We started the day with an AWESOME breakfast of juice, the BEST fruit salad I’ve ever had, English muffins, and coffee courtesy of our B & B “House of the Rising Sun” host, Kevin. Yum! (By the way, the “House of the Rising Sun” is a beautiful B & B with gracious hosts, Kevin and Wendy. We are loving our stay here!) After our breakfast and fun conversation, we walked to the ferry. (It is only a couple blocks away.) We took the ferry to Canal Street. Then we got a day pass and took the St. Charles streetcar all the way to the end at River Bend.
We went back on the streetcar and walked a LONG distance on Magazine Street. Magazine Street is full of funky shops, interesting restaurants, art studios, antique galleries, etc.
We left Magazine Street and walked up Washington, passing through the Garden District, and went into one of the famous above-ground cemeteries: Lafayette Cemetery #1. It was very interesting to read the names, dates, and some family histories on the tombstones. A fancy high-heeled shoe in front of one of the tombstones caught my attention, and so I read the information. A brother and sister, born a day apart - twins, both died at very young ages a year or two apart. Very sad and very interesting.
Next we took the streetcar to The French Market. This is a famous open-air market with stands selling all kinds of gifts like t-shirts, earrings,…everything! There are food stands of all kinds, as well, and musicians performing everywhere. For those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that I DID buy some things…ha! We then went to Café du Monde, famous for their Beignets and café au lait. (Beignets are a kind of fried dough with powdered sugar on top. They are much lighter, less greasy, more delicious than what you may think of from fairs.) Of course, we indulged and had the Beignets and café au lait. (Yes, even Ladd who usually stays away from such treats had them, too. When in Rome….or New Orleans…ha!)
After our short break and refreshments we walked to Jackson Square. We came upon a performance by 5 young black men: break-dancing, gymnastics, and comedy. (They had appeared on “America’s Got Talent”.) As the performers were setting up and inviting passersby to join the audience, a group of teenage girls who were part of a gymnastics team decided to “show off” their skills to the performers. They were impressive. The break-dance performers were great, too, and had us laughing with their funny comments about passersby, audience members, and themselves.
We then walked on to the back side of Jackson Square and “fell into” our very first Mardi Gras Parade: “Krewe of Cork.” The musicians and costumes were fantastic! I even got my first pair of Mardi Gras beads and a Mardi Gras bracelet from performers in the parade! Hooray! I immediately put them on and then felt like a real part of Mardi Gras!
Next we walked with the crowds toward The French Quarter and stopped in “Pat O’Brien’s” bar/restaurant. (I got another pair of beads from “Pat O’Brien’s”!) Ladd just had a beer, but I had to try their signature drink: a “Hurricane”…sweet and strong. I could not finish it! While at "Pat O'Brien's" we got a very pleasant surprise. Al K., friend and director of our school district's transportation department, sent us an email to share an article and picture that had been in our local paper about our son, Dean. It was such fun to see it and now be able to share it with our son when we visit next week. Thanks a LOT, Al!
Then we walked, (remember what I said about a walking marathon?), to Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street was full of partiers of ALL ages. There were people of all kinds, too. Some were “boring normal” as we are. Some were outlandish “characters”. Some were in costumes. Some were in crazy outfits. But all were nonthreatening, fun, and celebrating. As we strolled along Burbon Street we heard a jazz band playing from an outside courtyard bar. It is called “Legends Park.” So we went in and sat to listen to the jazz band. They were great, and I knew all the old songs so I was singing along. We then got talking with our waitress, who was the wife of the leader of the jazz band. When she asked where we were from, (the opening line of New Orleans!), she then told us her husband was originally from Maine! Ladd then told her about his summers in Maine as a child and about working in Maine. Small world!
Now tired, we walked back to catch the ferry to come back to our B & B. On the ferry we made more “new friends” from Iowa. We ended up having some munchies and a nightcap with them at “Dry Dock” when we got off the ferry. A perfect end to a perfect day!
Glad you are having a wonderful time at our B&B and in our great City. There is plenty more to see and do so enjoy!
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