A Video Tour of La Belle Esplanade (Part I)
If you haven’t stayed with us and you’re curious about what my voice sounds like in person rather than on the page, you are in for a real treat. What this site needs is more video, dontcha think?
If you haven’t stayed with us, here’s a chance to see all the suites we have at New Orleans’ premier boutique experience inn. We’re not going to cover all the rooms today. We’re going to parcel this out one room at a time. We have five suites, each of which consists of two rooms: a sitting room and a bedroom. Each suite also has its own private bath and balcony but we’re not going to dwell too long on either of those features.
I know some people like to spend a lot of time in the bathroom but I’m not one of those people. It’s strictly a utilitarian concern from my viewpoint. We do have beautiful antique cast-iron claw foot tubs in each of our suites and you’ll be able to see them as we tour the bathrooms, but I’m not gonna dwell on them. I like a good hot bath as much as the next person, but my interests lie elsewhere when I’m on vacation in America’s most interesting city.
I’ve been recorded talking before. I’ve been on TV and I’ve done some voiceover work, mostly reading. After watching this video, I’m no longer surprised when guests from other countries say I sound like a movie. I’m also no longer surprised when our American guests immediately peg me as being from the East Coast. I am from the East Coast. I’m from Connecticut. I am surprised at how much I sound like a gangster.
I am not a gangster.
I’m a simple innkeeper, having landed in this profession by the kind of delightful serendipity that informs and steers much of what happens in New Orleans. I landed in a beautiful house on a beautiful street in the most beautiful city in which I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend my days. It’s hard to believe someone who could have written these sentences sounds as hard-boiled in person as the chap who narrates this video. Well, whaddaya know? I sound like someone outta “My Cousin Vinny.”
The only part of that movie that I liked was that it featured Fred Gwynn. He played the judge. It was nice to see him in a role outside The Munsters and Car 54 Where Are You? He was really good in My Cousin Vinny.
Sorry, I can’t resist. I love this song:
If you are too young to remember, Kruchev was the premier of the Soviet Union, which no longer exists. Idlewild is an airport that’s still around. Nowadays, though, it’s called JFK, the fifth busiest airport in the U.S.
Now without further piddling around—no can ever say I don’t know how to pad a blog post—here is a tour of the sitting room of Les Fleurs Suite, one of the most popular suites in which to lay your head at La Belle Esplanade, a celebrated boutique experience inn that wins rave reviews from the people who stay with us. If you have a sharp eye, you can spot your humble narrator in the mirrors as I shot this footage:
La Belle Esplanade, where are you? We’re right in the middle of Esplanade Avenue, about a mile’s picturesque stroll to the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street in one direction, and about a mile’s picturesque stroll to City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art in the other.
À votre santé,
La Belle Esplanade
….where every morning begins with a curated breakfast salon.
Tuesday, December 27, 2017: If I told you how nice it is to be in New Orleans right now you wouldn’t believe me.
Part II of this video tour of Les Fleurs Suite is located via this link. Check it out. We’re looking forward to meeting you when you visit New Orleans.