Have You Ever Heard The Phrase “Where Y’at In New Orleans”? Here Is Why It May Actually Mean More Than You Think.
If You Are New To New Orleans
If you are new to New Orleans getting around town can be tricky. There are tons of one-way streets which can throw you off your tracks and that’s only the beginning. The city, unlike most American towns, is not laid out in a grid. The streets basically follow the bend of the Mississippi river. That’s why New Orleans is often referred to as the Crescent City. Getting directions from locals won’t necessarily help you if you just got here. Locals won’t give you cardinal directions like go north, east, west or south, instead they will tell you that your destination is lakeside or riverside. The fact that the Westbank is actually east of New Orleans only adds to the confusion. New Orleanians also love to refer to landmarks or neighborhoods. You will hear things like “That’s on the other side of City Park,” or “That’s deep in the Bywater.” You’ll also find that some street names in the city are misspelled on street signs which will throw google map, or pretty much any navigation system off.
If You Are A Local
And even if you are a local and you are familiar with the city’s idiosyncrasies you’ll still find it difficult to get around sometimes. Constant and ever changing construction work can throw a wrench into your travel plans. As you know, there’s always something going on in the city. Officials will block off major streets for bigger festivals and, of course, for parades during carnival season. This can make it tricky to get around town even if you are not planning on going anywhere near the festivities. Furthermore, the search for a parking spot can prove to be difficult in certain parts of the city especially the CBD or the French Quarter.
