New Orleans, day one

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

I now understand the name "The Big Easy".  Whoa.  Too bad some things cannot be unseen!

With our bags packed and the boat secured our rental car arrived and we were off, headed west on the highway for a short road trip to New Orleans.  We got there about 10:30 a.m. while the street washers were still out.  We easily found our hotel, parked the car and set out, just walking around seeing what we could see.  And there was lots to be seen.  Even at that hour.  

We explored all day: galleries, street musicians, little shops and before we knew it happy hour rolled around. Being a quiet, off-season Tuesday afternoon the bartender wasn't too busy so we were chatting, sharing stories and showing him the pics of the alligators we've seen etc.  Soon the cooks were hanging out too.  The next thing we knew they presented a sampler plate of alligator tail for us to try. Jeff jumped in and started to chow down but me, being a bit of a picky eater, was having none of it.  With "encouragement" flowing from the bartender I finally just reached out and popped a chunk in my mouth.  Ewwwww!  It was chewy and disgusting but they were so pleased that I tried it all I could do was gulp and wash it down quickly before it came back up.  Jeff teased me all afternoon about the 'gator in my belly.

Later that evening, on the advice of our bartender buddy, we ambled down to Frenchman Street, just down the way from our hotel.  Apparently the famous Bourbon Street area is mostly where the tourists hang out but, if you want to hear the real soul music of New Orleans, Frenchman Street was the place to go.  And he was right.  There was bar after bar of GREAT music.  The topper was the group of eight or so high-school or college kids who were poised on a street corner.  WOW!  They were amazing, taking turns improvising unique rhythms and melodies.  It was just spell-binding.  They had a huge crowd around them and we were lucky to find a table on the balcony of a hotdog joint across the street which gave us the perfect vantage point.  I just love young creativity in action and the people-watching was excellent.

Later we took a detour and walked home via Bourbon Street.  We wanted to see what it was like at night and it didn't disappoint.  It was a pretty interesting show for a "quiet" Tuesday night. There were all sorts of characters. Guys dressed in drag, a rather rotund woman wearing nothing but a tutu, silver paint and tassels (being sick to her stomach on the street).  On and on. People really like to drink in this town!  With eyes like saucers we danced the night away and got home in the wee hours.