Those NOLA days

Travel Photography - New Orleans | Toronto Real Life Family Photographer

In the cold, cold winter of 2019, I had the great fortune of spending a few bright-eyed days in the warm, wanting embrace of the city-like-no-other, New Orleans. Those days — courtesy of a work conference (what are those, again?) — afforded me only a glimpse, I know, but that glimpse was soul-filling. I spent my off time wandering the narrow streets of the French Quarter, gamely avoiding the traps of Bourbon St.; favouring instead rare glimpses inside centuries-old homes, all the time being pulled towards the sweet, sugary beignets and steamy chicory coffee.

I was there at the very beginning of Mardi Gras and could feel the city teeming with the urge to parade; to eat King Cake; to wrap themselves together in the beads and the music. I saw every cliche you could imagine and yet none of it felt like a cliche. I met a group of seniors who were in the city for a ballroom dancing and jazz tour. I saw a band playing washboards in the street. Dogs wore tutus.

This was an old soul place and I felt so at home, wandering the sticky sidewalks, film camera in hand, ready to breathe it all in. And while a Toronto snow storm afforded me one extra day in this magical place, it wasn’t enough (is it every enough?). I’ll be back.

Camera: Canon Rebel 2000

Film: Kodak Ektar, Fuji C200, Kodak Gold, Ultrafine Extreme,