New Orleans

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We stayed at Sun Outdoors RV Resort in Ponchatoula, LA as our home base to explore New Orleans. The resort has many amenities-pickleball courts, 18 hole Put-Put course, pool, and lazy river to name a few. We did not head into the French Quarter, as most people do when in New Orleans. We went to Mardi Gras World to get an up-close look at some of the floats and props used in New Orleans parades. Loved the tour and seeing the production side of this part of New Orleans. Then we took a 2-hour walking tour of the Garden District. Our guide, Sean, was very knowledgeable about the area and some of the residents-past and present of the homes.

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Photos

Mardi Gras Prop
The Mardi Gras World warehouse was filled with so many props and floats. This one shows the traditional colors of Mardi Gras- purple, green, and gold.

Sculpted.
This is an example of a prop sculped out of Styrofoam. Next it gets covered in strips of brown paper. Then paper mache and painted.

Robot Pixie
This robot is used to sculpt 3D props. The process creates a lot of Styrofoam waste. It used to be sold to a company that used it to stuff bean bag chairs, but that company no longer exists. They are working on coming up with a way to recycle it themselves in the future.

Mardi Gras World
The props were lined up several rows deep in the warehouse. Fun to get up close to them and examine the workmanship.

King Kong
King Kong is one of the props of Krewe Bacchus, along with Mrs. Kong and Baby Kong. People try to throw beads on their heads. This original paper mâché props have been retired as new fiberglass versions have been put into use.

Burger and Fries
Mike liked these props-two of his favorite foods!

Mardi Gras World Genie
The company has made props for reasons other than New Orleans parades. Recognize this guy? No lamp, so no wishes granted.

Scary
Not all props are pretty. You can see this one will need some repair done by the nose as it is cracked.

Jester
Getting to "try on" a Mardi Gras costume. So colorful!

Pegasus
Beautiful details on this prop.

Mardi Gras World Floats
These three floats would be connected for the parade. There can be up to six connected together, pulled by one tractor.

Garden District of New Orleans
This area has beautiful homes and gardens. We enjoyed a 2-hour walking tour through part of the neighborhood.

Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery
Currently not open to the public as the neighbors complained about the increased tourist traffic in the area. So different from cemeteries in the Midwest.

Dan Goodman
This home is currently owned by Dan Goodman. He is loved by the locals as he seems to be engaged in the community.

Large mansion
This mansion still rests on about 1/4 of the city block. Currently being renovated.

Carriage House
Few of the mansions still have their carriage house. I could live there!

Archie Manning
This is the front yard of Archie Manning's house where he taught Eli and Payton to throw a football.