So we have managed to time it wrong (or right) yet again. In the past we have landed ourselves in New York smack bang in the middle of a Thanksgiving Parade, or right in time for a record breaking snow storm. We have placed ourselves in Memphis when tornados have struck for the first time in a long time. We have now arrived in New Orleans on the day that the famous Mardi Gras is beginning. Every man and his voodoo doll have turned up for this event, and that is apparent on the roads and the side walks.
The New Orleans Mardi Gras has been celebrated since 1699 (so you would assume we might have known about this!) when French explorer Iberville and his men explored the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico.
Note: "But Mardi Gras roots predate the French. Many see a relationship to the ancient tribal rituals of fertility that welcomed the arrival of Spring. A possible ancestor of the celebration was the Lupercalia, a circus-like orgy held in mid-February in Rome. The early Church fathers, realizing that it was impossible to divorce their new converts from their pagan customs, decided instead to direct them into Christian channels. Thus Carnival was created as a period of merriment that would serve as a prelude to the penitential season of Lent"
The New Orleans Mardi Gras has been celebrated since 1699 (so you would assume we might have known about this!) when French explorer Iberville and his men explored the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico.
Note: "But Mardi Gras roots predate the French. Many see a relationship to the ancient tribal rituals of fertility that welcomed the arrival of Spring. A possible ancestor of the celebration was the Lupercalia, a circus-like orgy held in mid-February in Rome. The early Church fathers, realizing that it was impossible to divorce their new converts from their pagan customs, decided instead to direct them into Christian channels. Thus Carnival was created as a period of merriment that would serve as a prelude to the penitential season of Lent"
New Orleans is a mass of purple, green and gold (the colours for Mardi Gras) which I would consider pretty under any other circumstance. But because the Mardi Gras seems to provide people with the authority to stagger around drunk, drive like a lunatic, and behave badly in general, it certainly impedes on the whole "happiness and celebration" thing. There are multiple cocks in frocks although in their defence they look far better in a dress than I do!
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| One of the dudes in a dress! |
People have flocked to the city in their trillions (and yes....again I think this is something that we should have been aware of...so its our own silly fault) and seem intent on trying to out do each other for first prize in being the "loudest and most annoying person in the whole USA". Now that is something that I would usually be in the running for, without even trying, but I tell you....these people are the masters.
Its amazing how you can view a place the second time around, so differently than the first. I am not sure whether my wide eyed stares during the 2012 trip stopped me from taking it all in, but I can guarantee this was like seeing it again for the first time....but differently. We went in to the French Quarter - the oldest neighbourhood in the city. It was established by the French in 1718 hence its name and centres around "Jackson Square". It is historical....and haunted.
Anyone that knows me is aware of my fascination with the paranormal, and my belief in what exists after death. I firmly believe in the sixth sense, and believe I have also seen a genuine psychic at work. I do not fear ghosts/souls/spirits unless they are evil. I believe in good and evil...and believe this is carried into the after life. I firmly believe that the French Quarter is full of evil. I felt it last time....I felt it this time....and it scares the shit out of me. In the daytime, the French Quarter seems harmless enough although it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The stories about voodoo, black magic and spells that are cast, scared the daylights out of me. Add to that, a zillion tourists being loud, crass and DRUNK....and I want to get the hell out of there.
Its amazing how you can view a place the second time around, so differently than the first. I am not sure whether my wide eyed stares during the 2012 trip stopped me from taking it all in, but I can guarantee this was like seeing it again for the first time....but differently. We went in to the French Quarter - the oldest neighbourhood in the city. It was established by the French in 1718 hence its name and centres around "Jackson Square". It is historical....and haunted.
Anyone that knows me is aware of my fascination with the paranormal, and my belief in what exists after death. I firmly believe in the sixth sense, and believe I have also seen a genuine psychic at work. I do not fear ghosts/souls/spirits unless they are evil. I believe in good and evil...and believe this is carried into the after life. I firmly believe that the French Quarter is full of evil. I felt it last time....I felt it this time....and it scares the shit out of me. In the daytime, the French Quarter seems harmless enough although it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The stories about voodoo, black magic and spells that are cast, scared the daylights out of me. Add to that, a zillion tourists being loud, crass and DRUNK....and I want to get the hell out of there.
One of the first things we saw when we walked around Jackson Square, was a dog in a very small cage. Tears immediately sprang to my eyes. As we walked further, I looked at the horses and carriages....and realised....the horses were in fact donkeys. Very unhappy donkeys. We went into a souvenir shop and I found key rings with genuine alligator feet attached. What the hell is this place? As a true, blue animal lover, I felt sick. And I was confused as to how I did not see these things when we were last here.
We decided this time to walk along the world famous "Bourbon Street" as we did not do that the first time we were here. We actually drove passed it on a horse (donkey rather) and carriage and I remembered it not being anything to write home about, but thought we could give it another shot. We bloody hell....the street (and all of those surrounding it) were absolutely putrid and offensive on the nose. It absolutely stank. The best description that I could come up with, was that it smelled like rotten ear wax and dirty nappies. It smelled just awful.
We decided this time to walk along the world famous "Bourbon Street" as we did not do that the first time we were here. We actually drove passed it on a horse (donkey rather) and carriage and I remembered it not being anything to write home about, but thought we could give it another shot. We bloody hell....the street (and all of those surrounding it) were absolutely putrid and offensive on the nose. It absolutely stank. The best description that I could come up with, was that it smelled like rotten ear wax and dirty nappies. It smelled just awful.
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| Bourbon Street |
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| Bourbon Street |
As we drove away from the French Quarter my mood lifted. It became easier to breathe again and I didn't have that strong feeling of evil. The fact that we found ourselves on the Mardi Gras Parade route, was a bit of a bonus (or not) for the day. Mind you, it was great given that we didn't have traffic to compete with!
Hmmm....no traffic? And what are those barricades? Did the Bear figure that he needed more than one piece of portable fencing to protect him from the crowds?
We decided to visit the Lafayette Cemetery which we failed to do last time. The Bear thought that it might have freaked me out....but I told him that I was just fine. The people in the mausoleums here were just regular folk (respectfully of course) and that I did not feel that there was any threat. Do you think I am mad? Of course I am! The history in this cemetery was just astounding. People here had been born before our own country had been "discovered". They had died before my own great grand parents had been born. It was sad to see that most of the mausoleums where in a very sad state of disrepair, although it was interesting to note that people were still being added to the family crypts as recently as last year. Whilst I would not like to be in this place at night, I definitely found it to be amazingly interesting during the day!
Tomorrow we fly back to the west coast. I am SO looking forward to that! I read that another weather event will be occurring on the east coast and central districts. Rain is headed for California, and that is ok. That is neither snowstorm or tornado. Knowing our luck on this trip, we will experience an earthquake!
