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Published: January 30th 2016
So I have been in NOLA for a week now. There is something about this city I just love. from the sounds of live music coming from the street and every bar and restaurant you pass, the beautiful buildings in the French Quarter and the party atmosphere. It feels like the city is made of music and you can't help but smile. Where else would it be normal for your local busker to be a group of 6 big band members?? During the day the streets are filled with tourists on tours and horse drawn carriages and artists hawking their wares and on every corner there is a tarot reader or human statue.
On my first night I just wandered the streets and found the infamous Bourbon Street...there were people falling down drunk (mind you it is NOLA so that happens at breakfast time too!!) and people standing on balconies throwing plastic beads at people below them and the street was full of people moving and dancing. Then I moved to Frenchman Street and wandered from bar to bar enjoying all the live music on offer. On my second night of wanderings the heavens opened and the streets
were running with water. So I did the only thing I could do and found a bar, got myself a cider and enjoyed the live jazz on offer waiting for the rains to pass...it took a couple of ciders to do this!!
My friends live in East New Orleans (not an area I can be alone in as it is literally the ghetto) so I have ha the full New Orleans experience!! When they are at work I wander the French Quarter enjoying my tourist lifestyle and then we jump on the bus and head back to their home. I have met some funny characters and have had an opportunity to see both sides of the city. The eastern area is still recovering from Katrina which was over 10 years ago now. Many people haven't been able to rebuild and those that have aren't able to get flood insurance so can never sell their house but those that have stayed love their city and keep the spirit of New Orleans alive. The way they are able to find joy in life when you look at the challenges they face on a daily basis makes me appreciate what
I have now more than ever.
Whilst in the French Quarter I've had the opportunity to see so many different areas of the tourist area of the city. I toured the Historic New Orleans Collection which is free to go into and gives a history of the city. They have kept a mansion in pristine condition from the 30's. It turns out back in the 30's the French Quarter was decrepit and the city was going to bulldoze the whole thing to build more commission housing. Luckily there were millionaires who loved the architecture and saved the city by buying it up and restoring it. We only have it today because of people like the Williams!! There is also the Louisiana museum next to the Cathedral at Jackson Square which only costs $6 to get into. They currently have an exhibitions on Katherine and Mardi Gras. From the Mardi Gras tour I have to say they sure know how to do a costume!! I've also done a ghost tour and cocktail tour which had several people that had obviously be partaking in the offerings of Bourbon Street
But now Mardi Gras has begun. I
went to my first parades tonight - they are full of outrageous costumes, marching bands and dancers - every float was full of people giving out "throws" I managed to score a neck full of beads, a glowing star an a stuffed toy being a long-horn cow (go me!!)
. Mardi Gras doesn't end until the 9th of February which is known as "Fat Tuesday" so there is a long time between now and then...I've been advised it is a marathon not a race so I will wait till then to really party down, but until then I will enjoy laughing at those who have raced too hard!!..there might be a package of "throws" coming your way mum!
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Judith
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Yay for 'throws'!!
I do love a party where people throw things at you!! How about that cocktail boot? Was that a boomerang or did you souvenir that?