Lundi Gras

Lundi Gras is the calm before the storm. There are no day parades and everyone is pretty much taking it easy. We met Bernie and her son at their hotel in the Quarter. She whipped up a Bloody Mary so we could drink while walking. She used a mix called Zing Zang which tasted much like a Caesar.

We walked through the Quarter arriving at Stanley's for brunch. While Joey waited for our name to be called, we wandered around Jackson Square. We ate Eggs Stanley which were eggs benedict served with fried oysters. Joey hit the jackpot, getting several small pearls.

We then stopped at Pat O'Brien's for their famous Hurricanes. Yes, more walking drinks. Glen stayed with beer but I enjoyed the citrusy drink. As we left the Quarter, we heard the durge played at jazz funerals so stopped to listen to the band playing. They were excellent. We then headed to the walk along the Mississippi River and took in a wonderful show of New Orleans music by the Charmaine Neville band. Bernie and I danced with some others and I was high-fived by a black woman so I must have the spirit of jazz.

At Spanish Square on the RiverWalk, we waited for the meeting of the Zulus and King Rex, both coming by river to New Orleans. Each group has Mardi Gras parades held on Fat Tuesday. After they arrived, we enjoyed spectacular fireworks. As we sat waiting for the show to begin we chatted with some young oil workers from southern Louisiana and a New Orleans couple our age. We had brought beer with us so share with our new friends. When the fireworks were over, I realized I was hungry. It was 8:00 and I hadn't eaten since noon.

We got back to our hotel and then ate at Mulates again. This time we had blacken catfish and grilled shrimp. I got back to the room and collapsed while Glen headed downstairs to watch the Orpheus parade which was passing by our hotel. Melissa had told us Elijah and Mile's favourite singers the Imagination Movers would be in this parade which was begun by Harry Connick Jr. Glen scored beads from one the Movers, Rich, when he made a big show of being a fan. I was asleep when he came back very excited about the beads. Oh, and he saw Harry, too.