ROYAL BARRACKS GUEST HOUSE NEW ORLEANS

HISTORIC COTTAGE WITH RARE TRANQUILITY IN FRENCH QUARTER

Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans has zero on site staff, but the operators are quick to answer emails.

An extra blanket and sheet were quickly dropped off.

I had an issue with mold in the wall AC/heat unit.

I did not notice till I caught a respiratory issue on my final day.

Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans.the issue (and I hope -- cleaned the wall unit before the next guest used my room.

Overall, a very cost effective way to immerse in New Orleans history.

ROYAL BARRACKS GUEST HOUSE NEW ORLEANS

HISTORIC COTTAGE WITH RARE TRANQUILITY IN FRENCH QUARTER

The room I rented at Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans is small but efficient.

Comfy bed, full bath, mini fridge, coffee maker and just enough room to store your stuff.

I could hear other guests at the inn -- through the old walls -- but they got quiet by 11 p.m. at the latest.

The shared patio was great for sitting at while it was warm out.

Other guests were great about observing quiet hours.

ROYAL BARRACKS GUEST HOUSE NEW ORLEANS

HISTORIC COTTAGE WITH RARE TRANQUILITY IN FRENCH QUARTER

Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans is less than a half hour's walk to Canal Street and the CBD.

I booked a trolley-bus weeklong transit pass on my phone for $15.

I used it to save a $40 taxi ride to get from the airport to near Canal Street, then took a leisurely walk through the French Quarter to reach Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans.

ROYAL BARRACKS GUEST HOUSE NEW ORLEANS 

HISTORIC COTTAGE WITH RARE TRANQUILITY IN FRENCH QUARTER

Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans’ AC worked well and so did the heater (temps went from near 80 to below 40 during the Christmas week.)

French Quarter architecture, history, museums, vibe, characters, dining and much more are all within walking distance.

I walked to see great musicians such as: Shawan Rice, Kermit Ruffins, Chris Christie, George Brown and others.

 

 

 

ROYAL BARRACKS GUEST HOUSE NEW ORLEANS 

HISTORIC COTTAGE WITH RARE TRANQUILITY IN FRENCH QUARTER

Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans is in the heart of the action.

It's great to stay in an historic property so close to all the action but far enough away to sleep well.

Frenchman Street and all of its live music is a 10 minute walk away.

Favorite locals food joints Coop's Place, Clover Grill and Verti Marte are also no more than a 15 minute walk from the property.

ROYAL BARRACKS GUEST HOUSE NEW ORLEANS

HISTORIC COTTAGE WITH RARE TRANQUILITY IN FRENCH QUARTER

I did not think it was possible to find a quiet place in the French Quarter till I stayed at Royal Barracks Guest House New Orleans.

Even on New Year's Eve, there was minimal noise.

The reviews cite the tranquility.

When you read the house rules, the proprietor emphasizes quiet hours and being respectful of other guests (there are at least 4 units within the historic single story building.

SAUDADES FEATURED ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: STEVE WRIGHT

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE BOOK LAUNCH 

AT BOOKS AND BOOKS THIS MONTH

Steve Wright is a visual and verbal storyteller.

His street photography is inspired by Ara Güler, the Eye of Istanbul. He learned from and edited a book about the great Turkish photographer.

Wright is a Pulitzer-nominated, award-winning writer and has published more than 5,000 professional articles.

His Save My Little Havana, a one-man show photo exhibit opened in August 2023 at the Art Deco Welcome Center in Miami Beach and ran through Thanksgiving.

Several photos by Steve are published in the book, and will exhibited at the Books & Books Gallery Space.

Steve and other artists were present at the Book Launch on October 4, when they signed books.

HONORED TO HAVE MY FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASED IN SAUDADES

BOOK PRE-SALE PHASE LAUNCHING AT BOOKS & BOOKS

I kicked off the weekend among fellow creatives at Books & Books in Coral Gables, which will by the Miami headquarters for the book’s pre-sale phase and major release party (October 4.)

Pre-sale copies will be in the Art/Anthology section of legendary independent bookseller.

