Two Innkeepers Give First-hand Accounts of What Visitors Can Expect as the City Gears-up for post-Katrina Mardi Gras.
by: Mary White
BnBFinder.com recently spoke with two Bed and Breakfast owners in New Orleans about their experiences and impressions of their city in the aftermath of September’s hurricane disaster. Hopes are high and nearly all city-center businesses are up and running. In fact, all but two of the 15 New Orleans Bed and Breakfast Inns listed on BnBFinder.com are open for business. According to Innkeeper Al Hyman, the city’s bittersweet Jazz Funeral tradition epitomizes local sentiment best of all.
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Guy Fournier and his wife Nancy, only recently purchased and took-over operations at the Sully Mansion in the Garden district near to St. Charles Avenue, the French Quarter and Magazine Street. They are long-time New Orleans enthusiasts, deeply involved in the city’s fascinating particularities from Creole food to jazz. They had already been considering buying a Bed and Breakfast in New Orleans as their semi-retirement business for several years when Katrina hit. They had narrowed their search down to three existing licensed Inns and just after the hurricane; their estate agent urged them to consider purchasing Sully Mansion. After many sleepless nights in deliberation, the couple decided to invest in the city they love and become an active part of the reconstruction process. Now, just a month into full operation, they couldn’t be happier with their decision.
Guy immediately dispelled all the concerns about visiting New Orleans. Downtown businesses, restaurants and shops are in full operation. The airport and roads are open. Gas and groceries are plentiful. There is plenty of fresh water, the electricity is on, and there are no foul odors or epidemic illnesses whatsoever. So long as you stay in the oldest, well-known tourist areas of the city, you would not even be aware that a disaster of the magnitude of Katrina struck less than six months ago. Some areas such as boutique-and-gallery-lined Magazine Street are more lively and pristine than ever. The Sully Mansion is already fully booked for Mardi Gras (end of February) and looks forward to receiving first-time visitors and long-time New Orleans lovers for all occasions for years and years to come.
Al Hyman of Hotel St. Pierre in the French Quarter put the present situation in a poignant, historical context. The oldest parts of the city (founded in 1718 by French settlers) were built on the natural levees along the banks of the Mississippi. Because they are elevated the damage was of the 3 or 4 grade hurricane variety, but nothing close to the decimation by the floods in the outlying suburbs. The general look of these renowned neighborhoods is about the same as pre-Katrina except for a few restaurants yet to open, and parts of the streetcar route along St. Charles Avenue still closed for wire and road repairs. At last count there were about 150,000 of the original 500,000 residents back in the crescent shaped downtown, which includes the Central Business District, French Quarter, Uptown and Garden District. Al likened the more intimate feeling to that of the mid 1800′s when the population was about the same as it is today. He added that restaurants, bars and coffee houses are not only open but truly bustling with business. Reservations are required further in advance than before and lines in cafés are longer than ever (but are never too long). The most contagious thing by far is the buzz of optimism in the air.
Al expects Mardi Gras (weekend before through Feb 27) to be scaled down from previous years, but possibly even better for the sense of solidarity and renewal fostered by those who weathered the storm or have recently returned. He in no way diminishes the scope of the horrible tragedy and losses in the lowland wards cutting across all demographic and socio-economic lines, but emphasized how New Orleanians have a long-established tradition of mourning in a celebrative spirit, hence his reference to Jazz Funerals. Sorrow is expressed in beauty, especially beautiful music.
Also, the New Orleans that was rife with crime, poor schools, and a badly neglected infrastructure has a chance to redeem itself and continue in its long history of transforming tragedy into a rich culture of celebration rites created by the city’s unique blend of peoples, flavors and languages, open for all to enjoy.
It’s still easy to find a steaming plate of red beans and rice, genuine southern hospitality and all the comforts and charms offered by the most distinct city in America. Come on down!
New Orleans Bed & Breakfast inns can be found at http://www.bnbfinder.com/Louisiana-Bed-and-Breakfast
About The Author
Mary White is Founder of BnBFinder a bed & breakfast directory that lists numerous Bed & Breakfast Inns in New Orleans http://www.BnBFinder.com/Louisiana-Bed-and-Breakfast.
Easter In Austin Texas
April 12 millions of Christians will be celebrating Easter. After church service, many children will be on the hunt for colorful Easter eggs. Just how did the Easter Bunny appear in the Easter holiday?
The Easter Bunny hides painted eggs in the garden for children to find. It all began with the German and Dutch immigrants. The Easter Bunny was known as the Easter Hare. The name changed from “Hare” to “Rabbit” and this is how the name “Easter Bunny” came to be.
Spring is a new time of birth and both eggs and rabbits are symbols of new life. Rabbits, because this is when they are seen the most. Eggs are symbols because that is what they contain.
Many families celebrate Easter the same way. They prepare eggs for the children to hunt. The most popular way is to hard boil the egg and then decorate them with food coloring.
There are also plastic eggs that you can open and fill with candy. It has become a popular tradition. There are ways to make the plastic eggs a bit more exciting. Instead of placing candy inside the eggs, try customizing the eggs.
Easter egg hunts have been geared for small children, but anyone can enjoy an Easter egg hunt. Try filling plastic eggs with things you know each family member likes. You can put anything into plastic eggs. If someone in your family enjoys the movies, place movie tickets into the eggs. Loose change is always a good idea too. You can even create a basket full of plastic eggs with gifts inside the eggs for a specific person. This way, you know this person finds the correct eggs.
There are many different ideas on the Easter hunt. Just be creative and have fun.
Many hotels and resorts have planned Easter celebrations for their guests as well. Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop hosts an Easter egg hunt for the community; you do not have to be a registered guest to enjoy this celebration.
The Stephen F Austin Hotel has special packages for Easter weekend as well. Visitors can enjoy Easter brunch and many other amenities at the hotel.
There are many places families can go to enjoy and celebrate Easter. One place is Bastrop State Park. The park is open to the public and has shaded picnic areas available. There are also over night camping sites available for guests.
There are many
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ways to celebrate Easter in Austin. Whether you choose to dine out with your family or just stay home for a quiet Easter lunch, Austin has many choices available.
The hill country has many vacation homes and bed and breakfast’s available for guests to enjoy. You can spend a quiet afternoon watching the wildlife from your front porch while the kids hunt eggs in the yard.
What ever it is you decide to do this Easter, Austin has variety and beauty. Take the time to spend with your family and enjoy what Austin has.
By: Dane Smith
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Ki has lived in Austin since college. He now runs a company focused on helping buyers searching for Austin real estate. His site has a comprehensive list of properties in the Austin MLS along with information on River Place Austin Texas.
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