TulaneLSU's Top 10 pictures of the Algiers Ferry

Dear Friends,

One of my best and only friends is the Algiers Ferry. I’ve been taking this ferry for all of my life. I used to call it New Orleans’ Staten Island Ferry: capacious, free, opening new horizons for tourist and local alike, and providing the best skyline views of the city. But in 2014, the city decided that free was too good, and started charging $2 for each trip across. I’ve found that if you don’t get off the ferry and go for a quick round trip, they don’t collect twice.

When, in 2013, they stopped allowing cars to enter the ferry, my world shifted. Anytime I wanted to go the West Bank, and those times were quite few obviously, I had to travel down the road to Chalmette. The ferry is the lifeblood of Algiers Point, and without it, that historic neighborhood would quickly become an abandoned ghetto. I’ve considered living in that neighborhood, one of the most underrated in the city, but the possibility of a delay or cessation in ferry service has always kept me on the right side. There’s been a ferry operating most of the time since 1827, but one never knows if that will change. It was out of service from September to December this past year, making for plenty of headaches for Algierians.

The ferry is always an enjoyable ride, opening the wild waters of the Mississippi to anyone. I particularly like it when the water is high. The captain’s skill is then tested and, thus far, I’ve not died onboard. The same cannot be said for the coward Creighton Bernette, who abandoned his family and the world, taking a gift that belonged to God, not himself. Nor did the passengers onboard the ferry in the Denzel Washington movie, Deja Vu. I’ve only seen the trailer, but it’s a horrific moving picture.

If you travel the ferry these days, it seems that only the Neville Levy is running. I remember taking it at Chalmette, but only recently from the foot of Canal. I grew up aboard the Frank Armiger and the Thomas Jefferson. The Thomas Jefferson has always been my favorite. It truly is the stalwart of the city’s transit. One of the deckhands recently told me it’s a ways from being put back in service.

I love the ferry and aboard, I feel like the king of the river, on my own luxury yacht. I hope you enjoy some of these photographs I took of the ferry. Perhaps you will meet me onboard one day. I’m usually reading my Book of Common Prayer on the middle deck, now that they’ve closed off the top deck to passengers.


The Capt. Neville Levy at your service


I’ve yet to need rescue in a flat boat. Notice the majestic Thomas Jefferson, my all-time favorite ferry, in the background, docked at Algiers Point.











































Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU

P.S. I'm sorry this is more than 10 pictures. I'm feeling a little down.