Ornate costumes, dazzling floats, coloured beads, music and parading bands characterise Mardi Gras in Orleans. This centuries-old tradition dates back to the Middle Ages when the first parade is recorded to have taken place in 1833.
The date of Mardi Gras changes every year but is always 47 days before Easter. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, technically lasts for one day, which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday but the entire Mardi Gras season typically spans several weeks.
Mardi Gras involves 70 parades, often lasting 5 hours, organised by social clubs known as krewes. Several are known as “super krewes” such as the Krewe of Bacchus, Krewe of Orpheus as well as the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club go the extra mile, holding larger parades and events (often featuring celebrity guests), which tend to head to the streets over the last few days.
Elsewhere, the backstreet cultural experience in the oldest Africa American neighbourhood in the US takes place in the early hours on Mardi Gras morning where Mardi Gras Indians march in costumes of the North Side Skull & Bones Gang and the Baby Dolls to wake up the neighbourhood. This is an authentic, sombre experience, a dark atmosphere.
The Backstreet Cultural Museum, located here, explains the rites and practices interwoven with the French-Creole history.
French Quarter by Paul Broussard
Founded as a military-style grid of seventy squares in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Bienville, the French Quarter was the original city, now designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The streets in the French Quarter are too narrow for the floats, but the party continues all day and, for some, all night. The architecture lends itself to partying with decorated balconies such as the Cornet Restaurant, which has the biggest and brightest second-floor balcony on Bourbon Street, perfect for the legendary bead throwing, while jazz musicians played on the pavements, in the bars and clubs.
The iconic wrought iron decorative balconies, derived from the Spanish, have shaped the architectural aesthetic of the French Quarter. And to preserve their splendour, there’s a tradition of “Greasing the Poles” which involves treating the structures to deter overzealous revellers from shimmying up to the coveted balcony space.
Throwing beads from the balcony in the French Quarter
Positioned next to the Mississippi River is the vast Mardi Gras World, a warehouse where the magic of the Mardi Gras is in the making as a year-round industry. Here artists, sculptors and even the robot Pixi are busy crafting over 500 floats and bringing characters to life in a range of materials from paper-mache, clay and fibre glass.
It’s like a sculpture wonderland of figures, from a styrofoam Shrek to King Kong. It’s also a den of floats which feature multi-sections that can stretch up to 200 feet long, complete with hydraulic moving parts, LED lighting, and pyrotechnic effects. Mardi Gras World is a tourist attraction with tours and fun facts for all the family. It originated in 1932 as Kern Studios when the first mule-drawn float was built on the back of a garbage wagon.
The buzz, spirit and energy of the Mardi Gras does not disappear after the police have cleared the streets on the last day. The party atmosphere in the French Quarter continues with jazz, restaurants, tours and attractions all year round.
Jazz was born in New Orleans but its roots lay in the musical traditions of Europe and Africa. The music representing the artistic expression of dreams and destiny. Around the streets today, the distinctive sound seems to bubble up from the streets, trumpets blaring, a crash of the cymbal and blows of a horn, laced with vocals form the rich bass band culture. Visit the New Orleans jazz museum, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of jazz music. It’s easy to imagine the jazz funerals and slow shuffle march often portrayed in Hollywood in James Bond, Live & Let Die. And jazz legend Louis Armstrong was born here, an airport named after him and a park dedicated to his gift.
