Ah, waking up Mardi Gras morning, and deciding if we want to fight the crowds, and if so, where.
To hell with it...Bourbon at Canal.
One day, one fine day, I will have a Zulu coconut. In the meantime, I have a Leviathan stuffed dragon. Well. OK. My cute little 1 1/2 year old daughter has a Leviathan stuffed dragon. But she lets me play with it.
So now I'm tired, bloated, slightly sunburned and happy. What did y'all do today?
While at Bourbon and Canal, I got interviewed by BBC's Five Live. Don't know if it got on the air or not. They were asking typical questions, and then they asked me about all the drinking and alcoholism. I told her that we knew how to handle it, that the NOPD was the best crowd control force ever, and the ones overdoing it were probably the tourists.
But my wife nailed it. She said "I'm from Europe, from Prague, and this is the only city in America with a soul".
Yep, that's why I married her. She gets it.
Did I mention I was tired?
Oh well, tomorrow, more about Sazeracs with Ray, another diatribe on George Shinn, and maybe even why Zigaboo Modeliste is a god.
Damn, I'm glad I live here. Proud to call it home, indeed.
I was a block further down for Zulu, roughly at St. Charles and Canal. Actually caught a plastic coconut this year--it's proudly displayed on the mantle, along with a little tambourine. Glad your child was able to catch a dragon.
Driving chores limited my consumption--oh well, that was probably for the best...made it home safely and was able to celebrate then.
Oh, and indeed, New Orleans has a soul, but as for being in the USA, I'm partial to Spencer Bohren's usual remark at the beginning of his shows that its nice to return to the city after visiting the United States (or words to that effect).
Posted by: Michael | 01 March 2006 at 11:30 AM
It really felt like folk were just in love with the city, with Mardi Gras, with the spectacle yesterday.
I was.
It was like a first date again after a testy breakup.
The heart is heavy with hope and plans to make it right. Better than it was.
Here we go.......
Posted by: dillyberto | 01 March 2006 at 01:32 PM
I'm 41 years old and I've never caught a Zulu coconut.
My daughter is 11 and saw Zulu for the first time this year, and she got *two* of 'em.
Melpomene and St. Charles. The coconuts were flying, man.
Posted by: Ray | 02 March 2006 at 05:51 PM
Your wife sounds like a catch! I completely agree with her, too - and especially after living in Houston for six months: the majority of US cities are simply geographies, New Orleans is a place to live.
Posted by: Aaron | 04 March 2006 at 02:41 PM
Mardi Gras was magnificent! I enjoyed it, too.
Peace,
Tim
Posted by: Tim | 05 March 2006 at 09:48 PM
im gay n i digged up in yo moma about a week ago lmao..dont play wit da nigags n my city bitch..dnt let dem havn rythm fool yo stupid ass..dis ant da murda cap 4nutn roun..dem same nigags will do u quick
Posted by: Silmara | 07 May 2012 at 01:26 AM