Mar 24 2011

Today morning, we had a bus trip in New Orleans. We saw sites of importance to the Civil Right Movement. The highlights included Jackson Square, the Cathedral, and the famous French Quarter balconies. In the Jackson Square, there is a statute that expresses three important people that are important to the Civil Right War. However, among them, there was no black person. That was unfair to the blacks. Out tour guide told us that New Orleans is the second largest immigrant city in US. This city has a characteristic of inconclusiveness. And it is the first city that has black people as immigrants instead of slaves. The black people even have their park to go during holidays, in which they can speak African language and dance African dances. However, after Civil Right War, this area is segregated but unfair. The blacks have their own fountains but different and worse than the fountains for the whites. The white people have several Olympic size swimming pools but the black people have not one.

Also, we saw the area most devastatingly affected by Hurricane Katrina, the levee structures, and learn how New Orleans residents have made an impact after the storm to bring the city back. We saw some sola power set on the roof of the new-built house that sponsored by Angelina Julie and other kind people. And some musicians sponsored a valley using the money earn by their concerts. In the musician valley, the houses are paint in different colors and make visitors feel happy. We could hardly feel the sadness in the area. In addition, we saw the vibrant Creole neighborhoods and shotgun houses throughout the city and visited the Garden District to get a sense of the luxury and extravagance of old New Orleans.

In the afternoon, we had a swamp tour with airboat adventures. Expert guides paused frequently to point out many natural wonders along the way. And we got a chance to hold a baby alligator. It was a great experience!

In evening, we had dinner on own. I try the Gumbo Soup and BBQ oyster. How delicious they were! After supper, we hurried to the Preservation Hall and enjoyed the best Jazz. The Preservation Hall is the birthplace of jazz. It sits at the heart of the French Quarter, and the musicians who make up the band learned from legends that played with the forefathers of New Orleans jazz: Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and others. The music was fantastic and we really enjoyed it. But you have to get in line one hour early before the show begin to get in.

Today was really great and unforgetable!