Mardi Gras New Orleans

We were a little early for Mardi Gras however the city is gearing up for the festivities now. Signs are everywhere with decorations up. As we walked the streets I always had my camera in hand for photo opportunities. Below are a few of the colorful Mardi Gras things we have seen this week.

I caught this guy decorating his house, you can see him leaning out the window on the left. Many of the trees throughout the city have beads hanging in them from past Mardi Gras celebrations.

some colorful masks

this is an example of how to use your Christmas decorations for Mardi Gras...

Jamie gets into the festive spirit with the fat cat

and that's me posing with the blue kitty in colorful boas

Beignets and Coffee

In our walking all over the French Quarter yesterday we happened upon the Cafe du Monde and Jamie wanted to stop in there for coffee and beignets. The openair seating area was packed with customers and the take-out line was long. I grabbed a table and Jamie stood in line for about 20 minutes to get her cup of coffee and an order of beignets (there are 3 in an order). Each beignet is covered in about a cup of powdered sugar! WOW! I took only a bite off one of them and almost felt the sugar shock to my system. They are good, I have to admit and had I not known what eating one would do to my blood sugar level I would have easily consummed a couple of them myself. As it was a bite was enough for me. We even had a couple of little birds come right up to us eating the dropped powdered sugar. And let me tell you, there was white powder all over the place there!!! Beignets are impossible to eat without getting covered in white powder!

A Cajun Band

We put in a full day yesterday and I think my favorite thing was a cajun band we saw performing in the street. They were really fantastic. We could have stood there listening to them all afternoon but we had lots more we wanted to fit into the day so we only hung around long enough to hear them do a couple of songs. Very impressive! They have a unique look and sound. I was quite mesmerized by the girl playing the homemade stand up bass... a wash tub, long stick and big cord or band of some sort... it really worked and made a very nice bass sound as she plucked it while holding the "string" in a different place up and down the stick. Interesting. The girl playing he accordian had a beautiful voice too.

Acme Oyster House

Last night we ate at a restaurant called Acme. It had been recommended by several people so we decided to give it a try. There was a line outside but we had been told the line moves quickly and is well worth the wait. Once seated David ordered the char-grilled oysters and Jamie and I each ordered a Po-Boy sandwich. They seem to be popular here in New Orleans so we wanted to give them a try. Nothing to write home about. David loved his oysters and it appeared a lot of people in the restaurant had oysters. I just can't bring myself to eat anything that slimey so I was not brave enough to even give it a shot. Below are a few photos of the evening. We are staying so busy that I don't have time for blogging. I will eventually get them in but for now will do what I can fit in when we have a few free mintues.

David's platter of char-grilled oysters and he also tried the local beer

My Po-Boy sandwich... a little sloppy and not all that grand

Jamie and Linda standing outside in the line waiting to be seated

David and Jamie waiting in line

the Acme Oyster House sign