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