A Unique New Orleans B&B Inn

The middle of the 2200 block of Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans

We are making some renovations in the lobby of La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast.  Many people come to New Orleans to attend a convention; it is a wonderful city in which to soak up useful knowledge.  Some people come to New Orleans for vacation, and New Orleans is a wonderful city in which to get away from the rest of world.  Some people come to New Orleans for a single sweet weekend.  I know of an ideal New Orleans bed and breakfast in which to do all three.

La Belle Esplanade is the middle manor in the picture above.  You can't miss it.  Tour buses pause en route up Esplanade Avenue to point it out.  

We made some renovations to the lobby of La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast today.  I decided to take some pictures, but before I did that, I took some pictures of the inn's outside.  First, I walked to the apex of Gayarre Park in the neutral ground to capture the facades of the three sister buildings, above.  Then I headed toward the back garden...

A sunny December day in New Orleans, LA

I walked over to the rear gate at that ensures secure parking, and I snapped a photo from the back of the property.

We trimmed some low-hanging branches off the pecan trees

It always make us happy to tend to the back gardens and look up.  From behind, 2216 Esplanade Avenue mirrors out spirits.  Ever upward.  It is like the arrow formed by the negative space between the "E" and the "X" on a Fedex truck driving downtown to deliver happiness.  

Frau Schmitt has been buying Christmas lights for the lobby, but she hasn't been doing it for Christmas.  We hung them around the pilot doors between the front room and the check-in desk.  The following photos are taken under various lighting conditions to give a well rounded impression that a camera cannot capture.

The camera doesn't lie

The bust of Caesar Augustus that presides over the lintel has never looked more majestic.

View from one of the lobby chairs

Then I turned on the lights

Then I closed the shutters and turned off the light in the front room

We had a lamp in the office that we turned on as a nightlight for guests.  This is a much nicer way to illuminate the room.  It was Frau Schmitt's idea and she was right, as she usually is.  We are going to to the same with the pilot doors in Les Fluers Suite, which we like to think of as the most romantic of all five suites we have available.

Yes, I just said that we have five elegantly appointed, two-room suites available at La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast.  If you look at our calendar, you will only see four suites listed.  Aside from Les Fleurs, we also have La France, Le Pelican, and the Clio Suites.   We also have Les Saintes Suite which will have its finishing touches put on it at the end of next week.   Stay tuned.  It will be available for reservation very soon.

On the way out of the house, I had to take one more picture.

New Orleans' patroness is Our Lady of Prompt Succor

The Green Madonna looks over the front steps of La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast.  It is always reassuring to see her standing among the striped ginger.