I had the privilege to visit New Orleans, one of the most fascinating cities in the United States, which is home to a real blend of culture, food and music. It is a city not to be missed if you are planning a trip to the south of the USA. New Orleans is an American colony built by the French during the eighteenth century, and is located near the Mississippi River. It is one of the main cities in the state of Louisiana, and is famous throughout the world for being the city where jazz music was born, as well as for the cult of voodoo rituals.
I got to come here for work and I took a few days off too in order to visit it thoroughly.

Being a colony, the architecture of the city is influenced by European influences, especially in some districts, such as the French Quarter. At the end of August 2005 the city was unfortunately devastated by the fury of hurricane Katrina, which caused many victims and destroyed the city, forcing reconstruction but also forcing many people to move elsewhere.
Strolling on foot in the narrow streets of the French Quarter, you can admire the colorful houses of the old town, which immediately brings you back to the European atmosphere. But the Garden District and the area between Lafayette Cemetery and Frenchman Street are also ideal for a nice stroll. There are also free walking tours in New Orleans during the evening hours; two of these are the ghost tour, a kind of Creole spirit hunt that takes place in the French Quarter, and the voodoo tour, which takes tourists to relive the city's traditions and folklore, and to discover one of the most unique subcultures of New Orleans.
One of the tourist attractions in New Orleans are indeed cemeteries! Yes, you read right. There are dozens of cemeteries throughout the city, the most important of which is the St. Louis Cemetery, where the grave of the queen of voodoo, Marie Laveau, is found, in front of which people stop and make wishes. Another cemetery that should not be missed during a visit is the Lafayette Cemetery, also called the little city of the dead, a very popular location for films shot in New Orleans.
In the churches of New Orleans you can listen to gospel music concerts, such as at the St. Louis Cathedral, which has the distinction of being the oldest Catholic church in all of the US.
During a holiday in New Orleans, don't miss the tour aboard the old wooden tram that takes you from Canal Street to the Garden District. During the journey you can admire the old villas.
If you are a lover of good food, then you are in the right place. In fact, in New Orleans you can taste one of the best cuisines in the States, created from the mix between the tradition of African peoples and French cuisine and enhanced by local ingredients.
Shellfish and fish in general are widely used and one of the typical dishes is Gumbo, a rich soup made with chicken and prawns. The staple seasonings, such as bay leaves, were introduced by Native American settlers, but another major contributor to the creation of gumbo was okra, a vegetable brought to Louisiana by West African slaves.
Among the traditional dishes we also find a sandwich, the famous Po' Boy, whose recipe dates back to the period of the Great Depression. The sandwich is stuffed with roast beef, oysters, crab meat and fried seafood.
Jambalaya is also very famous, a dish that has absorbed French, Spanish, African and Native American influences. This iconic dish combines cooked meat and vegetables, which are mixed with long-grain rice and special spiced sauces.
Among the desserts, the Beignet, a fried pastry that is seasoned with sugar and aromas, coming from French cuisine is highly recommended.