Jim Beaux wrote:NOLA is many things to different people. Glocks opinion has validity & if you/wife are easily offended take his advice and dont go.glockstero wrote:In my humble opinion I would change vacation plans.
New Orleans and especially the French Quarter is a filthy, urine soaked, example of the worst of what Louisiana has to offer. You will be harassed by transvestites to watch cross dressing shows, hounded by drug dealers to buy drugs, and will generally feel dirty when you get back to your hotel room. New Orleans is best seen through the rear view mirror of your car on the way out of town.
If you dont have problems with "questionable goings on" and have a sense of humor & let things roll off your back, in my opinion it is worth going to once.
There is a lot of history, old homes, museums, churches, Jackson Square, Congo Square, music, food, etc. The last time I went I was disappointed because they had turned some of the quarter into the sterile "disney" type venues. Be careful and dont go past the barricades because literally 1 block away & you are in one bad neighborhood. I havent been since way before Katrina so you are probably going to be trailblazing.
The cops are ok,helpful & nearby. As almost everything in the Quarter is a bar and you will be walking I suggest you dont carry. I was comfortable in the quarter & felt safe.
The panhandlers, grifters, cons are plentiful and the waiters will try and shake you down a little, but be cool, laugh em off, and be somewhat assertive and you shouldnt have problems. The tranny clubs do put on a show and they are a little on the risque side. (my goofy bro got up on stage and danced/ pantomimed the song "Who Do You Think You Are?"with them, afterwards they told him to leave his wife and stay with them cuz he was a natural!)
Many times I have gone to NOLA and never hit the quarter. NOLA has a lot to offer & I suggest you check out the rest of the town while there.
Again be advised I havent been in many years and the place has definitely changed since Katrina and remember, it is a big city and bad things do happen. If you go have fun and be safe.
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To each his own...great food, lots of fun...no one is going to try and force you to go into one of the strip clubs or gay bars "against your will"...lol....relax and enjoy the laid back ambience and the live and let live attitude. You will see some characters you won't see at home...that's part of the culture...if someone is soo uptight they can't stand to see anything but just what THEY consider "proper", why leave your home at all. Be sure to take the St Charles streetcar over to the Garden District and spend a couple of hours just walking around and looking at all the fantastic old homes. Some friends were there for Mardis Gras last year and said everything was back to normal in the quarter. As Jim said...stay in the main traveled areas and don't go wandering off the beaten paths and you shouldn't have any problems. HAVE FUN!