What's new on Esplanade Avenue?

Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) 

If you read the tourist literature, you would think that people in New Orleans have Louis Armstrong on their minds every day.  It is more implicit than explicit.  I've got a Bing and Satchmo CD that I like to listen to from time to time.  I would link to it on Amazon, but I've never collected a dime from any sales, so you may as well look it up and buy it yourself.  I hate to clutter up a post with unnecessary pictures.

Everyone has a soft spot for hearing Louis sing "It's a Wonderful World," or play "Cornet Chop Suey" on the jukebox, but I can't remember the last time anyone brought up Louis Armstrong in conversation out of the blue.

I've had plenty of conversations about the speed limit in New Orleans, though.

New Orleans speed limits

Don't believe everything you read.  The divided streets/undivided streets signs are posted at random around the city and they indicate a general rule of pedal to metal, but, like so many things in New Orleans, there are plenty of unwritten codes.  Let's just say that the city public works department isn't always diligent in putting up signs where they are needed most.  

There are traffic cameras everywhere, where most people least expect them.  If they capture your license plate, there isn't any court of appeal.  You pay the fine you're issued, or you pay a bigger one with interest later.  It is something you learn to avoid if you live here, and something you learn to live with if you visit.  A word of warning: school zones are 20mph for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon weekdays when school is in session.  We usually recommend people don't rent a car unless they really have to.

Ain't dere no more

In other news, the old pharmacy on the other end of Esplanade Avenue, about seven picturesque blocks from our house in the Faubourg St. John neighborhood, is becoming a Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt shop.  I can't say I'm delighted, but I was talking to the cashier at Canseco's Market and she wasn't bothered by it.  "Unlike you, I like frozen yogurt," she told me.  "I don't eat it too often though.  It's kind of expensive."  

My sentiments exactly, among other things.  At least we still have a locally owned pharmacy on South Broad Street.  The online reviews are true.  

Frau Schmitt laid out a nice breakfast the other morning.  It was as pretty as a picture.

An artful buffet

It's the busy season again and it is nice to have company in our inn again.  Good guests make good company.

When you stay in New Orleans, you want to make sure you stay in a licensed bed and breakfast, which we are.  Personally, I wouldn't trust the illegal rentals on airbandb or on vrbo (vacation rental by owner).  A front page article in today's New Orleans Advocate confirmed this.  We suggest you read it in its entirety.  I shudder to think about staying in this unlicensed property.  

People ask us why we don't list our property on airbandb.  When you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas.  

In yet other news, there is this interesting article about a proposed new canal in our neighborhood.

A votre santé,
La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast.