Christmas in New Orleans, Louisiana

Eat, drink and be merry. Party Central, The Big Easy. New Orleans certainly lives up to its reputation. It is like Beale Street (Memphis), 42nd Street (New York City) and South Beach (Miami) all rolled into one. As you drive (or are stuck in traffic rather) from Bourbon St to Decatur St, music wafts from every corner. And the food, oh the food, from French to Cajun to Creole, they are to die for.

Visiting New Orleans without much cash on hand is a big problem. Many establishments, both small and large, DO NOT take credit cards, much to our surprise. So we didn't get to taste those yummy beignets at Cafe du Monde. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguse. Instead of being cramped into a tiny table with hordes of tourists, we found a much nicer alternative - Cafe Beignet on Bourbon Street. Its signature is spacious outdoor seating in a cozy little courtyard with a band playing traditional New Orleans jazz and Christmas songs. We savored some delicious gumbo, followed by mouth watering beignets with cafe au lait. We toasted to our luck in discovering this lovely place.

Christmas time is definitely a wonderful time to visit New Orleans. The weather is pleasant, the city dazzles with festive Christmas lights and decorations. There are Christmas concerts and carols in various parts of the city. This trip will go down in our family history book as one of the best places to spend an unforgettable Christmas holiday season. Wish you were here too!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, y'all!

Bourbon St at night
At the Royal Sonesta Hotel

A home in the garden district

The bustling Jackson SquareA Christmas holiday concert in St Louis Cathedral

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