New Orleans (Photos by Lindsay Amanda)

New Orleans is one of the most culture-rich cities I have been to in a most unique way. The first thought that comes to mind of course is Mardi Gras, a lively, colorful, and to be quite honest, intoxicated scenes that many of us wish we could experience just once out of pure novelty. Despite only visiting this city on what some may call its “off season,” it definitely proved its spirit nonetheless.

My visit was a jet setter weekend trip of just three days. After a very long travel day I arrived at my hotel in the heart of the city in the wee hours of the morning the next day. As the financially conscious traveler that I am, of course I took the best route, a shuttle shared with the high tech college pack of our day, arriving for the same reason that I was privileged to be there, the 2010 Super Computing Conference. My dad’s company, Cenic, helped build the infrastructure for the event.

As my mom and I took advantage of the opportunity to visit this iconic destination, our first stop was a classic Louisiana swamp tour. It sure was far from anything I have ever seen before. Our guide was born and bred “No’lands” and lived in the swamp all of his life, “huntin gators,” and dually holding an endearing love for all of the animals that called the habitat “home.” We saw an array of its natural inhabitants, including alligators, one of the largest breeds of rodents in the world, raccoons and birds. The Spanish moss hung from the trees where the deepest corners of the swamp were lush with bright green duckweed coating the surface of the water. It was a peaceful and flourishing spectacle.

The following day I set off on my own, as I love to do when I travel, for a brief expedition before our next scheduled tour. No matter where I am in the world, I absolutely love to visit churches, and on my short three-day trip, I had the privilege of attending mass the Saint Louis Cathedral at the oldest Catholic cathedral in North America, overlooking Jackson Square. It was beautiful.

The homily had a funny start. I remember the priest welcome the church’s common visitors, then comment on how lovely it was to see such a great attendance, appreciated by the fact that the defending Super Bowl champs had a bye week that Sunday. As a devoted football fan, I had to take humor in the opening line. Although I was far from home, I found comfort knowing that I was part of a bigger family in my religious community. I must say it was a plus to have so many parts of my heart in one place, as it was also emblematic of the land’s previous Spanish rulers.

After thanking God for the opportunity to visit this enchanted city, I ran off to catch my next tour – the plantation homes of the Deep South. It was a day trip that took us an hour or so outside the city. Our first stop was the Laura Creole Plantation. It was quaint and spacious at the same time, holding an incredible amount of history that you could feel as you walked its grounds. It held centuries old artifacts that endured the most severe conditions. The house endured “hell and high water,” quite literally, after being renovated from a destructive fire some items lasted even through the harsh reality of hurricane Katrina. We saw the slave quarters, and the bell that beckoned their families from as far out as three miles away from the main home for simple daily meals. The fact that surprised me the most was that the shacks held families as recent as the 1970’s, far past the time when their freedom was given. It was truly incredible.

Our next plantation home was Oak Alley. Its main attraction for visitors was the majestic tunnel of live oak trees that framed the estate’s main entrance. In the past, the original owners could see the Mississippi river from their dining room in the forefront of their home. Since then, a levy has been built to block the rising water. Although less impressive for the amount of original pieces from its heyday that are still present, its charm is undeniable.

I am not your average tourist, who lives for the standardized itinerary, but I can say that I enjoyed the cliche historical routes on such fly-by trips. I did not neglect one of the main must-dos of New Orleans, I did walk the infamous Bourbon Street. I even had the famous hurricane at its origin, Pat O’Brein’s, it’s good thing I love whiskey! I strolled through the French Quarter both full nights of my trip, and can officially say that I have seen one of the most famed party capitals of the world. And yes, although I declined, I was asked to show my goodies for a string of cheap beads. I can officially check that one of my list.

The last day of my short adventure was spent cruising the Garden District and relishing in the Antebellum homes that lined the streets. We visited an old cemetery that was reminiscent of La Recoleta from my travels in Argentina. The crypts were less ornate and weathered more severely than those neighboring Evita’s grave, which made it was eerie yet peaceful in a strange way.

New Orleans has a spirit unlike many other cities that I’ve ventured into. Louisiana is the Deep South at its best, and the culture caries its heritage proudly. I am blessed to have experienced its mysticism and bright personality even for a short while.