy Trinity contracted the disease. In honor of their good health attributed to St Roche during the Yellow Fever epidemic, the parishioners built the Shrine and Chapel dedicated to St Roche. The St Roche cemetery surrounds the chapel.
St Roche Cemetery, a typical above ground New Orleans cemetery
St Roche Chapel
We ended our bike tour at Maries Bar, a local neighborhood bar where the Bloody Mary was the best I ever had.
Maries Bar, Marigny
On the way back from our bike ride we stopped for lunch at BB Kings BBQ where there was a dance floor and a band. Cold beer and a BBQ sandwich got us in the mood for some swing dancing. The restaurant was full but nobody else was dancing. When the band was finished with their set they did the typical announcement of the names of the members of the band but then they thanked "the dancers", us!!!
BB King's Band and Dance floor
The trumpet player in the band had a voice like Louis Armstrong. I wish I caught more of him singing with my video. He was finishing up and soliciting tips. Listen to that voice!!!!
Iris Parade
On our way back from lunch we came across the parade of the Iris Crew. It was neat to see families and kids using the ladders we had seen earlier this morning.
Float from Crew of Iris
Kids using the ladders along the parade route
