Uptown Girl

Sunday dawned bright and sunny, so Uptown we ventured through the Garden District on the St Charles Streetcar, the world's oldest continuously operated electric railway line.

Originally the Livaudais Plantation, the Garden District was laid out in the late 1820s and attracted 'new-moneyed' Americans who, snubbed by the Creole residents of the French Quarter, constructed grand houses with large English-style gardens.  They were quite impressive!

Our destination was Audubon Park, a large lush stretch of green between St Charles Avenue and the river, which includes Audubon Zoo.  The park was formerly the plantation of Etienne de Bore, the father of the granulated sugar industry in Louisiana, and named after the famous ornithologist and painter John Audubon, who spent many years working in and around New Orleans.

Since its redevelopment, Audubon Zoo is consistently ranked as one of the top zoos in the nation, and presents a wide array of animals in exhibits that mimic their natural habitats.

Why are flamingoes always
the first animal on display??

They are just so human like.

Can you spot the gators?

Of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a taste of some local delicacies, so after a much needed break from the heat and humidity, off we headed to Drago's to taste their famous charbroiled oysters, followed by jambalaya, crawfish, red beans and rice, and gumbo (andouille and chicken for me), all washed down with a local Abita (for the Don) and Hurricane (for me).

Mm mmmmm.

Still not sure I'd try an uncooked oyster, but these weren't bad!

Not a fan!

Sadly for Lightning we never did get round to ordering the Alligator Bites, but there's always next time...