Chicago’s winter this year has been brutal, and I was lucky
enough to be able to escape it for a brief respite. A seven day cruise to the Bahamas
first took me to New Orleans.
I thought Mardi Gras was only celebrated on the designated
day-not so-the Carnival season starts the weekend before and carries on for a
full week, ending the following Sunday. This year it started on the 21st of
February.
I never thought I’d be anywhere near a place that celebrated
Mardi Gras, not a big fan of crowds, but I couldn’t escape the beginning of the
Carnival season in New Orleans. I was
there the first day of the festivities. That meant the first two parades that
passed right on Canal Street, literally outside the main entrance to the hotel.
How could I not participate and see the floats-after all-they’re legendary.
I joined the crowd on the street, young and old alike piled
against the barricades along the street and waited for the fun to start. For me
it started much earlier. I walked on
Canal, Bourbon, Royal and Decatur streets in the early afternoon, and the party
was already in full swing. Alcohol was
freely flowing, as were the masks and various holiday accoutrements, from
feathers, too-toos, beads and face paint.
The parade started at about eight thirty in the evening,
streets were closed making access difficult, if you were unlucky enough to want
to go anywhere near the parade route. Carnival is big business in New Orleans.
The floats are amazing, simply stunning, as are the costumes. The floats were
colorful, garish and over the top, just perfect for the Carnival excesses.
Marching bands, and of course the required political cars streamed along the
street, one after the other. They were still going strong at midnight. I
however was not.
I’d never go out of my way to go anywhere during Carnival
time, but this was an unplanned opportunity to see a bit of it, before it got really
crazy on the actual day. I was told Mardi
Gras is absolutely nuts, but by that time, I was already on board ship. That
being said, it was a wonderful opportunity to see a bit of the famed festival.
This was not my first trip to New Orleans, and I had fond
memories of Café du Monde, so of course I stopped for coffee and beignets. The
beignets were as I remembered them, absolutely delicious, the coffee I thought
lacked strength and depth. I remembered
it as being more flavorful. Maybe my palate has changed, or maybe they’ve adapted
the coffee to suit everyone. I do love my coffee on the strong side, but I
thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There
is something to be said for going back, and still take pleasure from the
experience.
This was a first time I tried the colorful King Cake, and I
loved it. Purple, gold and green colors decorate the top, sprinkled liberally
with coarse sugar. Filled with a light cream center, the yeast dough is moist,
and every bite is truly heavenly. I was told there are many versions, but I
only sampled the one the hotel had to offer. Between the beignets, the King
Cake, a huge lunch at the Court of Two Sisters, a Muffalata sandwich at the
French Market, and the Shrimp Po-Boy, I can say the food is yummy.
Surprising to see were the many art galleries that lined the
streets. Everywhere you turned that was a gallery, or local art was sold in a
souvenir shop. Since my time was limited, I took the On and Off Bus, it’s a
wonderful way to catch a glimpse of the city.
The French Quarter has not changed, it is alive and well.
Effects of Katrina are still evident in many places, but the tourist trade is
doing well, and that helps the area recover. The spirit of the locals is
amazing and gracious.
Visit Paris from your armchair, A Hotel in Paris,
is on sale for only 99. through Sunday.
http://www.amazon.com/A-Hotel-in-Paris-ebook/dp/B007KLPEU8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332155482&sr=8-2
Cheers,
Margot
Justes
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
Hearts & Daggers
Hot Crimes Cool Chicks
www.mjustes.com
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