Alistair did not like New Orleans very much. “It smells like ass”, was a common refrain. The drunken louts and titty bars of Bourbon Street did nothing to endear him to her either.
I on the other hand, loved her in all her smeared mascara beauty. Yes, she wore too much French perfume that hinted at dirty nights and even dirtier deeds, but I thrilled to her humid heat and dangerous smile.
From the elegant homes of the Garden District, bordered by the eerie tombs of Lafayette Cemetery, to the incongruous blend of party-goers and haunted establishments in the French Quarter, I was mesmerised by this harlot known as “The Big Easy”; her gumbos and oyster po-boys keeping me sated as we travailed her mysteries.
One of the most fascinating parts of our trip was the haunted history tour showing us the house of the infamous Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a wealthy socialite and sadistic torturer. The gruesome evil she inflicted on her slaves left me in need of a hand grenade, the New Orleans equivalent of Long Island Iced Tea (but stronger).
Dodging the frat boys and tattooed girls on roller skates, Alistair and I made our way back to our sinfully luxurious hotel – Le Pavillon, ”the belle of New Orleans” – for hot chocolate and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (a late night tradition).
During the heat of the day, we lounged by the rather OTT rooftop pool and I drank cocktails while Al wrote. As for what else we did… well, every scarlet woman has her secrets doesn’t she?
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- Geek by pool
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- Playing in the lifts
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- Rooftop pool
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- Naughty naughty
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- Orphan boys
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- Oysters!
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- Time-keeper
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- Old-style lift
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- View from the roof of Le Pavillon
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- Lion guard
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- All that...
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- Oyster po-boy!
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- Stately home - Historic District
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- View from the top
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- Delicious andouille
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- Chandelier at Le Pavillon
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- The street, not the station
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- Grave above ground
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- Canal Street
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- Statue at Le Pavillon
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- To bed...
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- Film shoot
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- To tie your horse and carriage
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- Remembered
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- Filigree
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- Where Degas stayed
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- Churches are spooky
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- Hand grenade = danger
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- House belonging to Anne Rice
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- NOLA buildings
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- Marble grave stones
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- The lobby of Le Pavillon
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- Bourbon Street madness
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- The beat
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- Modern architecture
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- Bourbon Street at sunset
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- Flowers for the dead
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