Touring the French Quarter

My dad and stepmom came down to New Orleans to visit me over Thanksgiving break, and decided that they were going to see every part of the city they could in the 3 and a half days they were here. After seeing the campus, Audobon Park, the zoo, Treme, catching some music on Frenchmen St. and walking around the French Quarter, my stepmom finally gravitated to the horse pulled carriages on Decatur St. Despite mine and my dad's reluctance and embarrassment, she paid for a tour and pulled us into the back row. There was only one other couple from Bolivia in the carriage. The driver introduced himself as Charles, and began a very slow, structured speech with corny jokes and timed pauses. Despite his script, he actually had a lot of really interesting information and stories to share, and the 30 minute ride was a decent history lesson of the French Quarter. He explained most of the homes were built with such high ceilings to keep the insides cool before Central Air, and that the wide shuttered doors on the first floors of many buildings were actually just housing cars. He also told us most of the attics are inhabited by ghosts, and that you'll never see lights on in the third floors because owners fear they'll disturb them. Although it's a stereotypical tourist activity that a lot of people will overlook for that reason, the carriage tours of the French Quarter are worthwhile if you have extra time on your hands!