Today we explored the french quarter through a new set of eyes. Today we explored the city of the dead. I was not aware that the people of the city are buried above ground in ornate and beautiful tombs so that the rising river waters don't carry the dead out of the ground. I learned that the graveyard is segregated by religion the protestants and the Catholics are buried separate from each other. This is the city of death and dying, the people here are used to many different adversities trying to kill them every day; these people learned to adapt and so they live every day to the fullest.
We spent the day walking through the French Quarter trying to fully experience the culture of this intense city, the city greeted us like locals with a monsoon level of rain. We discovered a beautiful drink called a frozen, this was a wonderfully balanced coffee beverage with a splash of adult flavor. I had a bowl of gumbo at this wonderful little local restaurant, I have discovered that even with the same ingredients each new place brings a new gumbo experience. We took in the amazing atmosphere of the French Market, and felt incredible envy of the people who get to experience this wonderful world everyday.
The highlight of the day was the culinary tour of the French Quarter, we were able to taste the city through the kitchen's of the French Quarter. We started with gumbo at the oldest restaurant in the city. After this tasty explosion we delved into a shop that smelled like every child's best day dream. We were treated to pralines, a first for many in our group. Also on this trip we had the opportunity to taste fresh shucked oysters, shrimp remalaude, red beans and rice, muffuletta and gelato, as well as brisket with creole sauce. We learned that the many different cultures which created New Orleans also created a culinary experience that is just as diverse.
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