We took the Algiers Canal Street Ferry again, this time so that we could go to the Garden District. We decided to walk so that we would get some exercise. We stopped at a tourist information place and picked up a self-guided walking tour. Even the homes that were not on the tour were quite interesting. Everything seems to be quite historic.
We stopped by Lafayette Cemetery #1 to check out the above ground burial methods. A guy snagged us on the way in and offered a ten-minute tour in exchange for a tip. We walked around and looked at some historic homes and then decided to have a po-boy for lunch. We ate at the Magazine Street Po-Boy shop. So far, quite authentic--but we had a Reuben, probably not authentic, but delicious.
Then we hopped a bus to go down to the Old Mint in the French Quarter to attend a free concert. First we got on the wrong bus (Google Maps was taking us to the current US Mint instead of the old one--my fault). The friendly bus driver let us off and told us which way to go, so next we took a trolley down St. Charles and then walked to the mint.
The second floor of the mint is dedicated to a display chronicling the history of New Orleans Jazz and Preservation Hall. It features some really powerful, beautiful photos and some good jazz. Then we went to the concert on the third floor at 3:00 p.m. It was a presentation on jazz roots featuring a "musical ranger" and a Haitian trumpet player and a New Orleans trombone player. We learned a lot about New Orleans jazz, with demonstrations of the call and response technique and the "second line."
This latter term is a bit slippery. It refers to the second part of a jazz funeral. After the dirges are played on the way to the cemetery, more upbeat music accompanies the mourners as they move on to celebrating the life of the deceased. That's the second line. Or the second line may be the people who follow the jazz musicians in a parade--the uninvited but welcome guests. Or it may be a style of dance....
Afterward we headed home, taking the 5:00 p.m. ferry back to Algiers Point. All in all it was an enjoyable day. We saved plenty to do on our next trip to New Orleans!
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