Of the many accolades he received, being elected King of Zulu during Mardi Gras was the one that he often said meant the most. A photo of him as Zulu made the cover of TIME magazine in 1949. Armstrong’s best-known songs include When the Saints Go Marching In, “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!“,
When it comes to food, New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures and flavours. Jambalaya is a rice dish with a mix of chicken, seafood, sausage–or all three! Po-boy, a hearty sandwich, stuffed and slathered with sauce or mayonnaise, and then served between two long pieces of French bread. Gumbo is a flavoursome stew which embodies the essence of Creole cooking and Crawfish Étouffée is crawfish in a rich sauce with rice or the popular red beans and rice and try the alligator bites, breaded or grilled. No trip to New Orleans is complete without experiencing the simple pleasure of a bag of beignets. These fried, fluffy square-shaped doughnuts covered in powdered sugar were made famous at Café du Monde and have been a staple since 1862. For those with a sweet tooth, pralines are a must-try. And during Mardi Gras, it would be a sin not to taste a slice of King Cake, a blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll iced in the colours of Mardi Gras, purple which represents justice, green faith and gold power.
Happy hour here is between 9am – 4pm, so a chalked board read. It’s party time for cocktails. The Sazerac cocktail (cognac or whiskey based) is the official drink of New Orleans while The Frenchmen 75 was made famous in New Orleans using cognac, sugar, lemon juice & Champagne or Summertime, rosemary infused Hendrick’s Gin, lemon juice, & Rosemary syrup. Visit the Carousel Bar which opened in 1949 and is still spinning.
This is party city where festivals keep on coming with around 130 unique events throughout the year to include Jazz Fest, ESSENCE and French Quarter Festival.
Outside festival fever, the city is packed with culture from museums to art galleries, tours of all kinds from, plantation, swamp and city tours to steamboat or airboat cruises or hop on an authentic streetcar to explore the neighbourhoods.
Tremé is the nation’s oldest African American neighbourhood within which is Congo Square, famous for its influence on the history of African American music, especially jazz. It’s an open space where the enslaved and free people of colour gathered throughout the 19th century for meetings, open markets, dance and drumming celebrations that played a substantial role in the development of jazz. In fact, local voodoo practitioners still consider Congo Square a spiritual base.
Vue Orleans is a 360° taste of the city, offering breathtaking views atop one of the tallest buildings in New Orleans and an interactive cultural experience
Louis Armstrong Park is a 32-acre park with a lagoon, fountains, an Auditorium for concerts, historic buildings and Perserverance Hall.
Preservation Hall is a jazz venue on St Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, famous for acoustic and authentic jazz concerts.
Both hotels are conveniently located on Canal Street.
More Info on New Orleans here.
The post What is the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras like to visit? appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
The Boyne Valley takes its name from the River Boyne, a waterway steeped in myth and legend. The landscape has been settled for over 5,000 years and you’ll find quaint towns, ancient tombs, and castles that whisper tales of Ireland’s tumultuous and glorious past.
River Boyne
Trim
Bettystown
It’s located in the North East of Ireland just 20 minutes north of Dublin International airport or 90 minutes south of Belfast International airport. Covering all of County Meath and the southern region of County Louth, heritage sites are dotted across the landscape, often close to the rivers Boyne and Blackwater. There’s good food here too, bread making classes, beautiful gardens and even saunas on the banks of the Boyne.
Trim is a town that wears its medieval past with pride. The centrepiece is Trim Castle, the largest Norman castle in Ireland. Built in the 12th century, it famously doubled as York in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart. The guided tours are excellent, offering access to the keep and insight into Norman military architecture.
Trim Castle and Boyne
Trim
Trim
Trim is also home to lovely river walks along the Boyne, and the remains of several religious buildings, including St. Mary’s Abbey and Newtown Abbey, add a contemplative touch to the town’s vibrant history. The charming Georgian buildings and bars, restaurants and cafés make it a great spot to rest and refuel.
Less than 10 km from Trim, on the serene banks of the River Boyne, The Hot Box Sauna at Bective Mill offers a rejuvenating escape that seamlessly blends ancient wellness traditions with the natural beauty of Ireland’s countryside.
Hotbox Sauna
Hotbox Sauna
Hotbox Sauna
With three handcrafted Finnish saunas, visitors can indulge in the soothing warmth before taking a refreshing plunge into the River Boyne. The facility has recently undergone an expansion, including the addition of a larger hot tub, two cold plunge pools, and expanded changing areas, to ensure a comfortable experience for all guests.
