Essential City Tour
- January 30, 2002
- Rated 4 of 5 by
vegaschick from Jasper, Georgia
This is a great overview of the city. It is a 2 hour bus tour with 2 stops, one at cemetary, and one at park concession. It ran longer than the 2 hours because of dropping people off at hotels, and letting traffic pass the bus when it backed up. Our guide, Sid, was a native of New Orleans, and was very informative and nice. He was glad to give restaurant recommendations, and additional local information.
From journal First Time in New Orleans, First Mardi Gras
Editor Pick
ESSENTIAL CITY TOUR
- January 3, 2002
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Laura from Chicago, Illinois
This city tour was excellent. It was a bargain for all you see and learn about. It goes through Esplanade Avenue and to St. Louis Cemetery known as the "city of the dead" with its above-ground tombs. At the cemetery, you get to walk around and learn why the grave must be above ground - because New Orleans is below sea level and how they fit all those bodies is a small mausoleum - natural incineration in the hot summer sun. It was fascinating.
We also saw Lake Pontchartrain, the bayou and the New Orleans yacht harbor. We went to St. Charles Avenue with the mansions and the MTV Real World House. We went by Tulane, Xavier and Loyola Universities.
We went to City Park, previously Plantation land with all the Oak Trees. It was still decorated for the winter lights festival. We stopped at the park concession for a bathroom break and refreshments, if desired.
Our tour guide, Lou was excellent and could answer questions such as if the Jazz Funerals still go on today. They do.
From journal New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl