I had the opportunity to visit New Orleans the year before the disasters of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating in history. I wrote this story on the occasion of my 2004 solo trip to the US.

Of New Orleans, the atmosphere is very nice; if you walk around the non-touristy streets, everyone you meet says hello. It’s nice the casino (I walked around there without playing, but the building is really curious). While I didn’t make time to see the aquarium and other attractions.

In general, one aspect that is striking me so much is the mixture of races and ethnicities, especially New York. But the natives, what we call Indians, are absolutely missing; I will have seen a couple of them in 2 weeks, to say they exterminated them gives you the idea.

To those who ask me what Americans think about Bush and Berlusconi and the war. One has a hard time getting an objective impression. I came across several stalls where they were collecting anti-Bush signatures. Maybe it’s because people who don’t vote Bush are more active, though. You have to keep in mind then that they are really very patriotic, and first and foremost there is the homeland and the guys in the war; so they go easy on criticism, they prefer to support whoever is over there.

There are many people who do not follow certain events, and maybe on TV they watch are entertainment programs. Stupid maybe more than ours, partly because we copy from them, so they get to certain nonsense sooner. Maybe there ‘s little critical sense, but is it that much better over here?

The long train ride to visit New Orleans

The trip to New Orleans took 25 hours. I spent them quite well. It was pleasant to see the change in flora as we descended in latitude. We passed through some great forests, while the weather inside the train was always polar. With fellow passengers, on the other hand, it did not go so well.

Initially I got a sleepless old lady. Until 3 a.m. she read a book while keeping the light on. It’s already not easy to spread out my 187 cm, then with some kind of headlight pointed at my face, the only one in the whole carriage on, right next to me.

In his place came Peter whom I will talk about later. But I also chatted with an exquisite math professor who was going from Atlanta to Los Angeles by train because she is afraid to fly (3 days of travel!) and a nice waitress in the dining car who claimed that the best ice cream in the world is made in Paris.

Around often you come across certain absurd arguments. Like those who claim that pizza was invented in America. If you ask them why it should be that way, they say because it’s good!

Meeting the first Italian live

I am in the old part of New Orleans, which, unlike almost all major American cities, still has the setting of the European founders, complete with a central square.

I saw a handmade chocolate seller, who, while making it, in addition to staging a little cabaret show (of course I didn’t understand anything, but everyone was laughing…) was working the chocolate with a kind of shovel on a marble table.

Usually when they know I am Italian everyone says: Uhao!! good food, Venice, Florence, Rome! wonderfull! . Then to change the subject I bring up the story of Pompeii, which most people don’t know, and some find hard to believe (that there are people turned into statues).

Instead, today the ticket girl at a museum (about the Normandy landings, very interesting! I was there for 4 hours) told me that I was the first Italian she had seen live. I replied to her that there are others from us, too.

New Orleans can be considered the capital of the Great South. I have always been so fascinated by this area, on the mouths of the mythical Mississippi. It’s in the parts of Gone with the Wind, Tom Soyer (did you see the cartoon with him running around in a cabin on a raft?!) and Interview with the Vampire.

Visiting New Orleans with the most boring German in the South.

Meeting the most boring German in the South, on the other hand, just happened to me. I had been told it was dangerous; it didn’t seem so to me. The unfortunate thing about the train was that the German I met was also coming here, and he is right in my hostel. So last night I took him with me a little bit.

He is a future doctor who resents Americans, especially their cuisine (on the other hand, in Stuttgart we eat well…). I never imagined that one day I would be walking around with someone in sandals and socks. While I had my cool new shirt (bought at a stall in China town) which was obviously a big hit (it stopped me at least a dozen people…).

In short, the Teutonic is a big ball-buster, cheap and lousy. After arguing about the price of the hostel, saying several times that he was tired, that it was expensive this and that, while telling me that he didn’t like all that mess, I thought: but how, I’m 31 years old and not only had I never been to Bourbon Street, but I hadn’t even heard of it… I’m just telling you that from now on, evenings in Milano Marittima, remembering this street, will seem even more incredibly boring.

Ps

Although I get by a little with my ramshackle English, every day that passes I envy more and more those who, know 4-5 languages well. I would like to understand more of what is around me..uffi….when I come back I will take a Spanish course!

Bourbon street evening

The evening on Bourbon street was the most fun of the trip, despite spending it alone. New Orleans was undoubtedly the positive surprise of the vacation. Especially the French Quartier is really beautiful with all the streets full of colorful houses, handcrafted wrought iron balconies,. It’s full of flowers and tropical plants, and it has really cute and unusual stores and establishments.

For a long time it was first under the rule of the French and then the Spanish. It was an important port overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and thus ready to take in the culture of the Central American countries as well as that of the African slaves who worked on the plantations around here. All this made it a very original city. The cuisine (Cajun) is really good and in these 2 days I really overdid the libations.

Bourbon street (where the nightlife is concentrated) is not a place of sin and perversion, simply an incredible succession of clubs with excellent live music (not just jazz) and cheerful people. There will be a few drunks and druggies, but at our place there may not be any!!!

A curious thing that there is here, but also in other American cities is that when you go to the bathroom sometimes there is a little man who assists you by turning on the faucet, handing you soap and a clean towel. Since then of course you have to tip him, and since I personally have been able to pee on my own for at least 28 years, this means that peeing in some places costs $1!!!

In visiting New Orleans, I also enjoyed the stores.

I, who usually hate shopping, also loved the stores, even the souvenir stores, which were really original and fun. To give an example, in one, in addition to crocodile heads to hang on the wall, there was also the butt of a deer (all fake).

Another store I liked was where they sold autographs of famous people. A signed Rolling stones record cost $2000, Einstein’s signature $3000, Churchill’s, Stalin’s and Roosevelt’s together after the Yalta treaty $5000. Then also unused guitars, but signed by famous musicians. The treat was the one signed by the Traveling Wilburis in full at $15,000.

In addition to a couple of T-shirts for me (see featured photo) I made a big mistake, I bought a cow, but this one is really nice: it flies! I didn’t go crazy, it has bat wings and it really flies.

Speaking of the jerseys, the black one needs no explanation. In the white one, a little faded, is me with a crocodile in my arms. In the orange one is the New Orleans police stamp authorizing me to be drunk for Mardi Grassy 2002.

I’m leaving New Orleans

The last moments in New Orleans were very meaningful. After chatting amiably with two ladies from Tennessee who also offered me some of their catfish, I was on my way to the station, but as I passed Bourbon street I fell in love with one who was singing in a pub; I couldn’t not go in.

Because they have real happy hours here, and that is 3-for-1, and because I was short on time, I had to drink 3 Buds in half an hour, also because, when the chick finished singing, a terrific band that I had already enjoyed the night before came on stage; my visit to New Orleans ended with the notes of Honky tonk woman by the Rolling Stones: perfect ending!!!

While tomorrow, I admit unconvinced, I will approach the Disney world….

Home Trip Tripping in the USA with Viro

Previous Stage Injured on the Road: Washington and Philadelphia

Next stop Go to Disney World, where Snow White gives autographs

Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent

Countries visited in my travel stories

Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives