Friday, August 21, 2009

Last Day and Packing
Friday 14th August

Well after that interesting day yesterday we have arrived at out last day in New Orleans. Packing is the name of the game today. We go through the house moving everything towards our bedroom. Then we take some time by the pool.


Street Singer
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Trombone
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Mags and I head into Riverwalk where we can get the Louisiana Sales taxes back. Riverwalk is a big shopping mall. We ask at the visitors desk convention centre. They are not sure and direct is to a shop downstairs. They are not the place but they direct is back upstairs. Just when we thought this might all be a bit of a fools errand we spotted it "Louisiana Sales Tax Refund Centre" can't be any clearer than that! We collected our refund of just over $40 in cash. If we had known the procedure earlier we might have recovered more - next time we will be wiser!

Then we took a stroll down to Cafe Du Monde for a last but of New Orleans flavour. We had coffee and beignets and listened to the street musicians. The we got the tram back to where we had parked the car. We finished packing and booked a taxi for 8 am in the morning - our flight to New York is at 10 am.

We went out to Crescent City Steak House for dinner. We had excellent steak in a real old style restaurant - only been around since the 1930's. It was a nice close to an excellent fortnight. We have had warmth and relaxation combined with good food and good music as well as a couple of good away days. We have been busy - but not too busy and we are ready for the hectic pace of New York. We will certainly try to get back to New Orleans again. There is still so much to see and do. It has been a very interesting time to be there four years after Katrina. The city has made a lot of progress in four years - but the scars are still visible in places. It would be interesting to see what another few years would bring.


Outside Cafe Du Monde, Uploaded by M+MD.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Beach by Day, Zydeco by Night
Thursday 13th August


Gulfport Mississippi, Uploaded by M+MD.

Well we thought it wouldn't be a holiday without going to a beach. According to the Internet there are no real beaches in Louisiana but if you want a beach you should travel East. Florida is only 3 hours away by Highway. Much nearer to New Orleans are the beaches of Mississippi at Long Beach, Gulfport and Biloxi. We settled on Long Beach. We left around 10 am and were at the beaches before 11.30. The beaches were beautiful with miles of white sand running beside the road.


The area was damaged by Katrina and we could see lots of evidence of recent repair though no evidence left of the damage. There were areas of the beach where the parking and the footpaths were being relaid and also there were some very small immature palm trees along the edge of the beach. We stopped and checked out the water - it was warm! There was also a funny looking fish swimming in the shallows. There was nobody on the beaches - it was a little eerie. There were lots of beautiful beachfront property. Of course schools in New Orleans opened last week. It seems like they must all be back in Mississippi too. We know that they are not back in New York yet - Senan checked his friend Kevin's school and it isn't back until the second week in September.

We decided Long Beach was too quite and drove along the beaches until we reached Gulfport. It was also quiet though we came to an area opposite a Marriott Hotel which had a number of sun beds for hire and a car park. There were even a few people around. That looked good enough for us. We hired 2 double lie outs for the day and got ourselves set up under a sun umbrella. We put on the sun cream and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible. We read our books. The temperature was in the mid 90's but there was a lovely fresh breeze off the sea.


At about 3 we went looking for food. We found a strip mall leading back to the Highway, but nothing interesting in the line of restaurants despite driving all around. In the end we settled for a Subway. We all agreed that it hit the spot. In the afternoon we went in for a swim. The water never really went much above the waist, but we managed to swim after a very long walk out from the beach. What was most strange was these flying or jumping fish which started to appear p front of us. They were about the size of a large mackerel and they seemed to jump rather than flying. There were a line of posts which probably marked deeper water - we never reached out that far. On the top of each pole was a Pelican. They were not very interested in the flying fish - maybe they had just eaten! They were more interested in holding onto their perch on the post!


Tides Out
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We packed up at 6 and were home at 7.30. We decided to try our luck at the bowling in the Rock N Bowl again. It was also a zydeco night. Zydeco is Creole country rock music with lots of dancing; button accordion and washboards. We had read about it but had no real idea what to expect. Well the first thing that we found was that the place was hopping - even busier than Saturday night with Kermit Ruffins. Everyone was on the floor dancing. The dance was a strange combination of two step and jive and lots in between. The accordian and leader of the group is Geno Delafose. His album was noiminated for a Grammy in 2008. You can see the washboard (worn around the neck; and the accordian as well as the dancing in the video clip taken that evening.

It was a great backdrop to our improving bowling. We were just a little hungry and we got some fries while we bowled. After the bowling we watched the music had a couple of beers and even did a little dancing ourselves. It was another great night at the Rock N Bowl.


Dancin' to Zydeco, Uploaded by M+MD.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

French Market & Preservation Hall
Wednesday, 12 August

After a couple of quiet days we needed some action. This morning planned to head down to the French Quarter Flea Market and the Farmers Market. Senan decided he needed a break from shopping and stayed at home.


