Hello lovelies, it's been a while, no?
After a jaunt down south to The Big Easy, I can officially say I am happy to be home, and back into the swing of things ( ie, getting my hands dirty!)
New Orleans was it's usual mysterious, intimidating yet charming self, and Mardi Gras still has me a little lost for words. I ate a Po' Boy, danced to When the Saints Go Marching In, and taught my 20 month year old niece to say "Hockey". It was a proud moment for Dan and I!
We learned about the history of Mardi Gras, and ate at a few New Orleans institutions, like Parkway which was opened in 1911 in a vacant parking lot sat in 6 feet of water after Hurricane Katrina.
We saw celebrities head up floats like Will Ferrell, Patricia Clarkson, Cyndi Lauper, Mariska Hargitay, Bret Michaels and Mr. New Orleans himself, Harry Connick Jr.
We caught beads.
Oh goodness did we catch beads.
We drank Abita, and sampled some good old southern hospitality you just don't always get in a newer city like Vancouver.
I got sick.
Dan got sicker.
We had an adventure, certainly.
A few snaps from the last two weeks :
Tarping out a primo spot directly on the parade route.
Crowds are starting to gather...
Live bands playing on the floats start things off right!
The calm before the parking storm - cars were parked bumper to bumper and the traffic was backed up as far as I could see!
The floats were amazing, I can't imagine the time and money put into them!
This parade was called Muses - an all female production! It was the best parade we saw during Mardi Gras - those ladies were having a blast!
Mardi Gras success - first beads and dorky hat obtained.
Between the floats were all sorts of costumed men on horses, marching bands, baton twirlers etc etc.
That right there is Will Ferrell! He floated right by me, but the close picture I got was out of focus a bit :-(
Harry Connick Jr.
The floats and groups often have cheeky names - nothing is off limits!
The Flambeau men - a throwback to the days of plantations and slavery, when they would spin torches along the parade routes to light the way. It's customary to hand them change for their job done well entertaining.
This was on Mardi Gras day - the Rex parade which is the very last, and all male group.
Rex had some amazing floats - some were two floats joined, like a double long bus!
More beads...
I loved all the amazing artistry and colours that went into all the floats.
Cyndi Lauper
Look at that garbage! That is at the end of the night... right before they bring out inmates to sweep the streets. By the next morning, you would never have known there was anything at all going on!
Suitcase full of my favorite beads to bring back as souvenirs
{except that Mullet pendant - that one is mine!}
There you have it - my Mardi Gras experience in a nutshell!
I missed blogging, and catching up with you all out there reading others blogs, I hope you've all been well?
