NOLA: St. Roch's Campo Santo

It would be easy to spend an entire weekend in NOLA just visiting cemeteries. There are many, and they are all full of fascinating history. St. Roch is a neighborhood in New Orleans, about 10 minutes away from the French Quarter. We were drawn here by the chapel and cemetery for which the neighborhood is named.

Saint Roch is the patron saint of good health, and it was to him that New Orleans Reverend Peter Leonard Thevis prayed to in 1867 during a violent scourge of yellow fever. He vowed that were his parish spared, he would build a chapel in Saint Roch's name. Over 3000 New Orleanians died from the outbreak in that year alone, although yellow fever had claimed over 40,000 from 1817 - 1905. Incredibly, every member of his parish survived the epidemic, and so, true to his word, he set out to erect the chapel and surrounding cemetery in celebration.

For years, locals have visited the chapel and left behind a thank you for their good health upon healing. Among these offerings are a variety of prosthetic legs, eyes, dentures, medical braces, crutches, canes, and other instruments. Unfortunately, the chapel has been closed for some time for restoration, so at the time of our visit we could only view these offerings through a small, barred, window. Fortunately there are some excellent photos from previous visitors online, two of which I am sharing below from atlas obscura (one of my favorite resources!).

source: atlas obscura/joanna ebenstein

source: atlas obscura/michael brownlee

The surrounding cemetery (campo santo) is beautiful and worth a visit. It is a unique and fascinating spot, whether you are fortunate enough to enter the chapel or not. The cemetery is, perhaps oddly, bright and colorful (gorgeous blue alcoves and bright white marble) for a place of mourning (this is true of much of New Orleans in comparison to those deliciously spooky New England cemeteries), and beautifully maintained.

Thinking of booking a trip? Try airbnb for local digs at a lower cost.

Check out the "NOLA" tag for more posts like this! 
Like this post? Follow for more!

BLOGLOVIN | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | ETSY

FLORIDA: Cassadaga

Cassadaga, also known as the Psychic Capital of the World, is a small community about 30 minutes north of Orlando, Florida. We visited this town a few years ago on a whim while we were in Orlando, and I've been aching to go back since. There is something just so bizarrely attractive about this place.

We arrived in the town around dusk, giving us enough time to enjoy a dinner at the hotel and pick up a quick psychic reading from a local. Being that is was dusk, there wasn't a whole lot to see or do. The psychic reading was a combination of palm reading and tarot performed by "Misty". As someone that studies science, I err on the side of skepticism in terms of the metaphysical. In some ways, the reading was accurate, but it's impossible to tell from our brief encounter if this psychic was legit or not. Either way, it was a fun experience that seemed necessary in the Psychic Capital of the World.

On my agenda for a future visit to Cassadaga, is the cemetery. This location is rumored to be haunted, and the locals are incredibly serious about keeping visitors away from the site after sundown.

Thinking of booking a trip? Try airbnb for local digs at a lower cost.

Check out the "Florida" tag for more posts like this! 
Like this post? Follow for more!

BLOGLOVIN | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | ETSY

NOLA: A Walk Around the Garden District

One of our favorite things about our trip to New Orleans was aimlessly wandering around the Garden District. This district is a beautiful neighborhood of extravagant, historic, homes. While named the garden district, the primary stand out in the area is the Victorian architecture. The area was developed between 1832 - 1900, and much of the homes have been preserved since that time. We stayed within this district, right around the corner from the beautiful Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. 

New Orleans is known for it's rich and haunted history, and this area is no exception.  There are tons of famous and infamous homes within this region (including the one we stayed in, which is rumored to be haunted!). The area was once a smaller neighborhood of plantations, but has since expanded into a closer-knit community of mansions. The Garden District was formed by wealthy (white) locals that wanted to live further from the French Quarter - an area primarily populated by Creole people. The origins of this neighborhood are therefore steeped in xenophobia and slavery, a very dark chapter in American history, despite the beautiful facades.

Pictured below is the Buckner Mansion, which was featured in American Horror Story: Coven.

Thinking of booking a trip? Try airbnb for local digs at a lower cost.

Check out the "NOLA" tag for more posts like this! 
Like this post? Follow for more!

BLOGLOVIN | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | ETSY