Heading east, Bread with Benefits is a rising-star baker where bread is more than food – it’s a movement, a philosophy, and a gateway to wellness. But what truly sets this place apart is its educational twist. Visitors can join sourdough workshops, gut-health talks, or “dough therapy” sessions that blend baking with mindfulness exercises.
Bread with Benefits
Bread with Benefits
Step into the bakery, and you’re greeted by the warm scent of fermentation and freshly baked crusts. On the counter, wildflower-seeded boules, rye-infused batards, and quirky additions like turmeric-honey spelt loaves sit proudly. Every loaf is made with natural, slow fermentation methods, often using ancient grains and local Irish ingredients – oats, seaweed, wild garlic, and heritage barley, to name a few.
Bread with Benefits
After the workshop, you get to take your loaf home with you. Or stay and pair it with Boyne Valley cheese, a drizzle of raw honey from nearby meadows, or for something truly unique – their signature “Ferment Flight,” a tasting platter of sourdough, live cultures, and foraged toppings, served with herbal infusions.
In a bend of the River Boyne in County Meath, lies one of the most remarkable prehistoric landscapes in Europe: Brú na Bóinne, or the “Palace of the Boyne.” This UNESCO World Heritage dates back over 5,000 years and was a centre of ceremony, burial, and ritual during the Neolithic period.
Knowth
Brú na Bóinne
The impressive Visitor Centre is the starting point for all visits to Newgrange and Knowth. Its exhibition delves into the Neolithic people, the megalithic era, and significant events like the solstices. From here shuttle buses ferry visitors to the monuments.
Newgrange is astonishing in its construction. A large, circular mound measuring over 80 meters in diameter and 13 meters high, it is ringed by 97 massive kerbstones, many of which are etched with intricate megalithic art—spirals, lozenges, and chevrons that still defy interpretation.
Newgrange
Newgrange
Newgrange
But the true magic of Newgrange occurs during the winter solstice. For a few days around December 21st, the rising sun pierces the long passage and illuminates the inner chamber in a stunning display of ancient engineering and astronomical alignment.
Entry to the solstice event is determined by lottery, but daily guided tours allow visitors to explore the passage and experience a simulation of the solstice light. Walking into the ancient chamber, surrounded by the cool stone and lingering mysteries of prehistoric time, is an unforgettable experience.
Just a short drive from Newgrange, Knowth offers a complementary but distinct insight into Neolithic life. It’s actually a complex of one large mound and 17 smaller satellite tombs. The main mound is similar in size to Newgrange but boasts something truly exceptional: the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe.
Knowth
Knowth
Knowth
Over 300 decorated stones have been uncovered at Knowth, bearing an array of abstract motifs and symbolic carvings. Scholars debate the meanings—cosmic maps, calendars, spiritual symbols? Whatever their purpose, the carvings showcase a sophisticated and symbol-rich culture.
Unlike Newgrange, Knowth has two passages, aligned roughly east-west, although neither is as perfectly aligned with solar events. Excavations here have also revealed evidence of Iron Age and early Christian settlement, suggesting that Knowth was revered and reused for millennia. There’s no access inside but you can climb to the top of the mound.
Loughcrew Cairns
Loughcrew Cairns
View from Loughcrew Cairns
Further west in County Meath, about 40km from Brú na Bóinne, lies another stunning Neolithic site: the Loughcrew Cairns, or Slieve na Calliagh—“Mountain of the Witch.” Here, on a cluster of low hills, dozens of passage tombs are scattered, dating to around 4000 BC, slightly earlier than Newgrange.
Loughcrew Cairns
Loughcrew Cairns
Loughcrew Cairns
No tourist buses here and access is only on a steep path, a walk of around 30 minutes. The setting high in the hills offers panoramic views that deepen the spiritual feeling of the place. Cairn T is the most prominent and on the spring and autumn equinoxes, the rising sun illuminates the inner chamber in a phenomenon remarkably similar to Newgrange.
