Judging by the buildings, time apparently stopped here in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The market is a bonanza for shoppers. With its stores and flea market, it's a good place to buy Cajun cookbooks, hot sauces, Mardi Gras beads and much more. Across Decatur Street from the market is Jackson Square, the hub of daytime activity in the Quarter. Artists show their works along the fence that encloses the park, which is dominated by St. Louis Cathedral and a statue of Gen. Andrew Jackson, hero of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans.
Street performers run the gamut from acrobats to fire-eaters, from magicians to mimes.
Invariably, a Dixieland band is playing. Before you begin exploring the French Quarter on foot, it's a good idea to orient yourself by taking one of the horse-drawn carriage history tours. The carriages line up in front of the square. After all, this is the land of gumbo and jambalaya, crawfish and etouffee, red beans and rice. For lunch, you might try a muffuletta , a sandwich on Italian bread heaped with Italian meats and cheeses.