MORE MARDI GRAS

Before our Chef Ann dismissed us, she told us a secret that most locals don't know. "When you leave here, go left one block to the OMNI Royal Orleans Hotel. Walk in 'like you own the place' and take an elevator to the top floor. Follow signs to the pool. The stairs behind the pool lead to a terrace with the best view of the French Quarter." Our crowd is not shy, so we went straight there.




Walked through this beautiful lobby "like we owned it" or at least like we were registered there.




And found that Ann was right.




The Parades we had planned to attend on Thursday were canceled because of weather. So Friday evening we went like the privileged folks do to our reserved bleacher seats on St Charles Avenue. THREE parades were scheduled, but one from Thursday marched as well so we enjoyed the beautiful floats, incredible bands and, of course, those inevitable BEADS for about 6 hours. The seats and location were wonderful. But most important to some of us older folks, we had a private Porta-John !

Here's our gang of Airstreamers



Stanley, Lesly and me. It was NOT warm


HEY MISTER, THROW ME SOME BEADS

We still weren't too successful with the pictures, but I HAD to put this one in. One of the Krewes was D'Etat, which specializes in irony and sarcasm. They had lots of floats skewering FEMA, the Corps of Engineers and a bunch of other local people/organizations. Then there was this one, titled "Left Wing Chicken". The bucket is labeled "DNC". I hope the picture is good enough for you to recognize the "star" of the float.


Oh, what the heck, here's a profile too


There was a VERY TALL man in front of me in the bleachers. He was about 6'2" but I think his arms were 4' long. I was not having much success with the beads and other throws. A lady in the next section of bleachers asked if I was from out-of-town. I said, "Yes" and that this was our first Mardi Gras. One of her male companions said, "Put your bag over here. We'll fill it for you." And they did.

Thank you, Wendy. I told you I'd "make you famous" so here's your picture


So ends the second day of our Mardi Gras. It started at 8:00am and ended back at the Airstreams at 1:30am.

Life IS good.

But I may be too old for many more days of THIS good !