NOLA

I haven’t been to New Orleans since before Katrina, which was, and still is, a great American tragedy. But the people who still live here, sure know how to party. We were watching the local news while in an RV park in Houston, and it was mentioned that Mardi Gras season started today. Since we were going to be passing by NOLA, I figured why not experience the excitement of the French Quarter the day before the Saints are to play in the Super Bowl.

We’re at Pontchartrain Landing RV Park which  is located on one of the canals that overflowed during Katrina. Driving here we passed neighborhoods flooded in the storm. There are still destroyed homes awaiting demolition next door to homes that have been rebuilt. I was thinking of taking pictures, but I’d rather remember this city for it’s wackiness and energy, and there was plenty of that in the French Quarter.

And lots of beads.We saw one of the smaller parades on Bourbon Street, and the combination of Carnival and the Saints in the Super Bowl has resulted in a combined energy level that may have never been seen here. There were black and gold hats, jerseys, tee shirts and beads everywhere. I’m not a big Colts fan and I never though too much about the Saints, but this city really needs the championship, and after having felt the incredible pro-Saints energy here, I hope they win.

Even Santa showed up to support the Saints, so how can anyone not root for them. 

 

 

 

 

One of the neat things about this incredibly unusual city is the music. In the French Quarter, it’s everywhere. Right after we arrived in the Quarter we came across a street jazz band with a vocalist and a pair of dancers. They were terrific. I think we watched and listened to them for 15 minutes. They were so good I even put a couple of bucks in their collection box.

One of the other great things about New Orleans is the food. We had a wonderful lunch at Palace Cafe, which is owned by one of the Brennans, and we’re having dinner tonight at their primary gem, Commander’s Palace. Then tomorrow, we head east and try to figure out when we can head home between snow storms.