The Astor.

This is what staying at a hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans looks like.

During the day a streetcar runs right down the middle.

This is what staying at a hotel on the corner of Canal and Bourbon looks like.

If you're a tourist, Bourbon Street is the place to be at night.  Unless you don't imbibe or enjoy being subjected to tacky club gear and face-planting drunks.  In that case you might want to stay clear.  

The passing police cars felt appropriate given the atmosphere.

The red awning signifies the front entrance of our hotel.

Every afternoon a jazz band would congregate on that corner and play until well after D and I had drifted off to sleep each night.

Am I complaining?  No!  D and I knew exactly what we were getting into when we booked the hotel.  Since we never stay in New Orleans for any length of time, we decided that we wanted to be in the thick of things.  We kept off of Bourbon Street so there was no binge drinking or table dancing, but there may have been a bit of hip swaying to the band on the corner.

Besides, when we grew tired of the mayhem outside we merely walked a few yards into the safety of the hotel.