Why do I love New Orleans: It's everything

First of all...where do I start? Whenever you mention to people that you’re from New Orleans, people’s eyes get big and they look at you like you’re from a tropical island they wish to visit but can’t afford to go to. 

New Orleans is everything. It’s easy. It’s accepting. It’s super chill and everyone is “ok” with it. You want to walk down the street wearing overalls and that’s it? Cool. Go right ahead! You want to hold two bottles of beer and drink both of them at the same time? Go ahead. You fit just right in. Do you want to wear plastic beads and a Mardi Gras mask in the middle of September? You’re already looking like you live here. People leave their Christmas trees up year around and turn them into Mardi Gras trees and then Saints trees and then back to Christmas. That’s just normal. It’s New Orleans. We’re THAT chill. 

New Orleans is history. You would never guess that the building in front of you is 250 years old, because it matches the rest of the city (and we’re ok with that). We’re proud of our heritage. We’re proud of our history. We’re 300 years old….or young…. The city keeps us young. We party 4 times a day on Mardi Gras and sometimes we party on a Wednesday night, because we can. It’s just tradition and that’s the way we like it.

New Orleans is unique. It’s my city. I see past the smelly streets and look at the 300-year-old heritage. I see people who just want to be nice to others. I’m obsessed with a steamboat, random second-lines and the food. Everyone is unique. Everyone is different. You can be yourself.  I’m obsessed with New Orleans. It’s inspiring. It’s big. It’s easy. 

Andy Shinskie moved to New Orleans and fell in love with the uniqueness of the city. "It’s not quite like anything I’ve ever seen. EVER." I’m a freelance photographer/ videographer based in New Orleans. I also travel across the U.S. sharing with others my passion for photography.