Kathleen, Julie, Julia and Dee
So when some of my fellow Whiners and I decided to take a trip to New Orleans a few years ago, we made it a point to avoid Mardi Gras, since we assumed it would be a bear to get a hotel room and far too crowded to really do much of anything.
Boy, were we idiots.
Dee and Julie (in appropriate Mardi Gras head gear)
Day one, we arrive, check in to our fabulous hotel (the Royal Sonesta) and go out for lunch/dinner. It’s a bit crowded, but not bad, and we notice that there are folks readying for a parade. It’s February, so we know Mardi Gras is coming, but we are certain that we’re weeks early.
We’re wrong.
When we ask the waiter about the parade, we’re informed that it’s one of the bigger Mardi Gras parades (I forget which one) that kicks off the festivities. We have, in other words, arrived right as Mardi Gras is ramping up in N’Awlins.
Some street musicians getting into the swing one afternoon
Turns out, this was an absolute blast….and I’m so glad it worked out that way as we never would have done it on purpose! But, yes, we did wander the streets at night. And, no, we didn’t flash anyone to get more beads. We played and drank and laughed and ate fabulous food and had a generally marvelous time.
So happy Fat Tuesday, folks! What are you doing to celebrate?
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
We’re glad you decided to stay with us at the Royal Sonesta Hotel and had a great time in our city at the beginning of Carnival season! Please come back to see us soon, as the need for celebration is endless in New Orleans!
Thanks for commenting! I’ve stayed at the Royal Sonesta several times (first stayed there when I was clerking on the Fifth Circuit) and it’s one of my all-time favorite hotels!
I can’t enjoy the big fat fattening treats, so treating myself to big fat reading frenzy starting with The Revenge of Lord Eberlin! YEAH!
Oh fun! I have to finish this book Im writing and then I’m treating myself too!
Oh my gosh it was soooo much fun! Totally absolutely a great trip!
it was!!!
I am jealous! Now I have to become a writer so I can also be a Whine Sister and have fun too!
Here in the UK it is Pancake Tuesday so we are having…wait for it…PANCAKES! Well, American ones. British pancakes are anaemic; (yes the proper British spelling!) They are small and called crepes in the USA. But I am making pork tomato sausages, bacon, eggs, southern tomato casserole and home made rice pudding. Oh and warm fruit syrup for the pancakes.
If it weren’t for Weight watchers I’d definitely be having pancakes…that’s the tradition in my family for fat tuesday!
I don’t know. I hope no one ever produces a video, Whiners Gone Wild, featuring some incriminating footage. That would be scary indeed.
SNORT
Cool pictures. Looks like you guys had a blast.
I think you need to enter a Whine Sisters parade float! The possibilities are endless.
Love it! I actually have a photo somewhere of my mom on a Mardi Gras float (my family is from NOLA, back in the day)
That’s a picture I’d love to see!!!
I know! actually, my mom has it, which means I now have it somewhere in a box in my garage. At least I hope so. Will be sad if she got rid of it. I did run across a pic of my dad in Haiti in the 50s in… yes … purple pants!
Ahh, good times, good times!
Today is a very Fat Tuesday for me – THE REVENGE OF LORD EBERLIN is out, so I will celebrate by talking about that to death, LOL
to death? Hmm. not sure that would be a good thing, LOL!
As long as it’s not Lord Eberlin that dies…that would sort of defeat the point of a romance — unless of course it’s paranormal…okay stopping rambling now…
I’ve never wanted to go to Mardi Gras…okay, maybe I did back in college. Closest I got was flashing for beads at some dance club. LOL. funny how life turns out, though, isn’t it? You guys went there when you did to purposely avoid it…and ended up having a blast! I’m doing nothing to celebrate it today, though. Nope…taking it easy tonight.
I’m boring.
haha! Not boring! And I am now celebrating by staying at home tending a kid with strep throat. sigh.
Yeah, I never wanted to go then either. I love New Orleans, but I think I like it tamer than that. Though anything I’ve ever done with my Whine Sisters has been a blast, so I’m sure this would have worked out for me, too.
I love New Orleans and never wanted to go either, but I’m so glad I did. Was a blast! The beads are actually hanging right here by my desk! Close to the CUUUBBBBEEEE!