Maternity 33

week 32: a business trip to New Orleans

Last week I went to New Orleans on a 3 days business trip. Just when I was about to depart Michael Stipe (the lead singer of R.E.M) posted his personal guide to New Orleans on Gwyneth Paltrow’s blog. I checked out a few of his digs, but overall it did not correspond to me at all. So here is my “guide for a business trip to New Orleans”.

Primo: two night business trips are like holidays when you are a working parent. You fly alone, you stay in a hotel and someone else cooks all your meals. You even get to stay at work late and finish your tasks for the day, rather than rush out with the nagging feeling of not having crossed everything off your list - ok, I know, I should keep my lists short, or forget about them, or include the big things like “feed, love and bathe my kids”, but I come from a long line of list makers, so I can’t help myself. This is my third business trip to New Orleans  - I go once a year - and I look forward to it every time.

Secundo: I work for a non profit and we can’t afford to have me stay in a rockstar’s hotel. I managed to get them down to $250 per night, which is pretty good, given the service and clientele, but my little French Quarter dive only costs $89 a night. I would recommend it anytime; though it’s a few paces from Bourbon, it’s quiet, clean and quaint and the house is over 200 years old.

Tertio: REM and other cool people apparently like going to bars where people smoke. SMOKE??? When I first walked into the bar I was a little confused, having possibly forgotten the smell of second hand smoke. But there they were: happy patrons puffing away. I grew up in Paris, I used to know how to hang my clothes from my window when I came home from a club and immediately wash my hair. Smoke never bothered me. But now I guess I’m as puritanical as it gets. So instead of eating in a smokey dive, I suggest you go to Snug Harbor - a restaurant and jazz club on Frenchmen street.

Finally:  New Orleans is the best city in the United States… because:
1) It has a vibrant urban environment that is not sustained by technology, banking or some other high paying activity. There doesn’t seem to be any shackling protestant or catholic work ethic.
2) It’s the music. You hear it everywhere. And so many people are professional or amateur musicians. If you are curious about what amateur music can do to your soul and happiness — you should read this. I aspire to become an amateur pianist. 
3) It’s the food: I’ve eaten in fancy restaurants and in total dives and the food has been perfect.
4) It’s the french thing: only city in the states where you routinely see a French flag (can you see it in this picture?).