This place is full of fantastic music, sexual innuendo, great food, riské parades, endless surprises, fantastic music (hint hint) and just wild crazy fun! Have you guessed where we’ve been? It’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys, a basket full of strange surprises, and a wagon load of shocking innuendo. Yes, New Orléans is right! No, it’s actually “Nawlins” as everyone who has been there knows, of course. 

 

New Orléans is not for the conservative or repressed. It’s not for someone who might be easily offended. If men dressed as women or women dressed as men, or young and old dressed in the oddest sexual costumes would disturb you, then Nawlins’ may not be for you. But you will be missing a great time!

 

First, you probably know that New Orléans is built on swamp land. Here is the view flying in…

Getting Ready for Mardi Gras

We were there pre-Mardi Gras, when the party was already well on its way. Famous for the great Louis Armstrong (Sachmo), hundreds of outstanding musicians grew up in Louisiana and became acclaimed all over the world. There was music pouring out of tiny bars on every street, and on every corner.

 

New Orléans is a walking town, and everywhere we walked people were getting ready for Mardi Gras. Balconies were decorated, crowds were gathering, music poured out of 10 tiny bars on every street, and people were already dressed in costumes.

 

 

Parade after Parade

Then the parades started. Every night, down different streets, a parade with a different theme, dazzled and delighted the crowds!

 

The very first night we arrived we knew that the Crewe du Vieux Parade was to go up Frenchman St, a block from where we were staying at the Hotel de la Monnaie. This is the most individual and most traditional parade.  We had been warned that it always has irreverent and satirical themes, as well as showcasing some of the best Brass and Jazz Bands in New Orléans. It is also one of the very few parades allowed through the French Quarter, possibly because its floats are mule or human drawn. It would be going through the Marigny Triangle and Lower French Quarter. This year’s theme was KdV Comes Early with subKrews (sub themes) of C.R.U.D.E., Underwear, Seeds of Decline, Mama Roux, L.E.W.D., K.A.O.S., C.R.A.P.S., Mystic Krewe of Spermes, Comatose, and Mystic Krewe of Inane.

 

Intriguing no? How can you not check it out. Well! We’re not prudes, but we certainly were in for some surprises! 

 

You could hear the amazing bands playing in the distance, and the anticipation built long before they came down the street. People laughed and joked and shouted with excitement. The horns blared and echoed as the marching bands lent an air of fun and excitement.

 

 

This guy poured his heart and soul into playing his music. That’s what Nawlins’ is all about. Gotta love it!

 

Then came the floats…. too funny…

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And more floats…. what the ?…. oh my…..

 

From Space Age Love…

 

To a Victoriana theme, the variety was endless.

 

To Bones…

 

Here Comes Da Brides… (even the local politicians are not shy to dress up and have fun!)

 

And the horse-drawn carriages, with prancing fillies…

 

The Dead Carnival Band…

 

Sometimes we didn’t know what the sub-theme was at all, but it was still amusing – no hilarious – as Heck.

 

Wild and crazy… anything goes in Nawlins….

Nothing is sacred… everything makes people smile and cheer…

 

Nawlins’ is just good fun. Everyone is drinking and laughing and enjoying the music and parades, but no one is falling down drunk. No one is getting hurt and everyone is happy.