Close to the Loughcrew Hills in Oldcastle, the Poppy Garden offers visitors a delightful escape into a world of horticultural charm and creativity. Winding paths lead guests through vibrant flower beds, a productive vegetable plot, and a flourishing orchard.
Poppy Garden
Poppy Garden
Poppy Garden
The garden evolves with the seasons, reaching a crescendo of colour and texture in the autumn months. The changing foliage and late-blooming flowers create a dynamic landscape that offers new experiences with each visit. Relax on the patio with a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of homemade cake, taking in the stunning views of the Loughcrew Hills.
Killua Castle
Killua Castle
20 km south east, in the heart of County Westmeath, Killua Castle has links to Sir Walter Raleigh and Lawrence of Arabia. The castle, constructed in the 1780s by Sir Benjamin Chapman, lay in ruins for 60 years. In the early 2000s, the Krause family undertook the ambitious project of restoring it. They also filled the grounds with rare breeds of moiled cows, Jacob sheep, Irish Goats and parkland deer.
Killua Castle
Killua Castle
Killua Castle
The rooms house a collection of artwork and artefacts from the Medieval and Early Renaissance periods. Today, the castle seamlessly blends historical architecture with modern sustainability practices, including geothermal heating and regenerative farming. It welcomes visitors every Saturday with guided tours conducted by the owners themselves. You can also stay here and their Twelve Points Restaurant features many ingredients sourced from their farm.
GO: Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Dublin
The Stansted Express is the fastest way to the airport from central London.
INFO:
STAY:
EAT:
You may also like:
The post Guide to the Boyne Valley, Ireland appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
You don’t have to be serious about wildlife photography to enjoy capture eye-catching images of our feathered friends. These colorful subjects abound all year long, and are easy to find at a local park, nearby nature center, and even in the comfort of your own backyard.
If you’re new to the game or want to give the genre a try, this quick tutorial from the popular Trav in the Bush YouTube channel will shortcut your learning curve in less than eight minutes by identifying five common beginner mistakes and the simple solutions for fixing them in a hurry.
Instructor Trav is a successful bird photographer based in British Columbia whose impressive imagery will quickly convince you to heed his expert advice. Overcropping is at the top of his list. As he says, “You may want that classic bird-on-a-stick look, but you’re too far away and think you can just get away with cropping in on the image.”
The drawback of this approach, according to Trav, is that that the more you crop in on a shot the more you sacrifice detail and image quality (in favor of grain, noise, and other unwanted image-killing attributes). The obvious solution is to use a longer lens or move physically closer to the subject. Unfortunately, there are times when neither is possible, but Trav demonstrates a couple of other effective options to try.
Mistake #2 is using a shutter speed that’s too slow for the task at hand when your goal is maximum sharpness. Trav takes a look at an old rule of thumb that says slowest safe shutter speed is the reciprocal of the focal length in use; namely, 1/600 with a 600mm telephoto.
This rule however, predates the multi-stop benefits of modern image-stabilization technology which must be factored into the equation. Trav also insists that there’s no such thing as a stationary bird (even if it’s perched on a limb rather flying across the sky) because it’s actually moving and twitching all the time—especially in windy conditions that ruffle feathers and make images appear acceptably soft.
The foregoing is barely a taste of the simple techniques that Trav describes, which include dealing with busy backgrounds, solving the challenges of bright midday light, and picking the best autofocus mode for different types of scenes.
The Trav in the Bush YouTube channel is full of more how-to videos for aspiring bird photographers of all skill levels.
There’s always a chance of contaminating you gear when shooting in the field, so don’t miss a recent tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates a safe-and-easy method for cleaning you’re camera’s dusty sensor, with his best practices for keeping it pristine as long as possible.
