Ben and I lived in Louisiana from August 2002 until April 2007 while Ben was in dental school at Louisiana State University {Geaux Tigers}. We had a short {9 month} stint in Baton Rouge, then once he was accepted to school, we moved to New Orleans {where the dental school was located} for the remainder of our time there.
For our first 6 months, we rented a quadraplex apartment on DeSoto Street near Bayou St. John in Mid-City, about a quarter mile from the dental school. It was a great location for Jazz Fest {really a great location in general}, just a block or so from the Fair Grounds Race Track. Alas, they were renovating those apartments and selling them as condos so we only signed a short-term lease at the time. Once our 6 months was up, we decided to take the plunge and buy our first home. The two-bedroom, two-bath, 1200 square foot cottage was on Spruce Street near Tulane University in Uptown New Orleans. A bit farther from the dental school, but still close enough. We lived just four blocks off of the St. Charles Avenue street car line. Downtown was just a short car ride away and Audubon Park was about 10-15 blocks away.
We will always have a special place in our heart for the city of New Orleans. We began our life as a married couple in this city. We purchased our first home in this city. Our first child was born in this city. We experienced first-hand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as residents and homeowners in the city.
Orange spray paint reminded everyone of the search and rescue efforts. This sight filled returning residents with so much sadness {-0- bodies found}.
The home of a classmate and friend of Ben's was completely ruined in the Gentilly neighborhood. Check out that mold on the walls and sofa!
Mid City {Bayou St. John} a helicopter wreckage remains in the aftermath.
A rescue boat and supplies that was once afloat on this overpass.
Downed trees, power lines and blown debris littered the streets and sidewalks for months after the storm.
Ben graduated from dental school in this city. And we had the time of our life for those four years and met some amazing lifelong friends in this city.
This time of year we get pretty nostalgic for the Big Easy– craving the deliciously, sweet King Cakes {look for a post later in the week about this}, piping hot bowls of seafood gumbo, the fragrant scent of a savory crawfish boil and weekly parades packed with families, locals and visitors waving their arms yelling, "Hey Mister, throw me something".
These are real parades that you will never see anywhere else - massive, elaborately designed floats, glittery lights, beads, doubloons and baubles flying through the air and masked costumers waiting to make someone's lucky day. To this day, I will never understand why we get so excited for plastic beads and cheap baubles, but trust me, once you are there you will catch the Mardi Gras fever. From Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday the city is filled with a general laissez faire attitude for which the New Orleanians are known.
In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a holiday and all workplaces close until Ash Wednesday. Most places even close for Lundi Gras {the Monday before Fat Tuesday}. Streets, restaurants and shopping malls close down when there is a parade scheduled, thus most employers close early or let their employees go home on parade days.
When most {non-resident} people think of Mardi Gras, they think of the debauchery on Bourbon Street – young co-eds flashing their ta-ta's from balconies for beads. Well, it is more than that {although there is plenty of that}. It is long-standing tradition steeped in a historic, religious celebration {primarily Catholic} for the people and the families of Southern Louisiana {and particularly New Orleans}.
What goes on on Bourbon Street is mostly debauchery with some locals and many tourists flocking to the famous street to celebrate. Women are not required to flash their ta-ta's for beads {in fact if you do that on a parade route, you can be arrested}. It is a tradition nonetheless of locals to dress in clever and elaborate costumes on Mardi Gras to dance and party in the Quarter with other locals and tourists alike.
Families tend to stick to parades {which most of the larger ones don't go through the Quarter - fire hazards and none go down Bourbon Street} and are mostly tame. There's always a few drunken revelers, but most people tend to behave themselves pretty well at the parades. Parents even design special seating apparatuses {apparati? what is that the plural of apparatus?} for children to view the parade from a perch and to better catch throws.
People usually stake out their spot well in advance, then eat, drink and visit with friends until the parade comes by {hours later}. Everyone has their favorite parades and if you know someone in a krewe, then that parade may be one that you go to.
Popular parades are typically the larger ones or the more unique parades, which include Barkus {dogs}, Muses {all women}, Tucks, Endymion, Bacchus, Orpheus, Zulu and Rex. But if you hit up a smaller parade you are still guaranteed a good time and probably a little less elbow bumping when catching throws. Mardi Gras parades are quite a family affair and are central to the celebrations of the season.
So, as I was saying...in honor of Mardi Gras and because of this ongoing love affair with the city, I will feature a series of posts between now and Tuesday, March 8th all about New Orleans, its food and the things we love. Stay tuned and if you are going to New Orleans this weekend...take me with!
This is such a great post and really makes me want to go to NOLA! We love it there too!!
ReplyDeleteRemember our random run in on New Years Eve in New Orleans, years back?!
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