[Music]
heading to New Orleans is a bit like
traveling to another country life in the
Big Easy is slower more laid-back and
has its own language and customs founded
as a French outpost in 1718 New Orleans
is one of the oldest cities in the
United States in 2005 it was devastated
by Hurricane Katrina but the locals
still soldier on with their unofficial
motto let the good times roll built
along the curves of the Mississippi
River New Orleans has always been shaped
by the water that surrounds it the best
way to experience this is to jump on a
paddle steamer and watch the mighty
Mississippi roll by
[Music]
the city's most iconic area is the
French Quarter an elegant grid of
colonial shop fronts courtyard gardens
and ornate ironwork it's home to some of
the best French Spanish and Creole
architecture in the city the quarters
beating heart is Jackson Square a green
space full of artists musicians and
performers plenty of people come to New
Orleans solely for the food a
cosmopolitan mix of immigrants a love of
eating and fantastic local ingredients
have created a culinary hothouse that
blends creole Cajun French Spanish and
African cuisines
no other city in America parties quite
like New Orleans it's love of life and
embrace of hedonism is given full
expression during the revelry and
pageantry of Mardi Gras
the city has a thriving music scene
expect echoes of jazz funky brass R&B
and blues to emanate from unexpected
corners and give your dancing shoes a
good workout the city has one of the
best bar scenes in the United States
just don't make the mistake of thinking
it begins and ends on Bourbon Street
[Music]