I was very fortunate to be able to spend a couple of weeks in beautiful New Orleans this spring. I stayed with my friend Andreas Hoffmann from Green Light New Orleans and his family. His organisation works with volunteers from all over the US – they exchange incandescent lightbulbs for CFLs and thus help save a lot of energy in households all throughout the city and adjacent parishes. During my visit, Andreas and I scootered around the city, looking for cool places to photograph (Andreas is putting together a PDF for the volunteers featuring some of his favorite spots).

This was my third trip to New Orleans (my first visit was exactly one year before Katrina). The people are welcoming and warm and always have time for a chat. I really love it there – it’s one of the coolest, most relaxed places in America, and being able to explore it in depth and with a local guide felt very luxurious to me. Thank you, Andreas, Eveline and Luca!

Here are some pictures that I took for the brochure.

Rue de la Course Coffeehouse, Oak Street

Early morning in the French Quarter

Jean Lafitte National Park, outside NOLA

Picknick on the bayou, in Midcity

Chime tree in City Park.

A. Brocato Pasticceria on North Carollton – more Italian than in Italy!

Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf Bar, on Oak Street – a NOLA must-see (must-hear?).

Streetcar – oh, yeah, baby!

Beautiful balconies in the French Quarter, and Andreas’ porch, across the streetcar depot which I am very fond of.

Ferry from downtown to Algiers LA

Toute de suite Café in Algiers Point

Thrift store in the very cool Bywater neighborhood.

Trust me, I’m a doctor – and a Mardi Gras Indian chief who was very charming (“You take care now, baby!”)