15th Day New Orleans

Well another full day - our day to disembark our boat , Queen of the Mississippi. We had a very rushed Brekky as orders were slow not coming till7.35 and we had to be at the bus at 7.45! Then we sat on the bus for another half hour while the cases were loaded. Firstly we did a guided walking tour of the French Quarter (Bourbon Street ). I know it is supposed to have a charm all of its own but what with the broken footpaths and nasty smells reaking of, well we don't really know but everyone was commenting on it. One of the times when my lack of smell came in handy. There was little life around at 9am so it was easy walking, not like in the evening when the streets were crowded. This was followed by a 2 to 3 hour bus tour explaining the different suburbs and also where the floods affected so many. Most have cleaned up very well but there are vacant lots where homes used to be and owners were not able to rebuild for various reasons. It was surprising to hear that Hurricane Katrina was not really the cause of the flooding, rather that, as some areas are below sea level, the pumps that should have pumped the water out, were themselves flooded and couldn't operate. It seems they have rectified that now, hopefully. We arrived at our hotel, The Roosevelt at lunchtime but we are not able to check into our rooms till after 4pm which is a bit annoying, so we wandered around the French Quarter and Bourbon St again and looked in a few shops but really they only have tacky souvenirs. At 4pm we got our key and went to our room but Eric realised his mobile phone was missing and we searched everywhere. The guide rang the bus driver and he checked but, no go. We new mass was on at The Cathedral-Basilica named St.Louis King of France!!!! Would you believe. We got lost but got there 10mins late. It was a lovely service with the most fantastic cantor in a building. I would love to go back again when it is quiet. We walked up Bourbon St again but even more disappointed with the sleazy atmosphere and no live jazz being played. However we did see a school band of some 60 plus musicians and dancers parading. There were trumpets, trombones, clarinets, sousaphones and lots of very loud drums and dancers too. The children would have been from 10 to 15 or so. They drew a huge crowd. Back here and Eric checked if his phone had been handed in so the guide rang the bus company owner and then we got a message to say it had been found and would be delivered here at midnight!!! Eric said he had said a prayer to St Anthony ( patron saint of lost things whom my mother believed had never let her down) and presto! After mass we had dinner in a spot near Jackson Sq. By then my suitcase had arrived and it was lovely to enjoy a shower. We then went down to one of the lounges here and listened to some wonderful jazz from the same group that played for us on the boat one night - and even had a few dances. It is now 11.30pm so best to bed after a fulfilling day.Last night a group of 3 girls performed like the Andrews Sisters and attached is a photo of Eric with one of them.