I live about 90 minutes away from NO.
I think possibly, to have a good time in NO, you need to approach it the way a first timer needs to approach WDW - with lots of planning and lots and lots of questions to people who know the terrain.
I'm left wondering - did you do a walking tour of the French Quarter? Did you see the 1855 house? St. Louis Cathedral? Do the tour of St. Louis #1? The Presbytre? Did you go to the Aquarium? The Insectarium? The Museum at the US Mint? The WWII museum? Did you ride the riverboat? Why didn't you stop and just sit at Cafe du Monde for a while with beignets and cafe au lait? Did you check the crowd levels before you decided on that particular weekend and realize how many people would be there? Or read up on where the good public restrooms are? (Yes, there are some. You just have to know where they are - they're sort of tucked into the museums and national park stuff.) Did you check the map to find where Bourbon street was so you could make one pass to see the spectacle and then avoid it. (We take first timers through there once for a couple of blocks, and then we're done and do something that's really fun in the Quarter.)
I honestly didn't even recognize any of the restaurants you named - that doesn't mean other people won't, and I could have just missed them, but still, that gave me pause. I and all the other Southeast Louisiana folks would've happily steered you to the best eateries in the city. (These days I am in love with Couchon's for a good sit down meal and Boucherie, which a sandwich shop at the back of Couchon's, for a quick meal.)
I'm really sorry you had a bad time, but NO is a city that does take planning ahead to really enjoy - just like a Disney trip!
I did do a lot of research (on the internet and from the tourism book of NO that I ordered months before our trip. I had an entire list of things to do that sounded interesting, and as I mentioned in my OP we did do a few of them (the French Market, walking the riverfront, Musical Legends Park, etc.) but with me losing one whole day because of being sick we weren't able to do everything I had hoped to. Yes, we went to the cathedral, it was beautiful.
And we spent some time walking Jackson Square watching the artists, and sat on the steps of the courthouse (I think it was that building) listening to a jazz band.
DH went to Cafe du Monde for their beignets and coffee the morning that I was sick. I wouldn't have went, as I am intolerant of wheat and avoid it when traveling.
No, I didn't check the crowd levels because we knew a year in advance we would be going at that particular time as we had a cruise booked (Conquest out of NO).
I wouldn't have spent as much time on Bourbon Street had it been just DH and myself, but we were with other family members and as I said in my original post, I was outvoted. Not much I could do about that.
I had been so looking forward to the food but it seemed like just about everything was very spicy, and after being sick I didn't need that.
And I do think I would have enjoyed the city more had I NOT gotten sick, but that spoiled one whole evening, night (miserable!) and the next day. At least we would have had more time to do more of the things I had on our list of ideas.
So you posted on here to bash Nola because you don't like basil , one odd bathroom and you found the carriage rides pricey ?
On the bright side of things , you prob lost a few lbs while visiting our great state.
Um, no, I didn't "bash" the city. In my OP I had several good comments about it, but I guess you overlooked those.
But yes, I actually did lose 3 pounds on our trip! We were gone a total of 3 weeks, spending time in New Orleans, a Caribbean cruise, Memphis and Nashville and I came home 3 pounds lighter than when we left, so that's a total of 17 pounds gone...more than half way to my goal of 30!!
And how about next time instead of complaining, you just ask for your salad with no basil.
Oh and as far as the Katrina thing, so sorry if some of us got a bit snarky at times. Like, our houses floated away in case you missed it on the news. I am sure I wasnt the most gracious houseguest all the time but knowing that my house was destroyed, that I would have to go thru months of insurance red tape, years of home remodeling and not knowing if I would have a job when I went home or if I would ever be able to keep my 4 year old safe from things like this can kind of grate on a person's nerves.
I didn't realize basil would be on the salad when I ordered it, as it wasn't listed. I don't ever recall any restaurant liberally sprinkling the basil all over a Greek salad. And I'm not one to send back food, so as I said I ate half and had no idea it would make me sick.
I think this thread should be titled "Anyone else not like basil", because that seems to be much more of an issue than the city itself.
Hardly.
Wow, so the OP expressed an opinion? Big deal. It's not for her. She's not telling everyone else to avoid it. Just wondering if others felt the way she did.
I went to Key West, FL and I didn't like it either. Granted, I was three months pregnant and just getting over morning sickness, but other than water sports and drinking, I really didn't think there was much left for me. My honest opinion, it felt like where everyone from Woodstock who never grew up out of the 60's went to spend their last days. The beach we stayed at was horrible -- stagnant, smelly water with nothing but seaweed and homeless people who sleep on the beach at night but know they have to leave first thing in the morning so the tourists can come to the beach. Didn't like it and wouldn't ever go back. But that's my opinion. Agree or disagree, I'm allowed to have an opinion.
Another poster said they didn't get the appeal of NYC. I LOVE NYC! I work in NYC. But I get that it's not for everyone. To each his own.