More New Orleans--and it just got so much better

This is our first day in New Orleans.  I am second line dancing during the Treme Gumbo Festival in Louis Armstrong Park.  So in the moment, I love it and don't want to stop.

One of the many bands that played during the Treme Gumbo Festival.  They were great, young, spirited, talented, and multi ethnic as well. 

It took us a while, but we finally got to Antoine's Restaurant, the oldest continually operated restaurant in the US.  Operated by the same family for 167 years.  Now, that's tradition.

Dinner at Antoine's can be pricey, but lunch Monday to Saturday is $20.13 for a price fixed meal.   We began with salad, Oysters Rockefeller, or Alligator bisque, followed by a choice of three entrees (Chicken Toulouse, stuffed fish, or shrimp and grits), then dessert (pecan bread pudding, chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce, or pumpkin cheesecake).  And--all the martinis you could drink for $.25 each

Pecan bread pudding

Interior of St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.  New Orleans was a catholic city until 1803.  Strong influence of the church remains.  Under the church's rules slaves were treated much better than they were under the Americans.

National Historical Jazz Park free concert in the former US Mint.  Had a taste of Zydeco music as well as more standard New Orleans sounds.

Copy of the documents for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.  This purchase from Napolean ($15,000,000 borrowed from the British and the Dutch) doubled the size of the US.

Chicken Toulouse

Street Music in Jackson Square--and there's lots of it.