New Orleans's Sight

Six months ago on an airplane in direction to New Orleans I was anxious and totally amazed. I was living the biggest challenge of my life: Traveling  to another country to study in a city about which all I knew was carnival and a hurricane. That does not bring good regards for the people from New Orleans. However, those things  anyone in the world who has a television would know. 

When I arrived I had my first glimpse and the only word that came into my mind was patriotism. Like other cities in the United States, New Orleans hangs the national flag in front of buildings, stadiums, and some houses. It is Something that happens in Brazil only duting on World Soccer Cup, but finishes after the first defeat. Even so, this city has something more special when we speak of patriotism because New Orleans is decorated with the fleur de lis symbol, that hangs since the time when was a French colony. Soon after I discovered a city with impressive architecture, especially the French quarter, the most touristic part. Beautiful and decorated houses are common to see, all them with small or without wall to protect the house. New Orleans is also filled with mysteries, such as legends, haunted houses and voodoo. It also is a city with many green lands. In the Audubon Park, and City Park we can see trees and animals, creating a harmony between nature, the city, and its population. 

Besides all that typical American cuisine based on fast food, New Orleans possesses its specialties, even more so when I talk about seafood, which is not very different from the food of the city from where I came. In New Orleans, Gumbo and po-boys are preferred on local cuisine. Both are really delicious, as also are the beignets that come with traditional coffee with milk. In addition, New Orleans has many foods which are spicy. Local people are passionate for a large portion of pepper on their food. And this do not sound good to me, I prefer smaller amounts of pepper. 

Something you cannot forget when talking about New Orleans is the music. It is the birthplace of jazz, gloriously represented by Louis Armstrong and all his musical ability. New Orleans continues with their culture, as it is common to hear jazz playing in bars or even by musicians on the street of touristic places. At night, space is divided with rock and roll, electronic music, which is preferred by young people, and hip-hop with their followers that have dropped pants, almost touching the ground. Jazz is also played during Mardi Gras parades, the same that I already knew by watching television, and now I will have this experience for the first time. 

Is clearly visible that New Orleans is one of the American cities with stronger own culture. Those aspects are viewed in each face of the local people. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to know this city and I believe it still has much more to surprise me. 

Igor Lins, 

February 4, 2014