And what a great time it was!
Our friends had some friends with a house along the Endymion parade route, so we home based at their party. It's always good to have a table of crawfish and a bathroom nearby!
The parade was slow to move at times, they're trying not to be impatient
Such beautiful colors!
Back at the house
We had to bust out the wigs
Then I took Deeanna and Steven out to explore the Quarter a bit. They agreed with me, Bourbon Street is blech.
Sunday night it was time for Bacchus. Here's the Bacchagator
And bands!
The Bacchasaurus
Once again, it's good to know people who know people. Our friends had some friends with a sweet spot on the neutral ground side of St. Charles
Our crazy crew
The theme for this year's parade was Children's Stories that Live Forever. A
side from the signature floats, there was Winnie-the-Pooh, Harry Potter, Where the Wild Things Are...30 some odd floats.
side from the signature floats, there was Winnie-the-Pooh, Harry Potter, Where the Wild Things Are...30 some odd floats.
The Bacchawhopper
The aftermath
We hit up the same spot for the Monday parades. Here's the setup before people started filling in. Up on top a ladder is my FAVORITE way to view a parade. You can see everything, and you're eye level with the first row of float riders. The key to catching good throws at a parade is eye contact, and a ladder is the perfect height.
Proteus was first
Proteus is the second oldest parading krewe. All of their floats are built on the original chassis from the 1880's
Their theme this year was The Nature of the Beasts
Then came what is probably my favorite parade krewe, Harry Connick Jr's Orpheus.
This parade is a feast for the eyes and ears. So many bands, so many fiber optic lights
St Aug!
The Flambeaux help to light the way
The 610 Stompers, one of NOLA's many great walking/dancing groups
In 14 years and 20+ trips I have yet to have a visit to this city when it didn't rain. Luckily I come prepared because the sky open up and dumped on us. This float was stalled in front of us for a few songs. It turned into a giant muddy dance party. One of my favorite moments from this Mardi Gras
Absolutely gorgeous, the Leviathan
Back at the warm dry house in the Marigny, we found our lovely hostess looking festive while fixing dinner.
After dinner, my friends and I hit Frenchmen Street. It was rainy and super cold, which made for a less crowded Lundi Gras night. We caught Yojimbo upstairs at the Blue Nile. This is a band I had seen a few weeks prior in Fort Worth and it was great to get to see them again. Their pirate song is so fun!
Mardi Gras day was freezing, literally. 31 degrees. We stayed out too late (early?) to be moving very fast, and it was just so cold!
We finally decided to brave the cold and venture out into the madness. Stopped in a little corner grocery for a po boy and crossed paths with this minion.
Crazy interactive sound machine
Happy Mardi Gras! Because everywhere else it's just Tuesday!
Our parade booty.
New Orleans is a magical city. It has it's own vibe, it's own way, it's own language. And Mardi Gras (sorry, Carnival season) is a mystical time. For me, it's like pushing a reset button, it's a refresher for the soul. Winter is almost over, spring is nearly here. I may have left town with bags under my eyes and an achy, tired body, but my cheeks hurt from smiling so much, I danced in the streets with my children and hundreds of thousands of others. There's a spring in my step. I already can't wait for next year! Thank you to my beautiful friends. We'll be seeing you soon!
A few more random pics...
