Well, Mardi Gras has been fucking amazing! I knew it was a big party and there was a reason why it is such a big deal, but nothing prepared us for the indescribable atmosphere here. Everyone is out to have a good time and there is a palpable air of excitement eminating from every person you meet. There is so much drinking and dancing in the street… the ladies *are* actually all flashing their boobs in the streets and in the bars to get beads from people on balconies or from the next table! And they are soliciting the exact same types of beads they were all catching off the parade floats earlier in the day, and the same types of beads that are littering the streets if they wanted to reach down and scoop up a handful (if you could find a clean spot that is). I have to tell you, there was also more than one man in the street flashing his goodies to get beads too… equal opportunity exhibitionism is what it's all about. 🙂
There are fishbowl sized cocktails on sale from tiny hole in the wall bars, there are people walking around with huge adult sippy cups full of grog, and loads of people with cups of beer – made for pretty interesting manouvres when jostling to get past the hordes at the intersections on Bourbon Street… it was about 6C last night and I really didn't want to end up wearing anyone's cocktail! Most of the French Quarter is bars and pubs, and jazz clubs and some adult entertainment with a pile of souvenir shops in amongst it. Everything was open and the whole place was buzzing. There was a noticeable police presence – mostly the New Orleans Mounted Police (they snuck up on me at one point quite late in the night when I was taking a photo of one of the gothy looking chicks above, and I got trod on by a horse… thankfully he/she seemed to sense my little foot there and didn't put its whole weight down, and I got off lightly!) which actually made the entire night feel really safe and comfortable.
We found some great bars, had some jalapeno poppers and ciders and beer… and some crab stuffed mushrooms and ciders and beers… and went to a jazz club and listened to an amazing horn player and had more ciders and beers. With Mr K nearby, I was well insulated from drunken advances – however, the minute he head to the bathroom or the bar, I had strangers coming up and hitting on me… flattering on one hand, but on the other, they might just have wanted our bar stools! 😛
And everyone is sooo friendly! Everyone we met (and you meet heaps of people thanks to the bump and grind of huge crowd squished into one narrow street) was in a fun mood, wishing 'Happy Mardi Gras' to anyone within ear shot. We found ourselves having this conversation over and over but somehow it was fun and interesting anyway… it went something like this:
Us: Hey, Happy Mardi Gras!
Them: Happy Mardi Gras to you, too!
Us: Where are you from?
Them: We're from Minnesota/Iowa/Florida/California/Wisconsin etc (anywhere but here it seems!). Where are y'all from?
Us: We're from Australia.
Them: Holy shit, that's insane! (or similar exclamation, swiftly followed by) We've always wanted to go to Australia… (or words to that effect).
People were so friendly and I had such a good time. Would definitely recommend to anyone – add 'Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras' to your Bucket List, you won't be disappointed… I seriously can't believe I am ticking it off mine!
Posted with Blogsy