Mardi - Gras 2004

We decided to go to carnival this year, and as it turned out we were the only Yankees. I think we had a good time. We landed Friday about lunch time, the weather was great. Dave and Neci came and picked us up, and were saddled with babysitting us the first day. We ate lunch at a little place in minor looking mall (let me tell you... the oyster "Po-Boy" I had was beyond excellent)! We then went over to the river (I think by the Gretna bridge) and took a tour of a plantation.
I wasn't sure I would like this, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. The plantation was called "Laura's Plantation", and what made this so great was the information that was known about the history here. The last major oversee-er of this plantation was a woman named Laura, and this particular plantation was run for four generations by the women of the family. It was the norm for the oldest son (or at least one of the sons) to inherit the running of the business, not the case with this family. They opted for the smartest to lead, the women. Laura as it turned out didn't like plantation life and left at an early age. She had lived in the Mid west half her life, when her grandchildren began to ask questions about the plantation. That is when she began to write memoirs about it's history. They have recovered over 300 stories, most of which were able to be verified through records in France and Europe. It is even found to be the birth place of the "Breare Rabbit" stories, originally handed down by slaves.
We spent the next day at the Mid-Town parades (Tux). The weather was what I had hoped for weeks ahead! I had #30 sun block on and still got a touch sun burn (YEA!!). We had a very long day and found better parking. We usually park at the school, four or five blocks away.
This year the church right on our favorite corner had parking for twenty dollars (with rest room rights). Oh yea... the school was up to twenty dollars this year too. We also enjoyed the "Pappa John"
pizza that was sold by cart vendors right on the parade route. We did the much needed homemade pralines that are on this route too.
Sunday was a knew day and we did the Zoo, Boat trip, Aquarium package. We enjoyed this, and "Fat George" put about four miles on his walker that day. We had quite the krew for this "Fat George", "Neci" and Dave. We had "Tee" & Amber along with Inkmark & Deb. One of the highlights was Deb calling Inkmark to the upper deck over the PA system, for a Honey-Moon dance. Only to be found steering the boat with the captain standing by. We had an official taste test of the ice cream provided by the zoo & aquarium. We rate the aquarium better, mostly cause the zoo had terrible service. But we did talk about ... "In all fairness we should give the zoo another chance"!
And rounded out the day with a carousel ride (pictures are forth comming).
Monday was "Lundi-Gras" and the French Quarter trip. We opted to miss this part due to weather (three cars full went without us). We went shopping and spent a quiet day with Fat George.
Tuesday was "Mardi-Gras", and we up and out by eight AM. It was wet all day, but we were there. We had a good time (collected all kinds of "STUFF"). All in all it was a great trip, we saw old friends. We were treated like royalty, and hated to leave. We would recommend this trip to anybody, with the Griffins as tour guides you get more then you would if you made six trips alone.
Your travel spokesman Inkmark