New Orleans and Mardi Gras

Our flight to New Orleans was early in the morning so I had made arrangements at a hotel near the airport to stay the night before. They also let us store the tracker there and shuttled us to and from the airport for no extra charge. We got into New Orleans at about 2 pm and got checked in. We stayed in the garden district and the trolly stops right in front of it and takes you to the french quarter. Ruth, Randy, Dave and Lynett were not due to arrive till later in the afternoon, so Brent and I got checked in and unpacked. We went and saw the view from the rooftop patio. Then just relaxed till we heard from them.

When they got here we hurried so we could go see the first parade of the mardi gras celebration. It was in the french quarter so we got on the trolly and rallied for a good spot to watch. I was surprised how many people there were for being so early into mardi gras. Then I found out it was a popoular one cause it was a sexy one. It was to celebrate ones sexuality, so not g rated but not that bad.

We then walked around the french quarter where a musician asked Lynette for some help playinf his horn then we went for a bite to eat. Then back so they could get unpacked and to bed.

Next morning we wanted to go on a swamp and plantation tour but they were already doing pick ups so we booked it for the next day and headed into the french quarter.

You must try beinets ( a french donut) in the the french quarter.

Then some yummy southern food.

Then to bed to get rested for our tour next morning.
I thought we were pretty close to the swamp but it took us a half hours drive to get there. Our guide was pretty smart about the swamp, It was pretty cool.

The swamps have some really interesting scenery. Our guide says there are alot of wildlife that lives in the swamps, like wild oars, deer, lots of different snakes and many birds. He warned us when we started to watch the trees cause the snakes will be up in the branches and sometimes we were right under the trees.

We were going through a pretty narrow part of the swamp with the trees over us. We saw a few snakes but they were on the ground. Our guide warned us again about the snakes could be in the trees. Then here comes flying a snake right up by Lynett and she screams bloody murder and about crawls right on top of David. I look up and see the snake..... it's a plastic one that the guide threw up there. She was so upset and told him she would get back at him. We all laughed but it had truly shook her up. We saw a huge alligator back in the bush. Our guide estimated it to be 12 feet long. We couldn't get a good picture of it and he would not let Randy get off the boat to walk in a ways to get one either. Don't blame him but I think Randy would have if he would have let him.
Now on to the plantation. It was a big one but no longer a working one. We toured the home that had some original and some reproduced furnishings. I loved the surroundings. I really think that I could of lived in the old south in a previous life.

This is one of the slave homes.

I just love this one showing all the spanish moss in the trees. If you look real close that's Brent walking toward me.

After getting back from the tours we grabbed a bite to eat and just relaxed on the veranda that faced St Charles Avenue and visited till time for bed.
Next day Dave and Lynette had booked a City and graveyard tour. We slept in as did Ruth and Randy. We had coffee and donuts and then decided to go to the casino for a bit. Dave and Lynette were going to call when they got done and we were to met them on frenchman street. This street we heard had alot of blues bands playing and we wanted to hear some. None of us did good at the casino but for signing up they gave us some great big mardi gras bead necklaces that were hollow so you could fill them with your favorite drink. I filled mine with water but it was heavy so I soon emptied it out and just wore the necklace. Soon Dave called and we walked to frenchman street, but it was pretty empty, maybe they only have the bands on the weekends and it felt kinda scary not in the heart of the french quarter so we soon found Dave and Lynette and headed toward the inner part of the quarter and searched for something to eat. We settled on Pat O'Brians for lunch and a hurricane.

We pretty much spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in the french quarter. Seeing the fun things having some fun listened to some music, danced some and went to dinner. These people are so much fun.

This guy was awsome. he played empty buckets for drums and did it well.

All in all we've had alot of fun so far. At least I have and I hope everyone else has too. The next day we moved from the garden district to the french quarter. I had booked 2 nights at the hotel Montelone on Royal street and Randy had booked them at one on Barricks Street. We got moved and decided to take the ferry across the mississippi river and check it out. It doesn't cost anything to ride the ferry and we thought it would be cool. We walked around and stopped in a cafe/bar for a drink then rode back. Got a neat picture of the jackson square area of the french quarter with the church.

When we got back to the french quarter we walked around. Lynette and I considered getting a boyfriend (haha) but decided against it. Went and wandered around Jackson square and the marketplace.

Next day after breakfast we went and got ready for the 2 parades today. One in the french quarter and then one on canal street. We wanted to wear our mardi gras get ups.

We've had a ball this week with these guys but they are leaving to fly home tomorrow and we get on the cruise boat. So after a fun evening listening to a couple other bands we said our goodbyes and went to get packed.