Statement from Editor/Chief Contributor/Siren Amy Serrano:

On behalf of all participating artists, I am so proud to share this beautiful book with you!

After living with the word Saudade for about 5 years now, exploring it, understanding it, feeling it, living it, listening to music about it, and writing about it through the prism of my own experiences, in the end the word is really about LOVE.

Love lost, Love yearned for, Love that remains, Love of a place, Love of the self you wished you had become and/or still hope to recover, and the convergence of many of these aspects of saudade through the element of Time, time, TIME

The word saudade, in its plural form “Saudades” spoke to me deeply and I believe this emotion, this feeling may also speak to you, it is universal…

Buy the book in person or order it today from Books & Books

Then come meet the artists during the official book release on October 4 also @Books&Books.

We will have red wine and red roses for you along with a few other surprises and we will sign your copy!

(photo is with a few of the Miami Artists Carlos A. Navarro Jonathan Rose and Steve Wright with the book’s wonderful publicist, Maru Lanao )

GABRIEL BALDERAS SAXAPHONE

THE BEST JAZZMAN IN MEXICO CITY

Gabriel Balderas is not famous – yet – but I consider him the premier jazz player in Mexico City.

And that’s no small statement, as there are easily a half dozen or more jazz venues in the cultural capital of the Americas.

I lucked out when I walked into Parker and Lenox – in the Roma neighborhood – and heard Gabriel on the sax.

At the end of the show, I started out in my horrible Spanish and we quickly switched to his English to talk about jazz greats, Mexico City and music.

A few nights later, I was at Jazzatlan Capital, also in the hip Roma neighborhood, and caught Gabriel sitting in with the night’s featured act.

Seeing me twice in one week, he was so kind that he gave me a CD of his fabulous Voices From The Border.

You can check him out at many different streaming services, including Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/58qSHv8M0ELKIDSObDqEFH?si=nX3om57RS3-AKvy6VeXDOw&utm_source=copy-link&fbclid=IwAR2T6GfpMUrYh9PtCPZFno_gtz6fgbNuMfBe3dSOoAZa2_98A-Z1O3GsN_0&nd=1

HAPPY 33RD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO HEIDI

WHAT MAKES A SOULMATE? A ONE IN A BILLION PARTNER WHO:

Believes in you when you start Weight Watchers at age 55, 100-plus pounds overweight and fat for more than four decades running.

Takes joy in your overseas trips -- to exotic and fairly difficult or impossible for accessibility – places.

Supports your healthy lifestyle by marinating chicken breasts, grilling finfish, making salads with berries and splurging with thin crust, lots of red pepper, low fat cheese/sauces and turkey ‘roni home baked pizzas.

Makes wonderful homemade birthday, anniversary and Valentine’s Day cards with stories narrated by cats and historical figures.

Finds cool documentaries, great music and other cool things to share with you.

Loves cats. Period. Indoor, outdoor, at cat cafes, in Rome and Istanbul, in cartoons and YouTube clips.

Our actual anniversary date is June 11, but because of calendar conflicts we are celebrating this weekend.

CELEBRATING MY 3,000TH BLOG POST

 

I earned my first paycheck as a writer at age 14.

I worked as a full-time journalist at a large paper for more than a decade.

I have written about urban design, disability advocacy, architecture, mobility, town planning, travel, policy, food, music and a host of other issues during a four-plus-decade career.

I started this blog nearly a decade ago.

It has shared more than 2,000 original, fine art photos that I have taken with a variety of Nikon Digital SLR cameras.

My blog’s posts have been read by more than 285,000 original visitors.

The words, if compiled into average book length, would fill four full volumes.

I have shared best practices, humor, rage and beauty.

My reporting posted in this blog has covered Europe, Africa, Asia plus North, South and Central America.

For several years, I have posted the best elements of my blog on:

Twitter @stevewright64

Instagram steve4156

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/steve.wright.79827

I hope you enjoy my writing and share it with others, so I can gain more readers and more influence when it comes to designing a more equitable, inclusive and accessible environment for all.

The images are from the Wynwood art district in Miami.