Lafitte's Treasure...

Built in 1849, this New Orleans French Quarter gem is a hidden secret to many visitors...until now.

Located on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Philip, this four story mansion was our home for three wonderful days while Sarah, Sandy, Pam and I relaxed and rekindled friendships in the Vieux Carre' (old square).

I hadn't seen Pam (Ohio) and Sandy (Pennsylvania)  in almost a year and needless to say, I was VERY lonesome!!! Sarah and I picked them up at the airport and we found our way through the scenic route of my beloved New Orleans. I hadn't told them where we were staying as I wanted it to be a surprise.

Only those who love old charm could appreciate the creaks and cracks, peeled paint and rusty old beauty that this mansion had to offer. It was soooo far from the regular comforts of a chain hotel but soooo much more appreciated!

I'm not sure if it's namesake (Pirate Jean Lafitte) had anything to do with the "treasures" we found while we were there. Or ... maybe it was the gris~gris, or the voodoo ... or simply the enchantment of the French Quarter that made our weekend so special.

From the charming courtyards to the sound of cloppity-clop of the horse and carriages that regularly passed by below, we were surrounded by true Southern Creole charm in every sense.

I chose the third floor suite (#31) which was a two room suite with a full private balcony...

   That was our balcony above...the top one. We were welcomed by the morning sun and we were shaded by the afternoon sun.

The views were spectacular...almost like a Thomas Kincade painting.

Seriously! (as always, my photos are NEVER enhanced!!!)

Our balcony was on Bourbon Street and we were about 3 blocks from the "party". It was quiet enough to relax and still enjoy the faint sounds of the night life here in the Big Easy.

I love the mix of the old and the new all in one shot...it's amazing.

I think Sandy thought so too...

If you look at the photo above, you will see the old building in the bottom right hand corner. That is the old Lafitte Blacksmith Shop, now known as...

This old building IS the oldest structure in the French Quarter. It survived the two great fires of 1788 and 1794 which destroyed over a thousand buildings in the original square.

Some believe that Jean Lafitte has buried treasure in the old Blacksmith Bar and it is protected by his ghost.

The structure is lit by candle light only. Many locals and visitors say that while having drinks and enjoying the nightlife by dimly lit gas lanterns, they often hear disembodied footsteps walking near the office/bathroom area where Jean Lafitte arranged his contraband deals well over a century ago. It is a known haunt and a well loved hangout of the locals that have many stories to tell (especially after a few drinks).

I just love New Orleans, don't you?

Speaking of haunted...

I failed to mention to the girls that the Lafitte Guest House was haunted too! I didn't tell them until after we unpacked, settled in and had a few drinks of our own. I didn't want them to run out the door and run loose on Bourbon Street, I'd have never found them again! ;)

Needless to say, they WERE a little freaked out...but they handled it well. The haunting tales led to much midnight giggling, laughter and looking over our shoulders quite often!!!

Let's enter into this fabulous 160 year old mansion and I'll tell you a little bit about it's charm...

Like I mentioned above, the mansion was built in 1849, 55 years after the last great fire of the Vieux Carre'. With New Orleans being a colony of Spain, the "new" architecture was Spanish style instead of the old French style which was eliminated previously in the fires but all the while, still keeping the infamous name of "The French Quarter" or the "Vieux Carre'" (old square).

The great fires may have destroyed the buildings but not the hearts of the French that settled in old New Orleans. Even though it was thought to be the "new" Spanish architecture, they still put the old French touches as needed...

This was the grand entrance...it's simply beautiful.

Go ahead and sign your name in the guest book...they LOVE visitors!!!!!

Beautiful marble floors and old thick cypress banisters...

Huge silk tapestries and beautiful crystal chandeliers...

Grand parlor decor and exquisite hand carved fireplace facades...

Oh yeah...didn't I mention this mansion was haunted?

No...no...no...

Not by the "devil looking thing" on the mantel, but by Marie.

Little Lost Marie is a confused little ghost who cannot find her way out. Caught in a time warp, the little girl lost repeatedly exits the same bedroom (#22), walks down the hall and disappears through a gilt-framed, five foot mirror hanging on the wall at the far end of the second floor.

Visitors and guests often walk up the stairs only to see the reflection in the mirror of little Marie standing there crying prior to vanishing in the mirror.

Marie is believed to be the young daughter of the original owners of the mansion, Paul Joseph Gleises and Marie Odalie Ducayet. It is believed that little Marie died of yellow fever, common of those days, and she never made it to her fifth birthday.

Unfortunately (or luckily) we didn't see little lost Marie.

But we surely giggled about her every time we walked the second floor hall!

I'm sorry to show you our room so messy but we really made it our home for the three days we were there.

Actually, this below was Sandy and Pam's area. Sarah and I's area was NEAT AND CLEAN  :)

We had our own little bar, stocked with our favorites...

It was just a beautiful room with beautiful furnishings that represented the wealth and fashion of that era...

(shame on those girls for being so messy)

I loved lying there at night dreaming of what it was like to actually live in the mansion's glory days. But then I quickly snapped out of it and thought of the HEAT, HUMIDITY, wearing corsets and dresses, AND ... BUGS! eeewwww!

I could have NEVER made it back then! haha

However, we did take full advantage of the mansion's grandeur though. Our breakfasts were always celebrated out on the balcony in the morning sunlight...

And so were our lunches as I has brought lots of deli meat for sandwiches and fruit for snacks...

Note the horse and carriage in the upper right of the photo above. (cloppity clop, cloppity clop, cloppity clop...imagine that)

:)

With plenty to read...

And lots of time to relax...

And much roof top scenery to enjoy...

The "treasures" of the Lafitte Guest House, the charm of my beloved New Orleans, and a girl's weekend of fun and laughter will remain in my heart...forever!

I'm home now after 11 days of being a road whore (excuse my language but it's true!) I put 2,000+ miles on my Suburban while the girls were in and I have SO much more to tell you about our 11 day trip!!!!

But if you are not sick of hearing about New Orleans, I'd love to show you some more in my next post. If you love OLD, CHIPPY, and down right charming...tune in for some more Vieux Carre'.

I missed you. I had SO much fun. But...I'm happy to be home with The Man and little Oreo!!! (by the way, The Man was such a good baby sitter while I was gone...too sweet!) Both of them are alive and well (which is a big deal with me being gone for that long) I owe him big time!!!!

;)