In every other year New Orleans has celebrated Mardi Gras, but this year it's Yardi Gras
Last year an estimated million people were in New Orleans celebrating the last days before Lent begins, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). This year the bars were closed, there were no crowds and the highlight of the celebration is Yardi Gras, where New Orleans residents decorated their yards, instead of floats.
I've had the privilege of visiting New Orleans twice for Mardi Gras. The first time was in 1973 and the city quickly became one of my favorite places. Instead of studying, which I should have been doing as a graduate student, I accepted a friend's invitation to drive from Nashville to New Orleans and live out one of my dreams, being part of the Mardi Gras celebration.
St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans (from a 1991 trip)
We arrived just after dawn and the fog was just rising from the city, making an almost magical scene. We were on a shoestring budget and our meals were mostly taken at McDonald's, with a splurge for beignets at Cafe du Monde. My memory is fuzzy about where we actually stayed, but it wasn't a fancy hotel. I had a fabulous time, but I also resolved that one day I would return to New Orleans and stay in a nice hotel and eat at some of the fabulous restaurants the city was known for.
In 2013 I visited Mardi Gras World and saw how the parade floats were put together.
There have been four more trips to New Orleans, staying in hotels and eating some of the best food in the world. The last one, which included a visit to Mardi Gras World, was in 2013. I was sure I had photographs from the other three visits and went through the obvious places where I stored pictures, but alas, didn't find them. I am sure that somewhere in my decluttering is another box of pictures with the elusive pictures.
Music on the Mississippi (1991)
I took this picture in 1991, long before I dreamed that my cellphone (also a fantasy at that time) would permit me to record this musician's performance and share it on my blog, another fantasy in 1991. Tonight one of my fantasies is a sixth visit to New Orleans. I am trying to keep my travel fantasies in check, since it's so unclear when travel will become feasible for me again. But seeing that fantasies do come true, I'm adding a return to the Big Easy to my travel dream list for the future.
I know most of us are doing very little to no traveling now, but what places are on your lists when it's feasible to begin to travel again? My hopes for my first trips are Maine, Vermont, and to see friends and family in Connecticut.
As ever, thanks for visiting and take care. Sending out prayers for safety and electricity to Texas and Oklahoma.
13 comments
I like your post on Mardi Gras and your souvenirs. For my part, iwouldlike to visit my son in Dubai and go for weekends in Netherlands.
Your ”Music on the Mississippi” photo is wonderful and worth a frame. I do hope you get back to Mardi Gras next year. I wish I had had the opportunity to go there also. When this is over, my first tickets purchased will be to San Francisco to see my family.
Great photos! I've never been to New Orleans. I would definitely love to visit there one of these days.
I spent a week in New Orleans many years ago, the week before Madri Gras, with a friend. We had such a wonderful time. As for travelling in the future, I don't have any plans. There are so many places I'd like to see, but I'll take it day by day. I do hope you get to visit the Big Easy again soon. Hugs, Edna B.
I am probably one of the few that didn't like New Orleans. We stopped there for one night on a 10 drive along the Mississippi River and Gulf. I found it too noisy and dirty.
I enjoyed the book you sent. That format of two narratives in different time periods but interwoven is very popular with authors now. This author did it quite well I thought.
like your stories about your previous trips to New Orleans. love that musician photo. awesome. the yardi gras idea was brillant and saved the day for this years mardi gras celebration. The houses all look fabulous. your travel plans for the future sound wonderful. i hope sooner than later you can be on the road again. i so enjoy hearing about your adventures. stay warm.
I love New York!
It’ nice you’ve travelled to Normandy hope we can travel again one day!
Stay safe.
I hope you get your sixth visit to New Orleans soon. This is also a place I have thought of visiting one day becos of the music and also I have seen and read so much about mardi gras. All that dancing on the streets and beautiful people, awesome!
I have visited New Orleans a few times but never during Mardi Gras! Hopefully things will return to normal and the celebrations can continue. It is a fun place to be. The BEACH, ANY BEACH is where I wanna go and it just might be soon:) Enjoy your day dear friend, stay safe and warm.
I had paid for trips to Portugal and Getmany in 2020, those trips have rolled over and Inhope I get to go there this year.
Fond memories of my visit to New Orleans. We were in Baton Rough last year and it was grand! Have a wonderful weekend!
A visit to new Orleans, even not during Mardi Gras, is definitely on my future travel wish list. Since our rail trip was cancelled this past fall, we are setting our sights on small drivable trips and most likely within the U.S. But we would like to tour parts of the UK to see castles, one day.
Another blog showed pics of this year's "Porch-i Gras." Which were amazing.
How super that you have been part of it, more than once. What memories!
Gentle hugs...
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