French Market
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We drove down and found the market. I drew, while the Mags and Lisa hunted for bargains. After about 50 minutes a downpour started. It lasted the usual 20 minutes. As it cleared we headed towards Bourbon Street. As we didn't have Senan with us we thought it would try Pat O'Briens. But we were too early for the pub although the restaurant was open. We ordered 3 Hurricanes - even if it was before noon - its tea-time in Ireland and we're on our holidays!


We had a very interesting conversation about Katrina with Rick, our waiter. He was New Orleans born and bred. He didn't leave before Katrina because they had no where to go, all their friends and relatives were from New Orleans. They lived in Algiers on the other side of the Mississippi so they had bad wind damage but not too much flood damage. However they had to evacuate about a week after Katrina because there was no water or power and it just wasn't feasible to live there. He went to Houston and stayed there for about 10 months. He got separated from his teenage kids at the time of the evacuation. Eventually he had to put out a missing persons alert to locate them. He was pretty philosophical about the whole thing. "It makes you think about what's important". We headed back for the car after buying the souvenir glasses and promising to send Rick a postcard from Ireland.

The Hurricanes had quite a kick. There is 4oz of white rum in each plus an unspecified Hurricane mix! I'm sure they were just tired but both Lisa and Mags had a little snooze when they got home. Me? I don't remember!

Mags made pasta for lunch when we got home. Maybe that's why she had a snooze. More resting by the pool was necessary because that night we were planning to go to Preservation Hall.

This is a music venue just off Bourbon Street which is dedicated to the preservation of Dixieland jazz. It is a most amazing location - it could do with a good lick of paint - though you would have to repair and plaster the walls first. Its all part of the look!



Preservation Hall Jazz, Uploaded by M+MD.


William Smith
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No drink or food - its just like we were in someones front room. The band was great. They started at 8 am played for about 50 minutes, took a 15 minute break and then started up again and played again for 2 more sessions. Requests cost $5 but a request for "The Saints" cost $10! We got "The Saints" in the middle of the second session. It was another great night. We left just as the third session was starting. There is lots of standing room, but only seats for about 30 people. Lisa and Mags did get sitting for the second session. They allowed photography but no flash and strictly no video. Well, we could resist the following few segments.

Afterwards we watched the madness develop on Bourbon Street from a little pizza place next door. We had french fries while we watched. Two policemen on horses came down the street and stopped at the bar across from us. The bar staff feed the horses and watered the cops! It looked like a regular nightly visit.


Mounted Police
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Soon we were ready for home. We are running out of time and we have another big day planned for to-morrow.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Bowling Blues at Rock N Bowl
Tuesday, 11 August

We lazed around the pool most of the day. Mags ventured out to the supermarket on her own - didn't get lost and brought home an Indian Curry fron the Curry House on Carrollton for lunch. In the evening we went to the Lebanese Cafe on Carrollton and had excellent Kebobs and Hummus. After we were feed we went to the Rock N Bowl - this time to go bowling as well as listen to an excellent Blues Rock band.

Our bowling was a little rusty - but there were a smattering of strikes. The place was not as busy as last Saturday. The music finished at 11 and we left just a little after that.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A Lazy Day
Monday, 10th August

Mags had a need to go shopping this morning so she got up early and I dropped her to Lakeside before 10 am. On the way home I went to Best Buys at the next exit. There was some interesting looking stuff - might be of interest to Senan too.


We lay by the pool and swam and read before heading back to collect Mags around 2 pm. I left Lisa to meet Mags and me and Senan checked out the GuitarHero and Rockband equipment for the Wii. In the end we were wiser but the only purchase was a second battery for my camera.


Camellias
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Our Spot
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We headed back to the. Mall where we met Mags and Lisa and decided to have lunch at Camellias again. The place was pretty quiet. We sat at the same spot on the counter and had the same waiter again! Food was fast and good and just what we needed. The rest of the day was lazy and quiet, sitting by the pool and reading our books.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Blue Bayou and Dixie Lanin'
Sunday 9th August

One week gone and one week to go in New Orleans. One of our plans for next week was to go to a water park near Baton Rouge a little over an hour away. We checked this morning for the opening times. It turns out that since public schools in Louisiana start back this week' the water park is only open at weekends. So our plan to go on Monday or Tuesday was not a runner. We made a quick decision and packed our togs and towels and set off around 12.30.


Bayou
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Raised Highway
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We arrived shortly after 1.30 - it was freeway door to door. The journey on the freeway was interesting. It took us along the shores or Lake Pontchartrain for a while and then we drove on a highway built on stilts over water for about half the way. Here were the real bayous with trees growing out of the water and a canal down the middle of the two carriageways of the freeway.


