Firstly, I applaud your great writing skill, you made feel I was present in these pictures taken, you were able to connect the mind of your readers with your 24-hour experience in New Orleans.

This part got me:

One thing that was hard for me to miss about New Orleans was the contentment present on many of the faces around me. Both travelers and natives were smiling, happy to be where they were right at that moment.
And it was contagious.
I found myself slowly beginning to appreciate the little things, not for any reason other than appreciation itself.

My reason for quoting this is because you were able to bring out, not just the experience of travelling to New Orleans, but also the Geniune emotions you could read from the faces of people you met there.

Asides your skill in photography also added glam to the essence of your visit to prospective readers, I could tell they are also able to catch a glimpse of what your experience there was like.

Weldone Josiah !