To outsiders the French Quarter can resemble a gorgeous puzzle -- 100 blocks of wrought iron balconies, pastel-colored walls and secret gardens. How to make sense of all its stories and histories? The walking tours of the Vieux Carre bring the neighborhood to life – with specialized guides possessing expert knowledge of all sorts: Creole cuisine, spirited cocktails and antebellum architecture are only a few. They can tell spine-tingling tales of voodoo and vampires and help visitors understand the neighborhood’s colorful past.