Goth Mecca

One place I think every goth should visit once in their life is New Orleans.  Sure, the goth scene is pretty much dead after Katrina, but New Orleans and goth are still linked in the minds of many.  At any rate, it's a great destination for anyone with an interest in cemeteries, voodoo and other 'alternative' interests.  Here are a few pictures from my recent trip there for the holidays.

The cemeteries are an attraction all their own.  Our first stop was St. Louis Cemetery No.1:

Where we saw the tomb of Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau:

Our next stop was Burbon Street, where I had my first glass of absinthe.

 And had a drink at the nation's oldest bar:

They operate by candle light.

We explored the French Quarter:

And the Marigny:

Then had an elegant dinner in a private alcove at a martini bar called the Bombay Club:

The next night, properly coiffed, we went to see a brass band play:

We made sure to stop at plenty of local coffee shops with quirky ambiance:

And we toured an old Creole plantation on the Mississippi River called Oak Alley, where Interview with a Vampire was filmed:

This is the room in which they would place deceased family members after their death for viewing before the burial.  Black cloth was draped over the mirrors in the room, to keep the spirits of the departed from seeing their reflection and becoming trapped in the mirrors.

We also visited Lafayette Cemetery:

It was a great trip, and what I've posted here just scratches the surface of the interesting things for a goth-inclined person to delve into.  There are voodoo shops, art galleries, street musicians, clubs (though I couldn't find any goth venues), and other forms of general debauchery to be had.  I highly recommend it as a destination.  Just be sure to have your pocketbook handy, as anything near the quarter is sure to be priced for the tourists.