New Orleans (Inner Journey) Jan 9.

Live Oak in Congo Square

New Orleans has been a great experience overall and is one of the best decisions I have made during my time at Methodist College. My favorite part of the class was getting to know all of my classmates. Even though the college is on a smaller scale over half the class I had never met before. Part of traveling with new people is getting the opportunity to get to know them and experience something new together. The group that I mainly hung out with are people that I have formed friendships with and hope to continue growing new memories with back in central Illinois. My favorite part of the trip was getting to try new food. Down in New Orleans they are known for Cajun and Creole food and they do not disappoint. One of the advantages of trying these types of food in the heart of where they originate is hearing the history behind them. The waiting staff at the various restaurants along with our guides on the cuisine tour gave insight on the differences between the two types of food and why they are so popular. Citizens of New Orleans no matter where you turn makes you feel like family. From the time you step in to the city off of either the train or plane, depending on how you come in, they try and help you in any way they can. I remember or cab driver the first day, Ms. Ruthie, talked with us about various locations to see and places to go eat on our way to the hotel. There are not too many cities where folks are that helpful. Some just want to get you from point a to point b and sometimes you’re lucky if they stop long enough to let you out. New Orleans is a place where all are accepted and has been like that for hundreds of years. I honestly believe that if every state, city, town, community treated people how they are in New Orleans the country would be a better place. There is a lot that can be learned from how this city has developed/grown but has never forgotten their roots!

Farwell to New Orleans (Outer Journey) Jan 9.

My favorite spot in New Orleans was Jackson Square. The square is filled with rich history of when the civilization began and filled with dreams today of a prosperous future. Everywhere you look on the square you will find individuals or groups who are sharing their passion and dreams with those around them trying to make a living. The beautiful rod iron fence that encompasses the inside of the park is lined with colorful canvas’s displaying an artist’s take various iconic scenes in New Orleans. In the air you hear trumpets, drums, tubas, and voices of musicians sharing their passion/talent. It is a reminder to all who visit or walk by that it is never too late to reach for the stars. Out of all the things you can experience in New Orleans I will miss Jackson Square the most and hope to bring people back with me to visit in hopes they too will see/experience it as well. I would definitely recommend adding New Orleans to a “bucket list” of places to see. The city has a variety of things to offer all ages. There are some destination cities that are geared towards certain age groups such as Disney World/Land and Napa Valley in California but New Orleans has something to offer children through the elderly. This has been one of the first trips I can remember where you feel like home on your vacation. The citizens of the city have a burning passion for keeping the cities rich history/culture alive that it is instilled in you, the tourist. I would consider New Orleans a must see in your lifetime and I will return for more!

Free Day (Outer Journey) Jan. 8

The day that everyone was anticipating has arrived. Having a free day to explore the city was part of the trip that everyone was excited about outside of our tour experiences. Being able to branch outside of the French Quarter and see other neighborhoods would allow us to see locations that we researched. Prior to leaving the hotel we stopped by concierge at the front desk to ask for assistance with using the trolley out to the Garden District. I honestly forgot about the hotel resources until we were planning our free day. They are a great tool that most people do not utilize. Leaving the hotel the weather was sunny to slightly overcast and upper 60’s, the perfect combination when exploring. Once on the green trolley line going to The Garden District my group and I began to research the location we should get dropped off at that would be most efficient with our time. Initially, when we began to enter the district the scenery was more run down. Apartment buildings and businesses were not well kept which had me worried if we made the right decision or not. Although, shortly after that we began to see homes that displayed large windows, wrap around porches, and tucked back behind intricate wrought iron fences. The Plantation and Victorian style homes displayed a simplistic elegance that made you stop at each home to study the various touches. On some homes porches were lined with wooden dowels while others had picturesque wrought iron that would see in movies. Each home gave you a glimpse of what homes looked like back in the 1800’s.