 |
| Christmas on Canal Street |
There is no autumn to speak of in New Orleans. Summer seamlessly slides into winter without a care in the world. In New Orleans, autumn feels like springtime in Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, or Spokane. No wonder everyone in New Orleans is happy. It is a city without snow shovels, without snowblowers, and without road salt or slush.
The fronds of the palm trees do not turn a burnished gold. Nor do the leaves of the magnolia trees, the oleander, or the southern oaks that line Esplanade Avenue. If you expect December to be bitter, come to New Orleans for a spell. It is better than wherever you are now.
In December, you can tell who is a tourist in New Orleans. They are the people wearing shorts. Those of us who live here tend to bundle up when the mercury drops below 70. Both hosts at La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast wore sweaters in the morning and in the evening. Around noon, they shed their layers and basked in the sun, sitting in the garden in back as flocks of songbirds migrated further south overhead.
New Orleans is pleasant all year long. This is true during Mardi Gras. It is true during the Fourth of July. It is especially true during the Christmas season. In the Lower Garden District, Saint Alphonsus Church is hosting its annual nativity display: over 60 creche scenes from all over the world are displayed in a stately church that is no longer actively used but is slowly being restored.
The hosts at La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast don't know everything that is going on in the fair city they call home, but they have a good idea of the highlights. You can make plans and an itinerary of what you want to see during your visit, but be prepared to be distracted. In New Orleans, there is a fresh surprise around every corner. It is Christmas in New Orleans. Some people say this is the best time of year.
A votre sante and joyeux Noel.
No comments:
Post a Comment