New Orleans and Mardi Gras

I just finished dropping a good friend off at the Nashville Airport he is headed to New Orleans and of course Mardi Gras for the week.   He had just finished a nasty divorce.  He is headed there clear his head and find a new beginning.  I was very jealous; if he had said park your car and come with; I would have done it.  New Orleans during Mardi Gras is one of those things every American must do once in your lifetime.

Most Americans think that Mardi Gras is nothing more than the debauchery; with strippers, booze, topless women, wild jazz and blues clubs all happening on Bourbon Street.  It is all that, but so much more.  Believe it or not, Mardi Gras is, for the most part, a family event with a week of parades and music.  It is family barbecues and basking in the glory of their crew.  Many families who have been members for 100s of years.  Crew Rex, Argus, and Zulu have members spanning 4 generations.

It is a celebration that brings in Lent and then Easter.  It celebrates new beginnings with food and fun.  The food, the food, the food, New Orleans is all about the food. It is my favorite French City in the Unites States.   Bring your appetite you're going to need it.  Everything leads up to Fat Tuesday the day before Lent.  To fully appreciate Mardi Gras plan to spend at least 5 days from Friday until Wednesday during the week of Lent.


I have been to Mardi Gras a few times, but this year I have commitments at work. If you go stay downtown near Canal street where all the major parades pass, another great place would be a hotel on St Charles Ave where the parades originate from before they enter Canal.  Things will get crazy but it is all in fun it is people watching at it's best.  My friend is there enjoying it now for all of us.