August 23, 2010
Bloody Mary’s New Orleans
Along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, deep in the Bayou of southern Louisiana sits America’s most haunted city, New Orleans. The dark haunted side of New Orleans, filled with seductive images of voodoo, vampires and ghosts, is as compelling as the jazz, spicy food and art that the city is often defined by. To unveil the true mystique of New Orleans’ history join one of the many ghost tours and discover why the city embraces and celebrates the paranormal.
Founded in 1718, New Orleans has had nearly 300 years of murder, mayhem and disaster as as a backbone for the many haunting tales that have unfolded. One of the best ways to get up close and personal with the city and the stories that define her is with Bloody Mary’s New Orleans Tours. Born and raised in New Orleans, Mary Millian has gone by the pen name Bloody Mary for 3 decades. Bloody Mary’s vast knowledge and experience in the paranormal combined with her love for people and storytelling has earned her accolades such as “The Ultimate Insider,” “The Cultural Diva” and “The Poet Priestess of the Spirit of New Orleans” by publications such as Southern Women Magazine and the Times Picayune. Bloody Mary’s knowledge is so respected she has appeared on shows for the Travel Channel, Sci-Fi Channel and National Geographic.
Known by such nicknames as “The Big Easy” and “Crescent City,” New Orleans has also been given the title of “City of the Dead’ for its many famous above ground cemeteries. Due to a high water table settlers had to bury the dead above ground in tombs and vaults
to avoid caskets resurfacing during floods. Bloody Mary’s New Orleans Tours offers 3 different cemetery tours, including the Voodoo Tour of St. Louis Cemetery #1, the oldest cemetery in the city. St. Louis #1 is the resting place for some of the city’s early politicians, pirates and most notably of all the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. For a more in depth insight on the cemeteries check out the Moonlight Graveyard Tour which visits 10 cemeteries and is the only evening cememtery tour offered in the city. Be sure to sign up for a cemetery tour and discover the mystique surrounding these world famous New Orleans burial grounds.
No exploration into the paranormal legends of New Orleans would be complete without a tour of the French Quarter. Bloody Mary’s Tour of the Undead focuses on the French Quarter and the voodoo, vampire and ghost trilogy. The tour begins with a visit to 
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, a pirate bar reputed to be the oldest in America and listed by the Discovery Channel as number 5 on the “World’s Ten Creepiest Destinations.” The tour also makes stops at other haunted locations throughout the French Quarter including old slave quarters, a vampire lair and the LaLaurie Mansion where Madame Delphine LaLaurie reportedly killed and mutilated nearly 100 slaves. Let Bloody Mary guide you through the haunted history of the French Quarter, unveiling secrets hidden in brick laden courtyards behind wrought iron fences with the Tour of the Undead.
Not all tours are recommended for younger children. For additional information on kid friendly tours, special events, and Bloody Mary, visit www.bloodymarytours.com. For lodging check out Festiva Hospitality Group’s Frenchmen Orleans located in the acclaimed cultural and arts district of Frenchmen Street only a few minutes walk from the French Quarter.
