路易斯安那州
音樂、美食與自然風光,再加上一點點古靈精怪
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知名地標,充滿歡樂的驚喜
路易斯安那州是家喻戶曉的爵士樂之鄉,隨處可見餡料多到滿出來的窮漢三明治,還有盛大無雙的紐澳良狂歡節 (Mardi Gras)。對遊客而言,這塊沼澤遍布的南方大州有著一張等待外人嘗鮮的美味清單:熱騰騰的海鮮秋葵濃湯、現炸甜甜圈及得來速黛綺莉雞尾酒吧。幸好,就算你是個大外行,還是可以造訪路易斯安那州美食大街 (Louisiana’s Culinary Trails),親自品嘗獨一無二的克里奧爾/凱金式風味餐,順便瞭解美味佳餚背後的歷史。
除此之外,還能享受節奏突出的柴迪科音樂、探索靜謐無聲的美麗河灣以及巫毒女祭司的神聖廟宇 (可以在這裡討張符咒保平安)。這裡的新一代凱金與克里奧爾音樂家 (他們創造出融合搖滾、R&B 及 藍調音效 的沼澤流行曲調) 人才輩出,以親切的本地音樂迷倒眾生。另一項快速融入此地的秘訣,就是挑個夜晚,到藍月酒館招待所 (Blue Moon Saloon and Guesthouse) 走一遭;這是個歷史悠久的夜總會,每晚都有美國民間音樂 (root music) 演出。藝術創作在路易斯安那州開花結果,藝術家在此揮灑創意,不受傳統規條約束;從許多 藝廊以非主流藝術做為支柱就可見一班。
獨特之地
只有路易斯安那州能將西班牙鬥牛詮釋為穿戴滑輪及安全帽的疾速運動-只不過安全帽上多了牛角;玩家彼此追逐的身影,就像穿上滑輪的公牛。也只有在路易斯安那州,才看得到青蛙而非小狗耍雜技,甚至還有囚犯在獄中扮牛仔騎馬競技。當地人深諳派對之道,尤其喜歡捉弄初來乍到的訪客:他們 365 天都在為紐澳良狂歡節 (原為慶祝懺悔星期二) 倒數計時,為這個一年中全國萬眾矚目的大事炒熱氣氛。這場四旬節/復活節前夕慶典當然少不了派對、遊行、串珠、變裝,品嘗傳統國王蛋糕更是風靡全美的超人氣活動。
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有趣資訊
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New Orleans is the birthplace of multiple cocktails. Try America's first cocktail – the Sazerac – at The Roosevelt, a Vieux Carré at the spinning Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone, a French 75 at Arnaud's or a Grasshopper at Tujague's.
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Mardi Gras is more than one day in one city – it is a season celebrated statewide, and every corner of Louisiana celebrates in its own way – from boat parades and pet parades to chicken chasing to pink flamingos. You won’t find any two Mardi Gras celebrations that are alike.
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The ascension of Elvis Presley’s musical career began at the Louisiana Hayride, a recurring radio-broadcast concert series at Shreveport, Louisiana’s downtown municipal auditorium in 1954.
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