Blue Bayou
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Blue Bayou
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Blue Bayou
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Blue Bayou
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Blue Bayou
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Blue Bayou
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We parked and paid and were soon changed and queueing for a slide. It was a combination amusement and water park. Despite it being that last day of the holidays, it wasn't too busy. Probably because the weather was a little overcast at times and there was a risk of thunderstorms. Indeed we had the cut short one of the queues because they shut down the rides for 10 minutes. Then the danger past without hitting us and we rushed to the front of the queue! However after another slide the thunder did arrive and we took the opportunity to eat. 30 minutes later the rain stopped and we were fed.


Voodoo Slide
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We then queued for the Voodoo Ride where four of us got into four connected runner rings and were sent sliding and twisting down in the dark finally spinning around a vortex in the half light only to be spat out into the open again. A few more queues and slides and we were ready to dry off and change and try our hand at the roller coasters.

We started with the basic and moved on to the Extreme. The extreme involved a spinning four person roller coaster ride. It was extreme and great fun. Mags have the roller-coasters a miss and was happy to sit in the shade and read her book. Lisa and I went on the big roller coaster with the two 360 degree turns. The ride went forward first through both loops and some lesser twists and then did the whole thing in reverse! We then managed to get ourselves wet again in a water roller coaster before collecting Mags and watching Lisa and Senan take a second ride on the spinning Extreme.


Blue Bayou
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Dixie Landin'
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Dixie Landin'
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Dixie Landin'
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We were back in New Orleans before seven. We showered and changed. We weren't that hungry but we did need to eat. We went to a diner on St Charles and Carrollton, where we saw them queuing on for lunch yesterday as we waited for the tram. Its called Camellias. It wasn't very busy when we called around 8.30 but they were very friendly. We had excellent diner fair - burgers with fries all around. It was very good value and had a nice relaxed feel to it. Well fed we went home and played Bananagrams 'til we dropped.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Streetcars and Rock N Bowl
Saturday, 8th August

After a couple of days with no rain, the rain arrived mid morning for a change. We had thunder and lighting too. That was all the incentive we needed to get out and do some tourist like things. The rain stopped quickly as it does and we drove to Maple Street and took the St Charles Streetcar towards town. As we waited for the tram we saw people queueing for lunch at Camellia's Diner. That's one to check out later.




We got out at the Garden District to see the Lafayette Cemetery, but it closes early on Saturday - so you could say it was dead quiet. We walked around the Garden District admiring the amazing houses there. As we headed back for the tram we found the Garden District Bookshop and had a browse there. It was in an old timber building with a couple of interesting shops and a lovely coffee shop together. I guess you could call it a turn of the century mall. We bought a few books and then sat and had coffee.


Outside Garden District Bookshop, Uploaded by M+MD.

Refreshed we headed back to St Charles Street and the Streetcar. Its such an old fashioned tram with high ceilings and timber seating. It looks like nothing has changed about these teams in nearly 100 years. Tennessee Williams had exactly these streetcars in mind in his play "A Streetcar Named Desire". As we approached downtown we saw a lot of men and women in red dresses. It turns that this is the annual New Orleans Hash House Harriers Red Dress Run . The club bills itself as "The Drinking Club with a Running Problem."


What the heck?
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Riverwalk, Uploaded by M+MD.

We got off the street car walked to the Riverwalk centre where we got food. I had a shrimp sandwich also known locally as a shrimp Po-Boy. It was another mall, Senan and I had been conned again. However Senan got a cool pair of Converse shoes so I guess he didn't do too bad. I consoled myself with Kermit Ruffins' new CD. As the name implies this Mall runs along the river and the views from the balcony are pretty interesting with every type of ship and boat travelling up and down the river. Shopped out, we headed back for the streetcar. The houses along St Charles are pretty spectacular too.


We got home, showered and changed because to-night we were going to the Rock N Bowl just about a mile away to see Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers as recommended by Gene and Tay. It was a very interesting venue. It was family friendly, the only rule was no alcohol under 21. There were about 10 bowling alleys as well as a bar a stage and a dance floor. We just managed to get a seat. There were a couple of different parties going on - a wedding party and a birthday party. The band were setting up as we arrived.


Kermit Ruffins
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Bass Player
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Kermit Ruffins
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Dancing
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At about 9.45 Kermit and the band arrived and started playing. It was a Louis Armstrong type performance to start - the singing trumpeter playing jazz classics. As the night went on the style broadened out but it was really what you would expect Louis Armstrong to sing if he were around today. It was s pretty hard crowd at the start in that most people were continuing to do their own thing. However as the parties started to break up and more people arrived it livened up. Gr then got people up and dancing.

Then the hool-a-hoops arrived. There were some pretty impressive displays and some pretty hopeless cases too! All this was going on while the band played. At some point a group of students with Grease tee shirts arrived in. They certainly knew how to dance. Then we had a demonstration from a couple of professional looking Latin dancers. As midnight approached the whole dance floor was thronged as Kermit did his last number before the break and then he was going to come back and do some more. We thought we better quit a while we were ahead. It was a great night out and the place had a lovely local family feel while playing really good typical New Orleans jazz.

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