By Tim McNally

By almost any account, New Orleans continues to be an amazing, unique, onto itself, sometimes exasperating place. 

If you use your imagination just a little bit, the entire physical and mental experience can be likened to a Carnival Funhouse. Just about nothing is like it is anywhere else. Examples abound:

• Topographical features, which in truth are unremarkable as can be, are not present in New Orleans. All is flat as far as the eye can see which turns out to be a long way without hills blocking line of sight. .
• A lot of the flat land is not land you can walk on. Surrounded by water you just never know what is solid and what is mostly liquid.
• Coupled with this fact is what is below the surface everywhere is the absence of any solid material. Just about every structure placed there by builders in New Orleans, floats. Most cities are built on rock. New Orleans was built on muck.
• Then there is the discussion of seasons. The seasons In New Orleans are really only two. Residents have have to create a whole different group of seasons taking the place of traditional ones. The new seasons have been identified with hurricanes, agricultural products like crawfish, tomatoes, mirlitons (more on this one later below), strawberries, oysters, shrimp and the like. Many new residents in New Orleans complain about the lack of the traditional four seasons. We are down to two real seasons based on usual understanding, winter and summer. 
• There is also a strict adherence to our culture. New residents are puzzled by the large number of festivals celebrating heritage, historic events, backgrounds, holidays of other nations, culinary products, and many other aspects of life respected here but not celebrated anywhere else in the United States with such abandon and joy. Most Italians don’t celebrate their country’s patron saint, Joseph. An important tradition and celebration rooted in Italian history takes place in New Orleans, not Italy. That’s also reflected in the local Irish culture. St. Patrick’s Day is a real big deal in New Orleans. Bigger than the not-so-much celebration of Ireland’s Patron Saint in Dublin.  
• A perfect example of New Orleans continuing celebrations centered on history which in modern-day society cannot be explained is Carnival. In Europe in the Middle Ages this time of year was really a big deal. So why is it still a big deal in New Orleans in the 21st Century?
• Compass Points are also not a notion that applies to New Orleans. Because the City follows the twists and curves of a meandering river, finding North cannot be done easily, nor does New Orleans feel a need to find such a direction. Instead New Orleans has adopted her own methods of determining where a person is located on the earth. Two of the traditional compass points have been replaced with local geographic features bordering the City: the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. The other two usual compass directions have been replaced with the alignment of the River: Up or Down. So when a local tells you to meet at the Uptown River corner of a certain intersection, you are being told precisely where to be but if you are looking for the direction Northwest, you will likely not be in the right spot. 

All of this background information about acclimating to New Orleans is also useful when finding a place to settle into a home away from home. Tuck away preconceived notions about comfort and move up expectations. New Orleans has been compared to the most comfortable item of clothing you can own. Be comfortable both in fit and in style. 

The Windsor Court Hotel is one of those places that fit the description of a New Orleans center for relaxation and comfort. The truth of the matter is that being a guest at The Windsor Court Hotel is like being in a fully-serviced village and, if the guest wishes to stay completely within the walls of the property, they really won’t lack for any comfort or convenience, nor will the guest miss out on traditional New Orleans style. 

Health Clubs, beauty treatments, spa, swimming pool, a number of bars and restaurant facilities, entertainment, and world-class in-room comforts are all a part of the amenities provided to every guest. There is also the location which puts New Orleans, a City renowned for entertainment, culture, art,  history, not to mention the most imaginative cuisine and drinks, all at stratospheric levels other places can only dream about. 

Another key point:  Windsor Court Hotel is close to the center of the heartbeats of New Orleans, Canal Street and the French Quarter. Very walkable, meaning you won’t be needing a car or even a ride service. What a concept: saving money and still being where you want. 

Oh, and as promised earlier, a local vegetable favorite, the mirliton is also known by a third name, the vegetable pear. Originally from Mesopotamia, now native to Mexico and New Orleans, is fondly enjoyed in New Orleans, the chayote there, mirliton here, is ready for harvesting October usually depending on climate temperatures and rainfall. The plant is a vine which likes to climb. New Orleans loves to stuff the pear with meats, seafood and spices, then bake  

One more item which makes this town like nowhere else.