Last week I left the cool dry air of the Colorado Rocky Mountains to venture to the hot and humid Mississippi River Valley for the New Orleans Jazz Fest. New Orleans is a city filled with color, music, sumptuous food, and a soulful personality.  It’s hard not to catch the vibe that fills the air.  Staying in the French Quarter a block from the infamous Bourbon Street I wandered the streets as musicians gathered on the corner to play trumpets, trombones, electric fiddles or belt out soulful lyrics. The coffee shop around the corner where I walked to get my morning brew was tucked between two buildings, where a brick courtyard with bistro tables, chairs and an umbrella and cedar tree that provided shade from the sun and shelter from the rain beckoned me in.  Like many of the courtyards lining the street, it was a delightful place to linger and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee and the easy-going rhythm of the city.

The French Creole architecture of the neighborhood with narrow streets, brick pavers, and intricate ironwork give the city a European flair. Combined with colorful walls in hues of yellow, pink, and blue that are accented with green shutters, blue doors, white trim, and draping flowering plants, the streetscape has an allure all its own. There’s no place quite like New Orleans with her distinctive characteristics that are a unique blend of Southern hospitality and European charm. The multi-cultural personalities of those who settled here are reflected in the buildings, the music, and the food.  I am amazed how much spirit the city has and how the physical environment captures the essence of the people who live here so elegantly in brick and mortar.