November 16, Day 156 – In New Orleans

We started the day with coffee and Beignets at Café DuMond. After that we strolled up Canal Street to the waterfront and the Riverwalk area. After exploring the area and having lunch we headed out for Mardi Gras World. This is the location where most of the floats for the parades are made and they offer daily tours. Our map indicated it was right next to the Convention Center. Well, it was, but what we didn’t know was that the Convention Center was many miles long. We walked and walked and after an hour or so, finally made it, only to find out we could have taken a free shuttle from the Riverwalk area. Oh well, we did get in some exercise. The tour was very interesting. We got to dress up in costumes (for a photo op – see below), had king’s cake (a Mardi Gras tradition) and a short video about the history of the Mardi Gras. Then we toured the warehouse where many of the floats were being built. The company, Blaine Kern Mardi Gras World, makes approximately 90% of the floats used in the parades. Not knowing much about Mardi Gras we were amazed to learn there are actually about 60 parades that take place over a 2-week period starting January 30 and ending on Fat Tuesday, February 16. To see all the details, if you are interested, check out http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html

After the tour, we took the free shuttle back to the Riverwalk area where we boarded the street car to check out more of the area. These are the street cars immortalized in the movie, A Street Car Named Desire. Later in the evening we went out to dinner for real Cajun food at the Gumbo Shop …. Great food. After a stop for a nightcap, it was back to the hotel and to bed. Boy, after midnight for the second night in a row. This is unusual for us, as we normally are in bed by 9:00


The morning started out cool, but by the time we were through with breakfast and heading down to the Riverwalk it had warmed up enough that Michel decided to do a little "strip" on the street corner. We all made fun of him as he balanced on one foot, then the other as he unzipped and removed his pant legs.

Living where we have, we've seldom seen palm trees with our Christmas wreaths, but they certainly have both in New Orleans

3 guys hanging out at the riverfront ... Michel, Michael, and Gerry

A riverboat on the Mississippi

This was some artwork honoring the people and remembering the events of Hurricane Katrina

This way to Mardi Gras World

Gerry and friend

Linda and friend

Gerry posing with a football player prop

.... and Linda with a pirate

Here's the whole gang in Mardi Gras costumes. Don't we look festive (or maybe silly .... but we had fun)

OKAY ..... here is Gerry posing with a peacock (no mistake about it this time). In an earlier post we indicated he was with a peacock which was actually an ostrich.

This picture and several below are shots of some of the floats that are being built for the upcoming Mardi Gras parade.

The theme for Mardi Gras in 2010 is "Love" so all the floats are somehow related to love. This float's theme is Love Shack (as in the song)

Here, some of the staff are adding decorations to this float

This float is so long, it is in 3 pieces that will be linked together

A wine theme .... once again, thinking of Monk's Vineyard

This float is always in every Mardi Gras parade. There are only a few that are the same from year to year.

This is the float that the King of the Mardi Gras rides in. It is the same every year. You have to pay at least $30,000 to be King of the Mardi Gras.

This float's theme is the sailor that kissed the girl on D-Day.

This is the prop that will go on that float. If you look close you can make out the beginning of the shapes of the sailor and the girl.

We took a ride on the street car all the way down Canal Street. It ended at the Cyprus Grove Cemetary.

Because New Orleans is below sea level people are buried above ground here. The cemetary was huge.