Visiting N.O. with German Guests (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: buy, schools, taxi)

[captaindes]

The parents of my German Exchange student will be visiting in May. I have not been to the area since long before Katrina, and was mostly interested in music and adult beverages. )

Looking for suggestions re. interesting and foreigner friendly (as in tours, etc. that offer translation) activities and especially if you have information on areas to avoid now (post Katrina). I want them to be safe and have a great time.

Thanks so much.

[downtowndoll]

We went this past July to New Orleans with our French exchange student.

I don't think there will be much of translation for museums. There may be some on tours but you would have to book ahead of time.

We didn't find much even in French for him. And we needed it because his English was terrible. You will be able to find guidebooks in different languages, but I can't remember where I found our French one.
I know there is a small book shop across from the Wyndham Bourbon Orleans, on that street right behind the Cathedral.


The French Quarter is in great shape and so is the Garden District /Uptown area. My husband is a project manager and had lots of work there on national chains he was overseeing- we were over there a lot. An easy example of Southern plantations is Destrehan Plantation, about 30 minutes or less to the north of the city.

Don't be surprised if they are the most interested in shopping! They can buy so much over here because of the good Euro! My mom has friends from her Italy days who visit ,and the highlight (for them) is shopping at the outlet malls and eating in our chain restaurants. They just don't care about the museums, we found. But maybe we just had 5 couples who were shopaholics!

[miserylovesco.]

You can grab a taxi to the Zoo, then take the Ferry across the the aquarium which is back in the quarter.
That's always cool, otherwise I'd say hang out in the Marigny.
there's aways cool stuff going on Frenchman street.

[muer]

My roommate is German. The translation thing really struck me. How old are the German Students? It seems they would already know English if they had intentions of coming to study in the United States.

My roommate plans to go on a road trip this summer, and was mainly interested in the National Parks., probably cause out in German, they don't have huge expanses of undeveloped land.

Ask whether they like Jazz. I had a Czech guests once who said they wanted to hear "Old black man's blues music".


The Zoo sounds good, but they have zoos in Germany. What's up with the Aquarium, maybe check out an alligator tour. They would probably like that. Don't have links or contact info though.

[bayoubob]

there is the new orleans jazz and heritage festable from april 25 thru may 4th

[blume]

I have had my German friends visit several times over the last 5 years. The student should know a bit of English, (they do study English in German schools). What you might find though, is the 'slang' or 'dialects' of some of us down here, can be hard for them to discern. (I speak fair German, so it wasnt' a problem). You won't find German translators, unless you just get lucky. My friends really enjoyed the Aquarium....(there is a white alligator there...or was...). I took my friend also to Preservation Hall. As for students, maybe just the walking around the area, and peeking in and out of shops. (the weather will distract them somewhat if its a bit hot....they're not so use to our humidity). They also liked the "Big Mississippi River". You might try a Swamp Tour in the Baton Rouge area.

[jdhlu]

There is a lot you can do with them.
French Quarter
Garden District and Cemetery Tours
Zoo
Riverwalk Mall
Aqaurium
National World War Two Museum
Bars, Restaurants
and a lot more!

[jdhlu]

oops, actaully scrap the National World War II Museum.

I forgot, you said they are German so it might make them uneasy?

[captaindes]

Thanks to all of you that responded. I now have some great ideas. My exchange student speaks English quite well and even understands our Southern slang and accent. He has been here all year and his parents are making a quick visit here to meet me and see the area before he returns.