Much has been made recently of Julia Roberts’ latest film Eat Pray Love, based on the memoir Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, which chronicles her year of self-discovery through Italy, India and Indonesia. Divorcée Gilbert dines in Rome, explores spirituality in India and finally falls in love in Bali (to a sexy Spaniard played by Javier Bardem in the film), all through advance funding from the book she plans to write about her experiences.
The idea is nice, albeit pretty unrealistic for the average person. As NPR’s Scott Tobias quipped, “Have bucks, will travel (to find self).”
Fortunately, there are countless ways to “journey to self-discovery” stateside, which is a relief to most people’s budgets and time constraints. CNN released a story chronicling a sample pilgrimage: Eat in New Orleans, pray at Colorado’s Shambhala Mountain Center and love in Hawaii.
While this American iteration of Eat, Pray, Love is certainly more accessible, it’s still not something anyone is likely to undertake ––it’s more of a profile of the hidden gems of the States than a feasible travel guide.
To that end, I’d like to propose that not only is New Orleans the place to discover culinary nirvana, but it is also a religious and romantic destination. Save thousands of dollars and days of travel, and experience an Eat, Pray, Love pilgrimage here at home.
The pleasures of New Orleans are many: Food, drink, music and the usual delights. But beyond that there is a city with a rich spiritual and religious background that continues in the culture today. New Orleans is a strange respite from the Protestant Bible Belt of the South, what with the heavy Catholic influences and even voodoo tradition. There are fewer destinations in the U.S. with a richer and more unique spiritual well. Even Carnival, with its calls to debauchery and Bacchanalian tradition, brings consciousness to religious tradition, including the observance of Ash Wednesday.
As far as love goes, New Orleans can certainly act as a catalyst for the phenomenon. The romantic European architecture, the easygoing attitude, even the balmy weather that encourages scantily-clad attire –– so much is conducive to the quirks of falling in love. No wonder Travel and Leisure named New Orleans the fourth most romantic city in America, behind Honolulu, Hawaii; Charleston, S.C.; and San Francisco, Calif. New Orleans beat out such traditionally romantic destinations as New York City and other major cities, and frankly, I’m not surprised.
After all, what’s more romantic than a stroll through the French Quarter, listening to jazz music and sampling good food and wine? It’s enough to be a religious experience in itself.
Jordan DeFrank is an editorial assistant for Renaissance Publishing and a new resident of New Orleans!
