This will improve your travelling experience
“This was my first trip to New Orleans. Though I don’t like being led around like sheep, I have found that a well- informed tour guide is a very important part of any trip, especially when time is limited. We took the “Cemetery Voodoo Walking Tour”, just one of 5 offered at a discounted rate through Travelzoo.
The tour was led by Nita Hemeter, a New Orleans native (I think) ewho also plays drums in a jazz band and is a marketing director for a jazz camp. Nita is clearly in love with New Orleans, arguably the most prized historical gem in the United States. Her enthusiasm for everything New Orleans, coupled with her vast knowledge of its landmarks, made for an enlightening tour.
Unlike the title of the tour, this walking tour does not only focus upon the St. Louis Cemetery (burial site of renowned Voooo Queen Marie Laveau, as well as the future resting place of actor Nicholas Cage). It also includes Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Congo Square and a voodoo temple. Interesting fact # 122: This cemetery is controlled by the Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. The last film allowed in this particular cemetery was the 1969 classic, Easy Rider. Scenes that included fornication on sacred burial sites led to the banning of filming, so subsequent scenes in New Orleans cemeteries are not in this particular cemetery. There are many to choose from in New Orleans.
Overall, the tour provided alot of background on the city, French Quarter, the origins of voodoo and the unique above-ground system of burial in an area where above-sea-level ground is scarce. More importantly, our guide offered ideas for saving money for transportation (the St. Charles Trolley: $1.25 one way; $3 All Day Pass), exploring outside the Quarter (Frenchmen Street), better dining, art, music and ways to avoid tourist “traps”. There are several inexpensive ways to see New Orleans and Nita’s advice made our short stay much more enjoyable and within budget.
As an added bonus, the tour ended just around the corner from our hotel; the Marie Leveau Annex of the Inn on St. Anne (which I highly recommend for value, comfort, security and location, location, location!). Even if you are a traveler who likes to move at your own pace, I do recommend one tour to familiarize yourself with New Orleans. There is too much history and culture here that you may not be aware of. This tour is definitely worth what we paid. Again, you have several options available. The Garden District Tour also comes highly recommended by critics.”
– texasguerro, Euless, Texas
https://www.tourneworleans.com/walking-tours/french-quarter/
