Skip to main content

Life and art in the 7th ward of New Orleans

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Airbnb.  The opportunity to stay in local residents' homes and experience a taste of what it is like to live in a city is invigorating for me.   In fact when I do research for an upcoming trip I always check airbnb first. So when we decided to go to New Orleans we both wanted to do it on a budget.  I discovered a darling little shotgun house in the 7th ward that got rave reviews.  Both June and I thought it looked awesome so I went ahead and booked it.  We never regretted our decision.  Miriam, our airbnb host was a sweetheart and the house was spotless. We were able to walk or take a bus to the French Quarter.  In the evening we would normally get a ten dollar taxi ride back to our little home.  I loved the diversity of the neighbourhood.

So here we go on another walk...around the 7th ward and into the beginnings of the Treme neighbourhood.

 Above is the house where we stayed...so full of character.  We loved it!!

What seems to be a typical duplex home in the 7th ward.



This was along Esplanade Avenue which is the division between the 7th and 8th ward.

 A quirky trio of colourful houses along Esplanade - technically the 8th ward...
An elegant home on the 7th ward side of Esplanade Avenue.

Alrighty then....

This was protesting something....can't remember what...but thought it was pretty cool.

Another artwork of protest


 Back in the 1950's when the suburbs became THE place to live (sadly destroying inner cities) they needed a way for the almighty vehicle to transport the suburban residents home quickly.  Thus was born the North Clairborne Expressway cutting through a neighbourhood described as the following:  Settled in the heart of New Orleans, a once thriving commercial district filled with cafes and restaurants, grocers, music venues, and other businesses sustaining daily neighborhood activities lined the streets of North Claiborne Avenue. Giant oak trees and greenery loomed in the middle of the boulevard, creating a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, acting as a congregation center connecting one side of the town to the other. The area became so integral to the surrounding neighborhoods of Tulane/Gravier, Tremé/Lafitte and the 7th Ward that some of the earliest Mardis Gras parades ended with large celebrations up and down North Claiborne Avenue. It was the ultimate display of public space. Source: Wikpedia  I have just read that there was damage sustained to the freeway bridge during Katrina and they are considering now tearing them down.  Whether that will restore the area to its former glory is anyone's guess.  In the meantime beautiful artwork on the pillars depicts what the area must have been like before this monstrosity cut its swath across the area.   











Interesting murals on a local music venue taken from two different angles..

While staying in the 7th ward isn't for everyone  I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing a local New Orleans neighbourhood.

Comments

Sammi said…
Wow! That art work is incredible.

It makes me so sad that people are still suffering the effects of Katrina so much later.
March 14, 2014 at 4:15 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A walk from Westminster to St Paul's Cathedral

I have decided to put the Thames Path on hold until I am back in London next month and we have more Spring like weather...I will be going into a more rural area that is prone to flooding as well.  I am staying at about five miles maximum a day as well...my knees and feet have been giving me major grief so I am not pushing myself. However that doesn't mean I don't want to walk.  One of my favourite British Walking Federation walks is one that starts at Westminster tube station and covers 10km to St Katherines Docks just east of the Tower of London.  Yesterday I walked as far as St Paul's and will do the rest of the walk in the next couple of days.  Normally I do this entire 10 km walk my first day in London but not this time... So here are some of the highlights along the way....what a gorgeous day it was.  A different view of Big Ben Can you believe this was my first time on Parliament Square Another hero on Parliament Square Classic ...
1 comment
Read more

The Colourful houses of Mazatlan, Mexico

Well this isn't even Throwback Thursday and I am reminiscing about my (all too short) week in Mazatlan, Mexcico in January of 2010.  It was one of my best holidays EVER.  I stayed in a delightful little hotel called La Siesta which was on the waterfront in the central part of town.(known as centro) overlooking the ocean.   I walked around the town photographing buildings, ocean views, dogs....visited the Mercado, attended a fantastic Flamenco dance performance in the restored Teatro (theatre), toasted the sunset with a beer from my balcony every evening and ate at some wonderful restaurants.  I also took a couple of day trips which were okay but my time in Mazatlan overshadowed anything else I did. My one foray into the Gold (tourist) Zone left me horrified and scampering back to my beloved Centro.  And did I mention I did this as a solo trip?  Mexico has had a lot of bad press lately and while there ARE bad things going on there I still believe the average...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cowboys and Outlaws in the Big Muddy of Saskatchewan

One of the (very) few advantages of being stuck at home during this pandemic has been an opportunity to see more of my home province of Saskatchewan.  Last summer and fall not only did I do a couple of day trips with friends but I took four day tours with Engelheim transport, a local Regina company.   I have to admit my favourite day out was the "Big Muddy Valley and Outlaws" tour. While I had been to the Big Muddy previously many years back I was eager to revisit and learn more of its history.   So in early October, I hopped on board and off we went.  The bus is only booked to half capacity so it was easy to social distance, hand gel was a must each time we boarded the bus,  masks were required when you got on and off the bus and in any buildings we visited.  I felt totally safe and oh my, it was so good to have an adventure!!  Despite the name the Big Muddy isn't a big huge puddle of mud but a valley of badlands that were formed from a glac...
Post a Comment
Read more