DD and I took a drive south east to check out the area. We drove down to Morgan City and has some chicken BBQ. We then started back and detoured to the coast stopped at the Cypremort Point State Park and at Cypremort Point to see the ocean and watch the sky after the sunset. Then back home to hang out for DD's last night here.
I wanted DD to experience the French Quarter during the day and not packed with Mardi Gras people. I did manage to find the Gumbo Shop so DD could have some Creole food. We each got a different Creole dinner. DD got seafood Okra gumbo, chicken espagnole with rice with garlic mashed potatoes and hot bread budding for dessert. I got chicken andouille gumbo, the Creole combination platter which included shrimp creole, jambalaya, red beans and rice with macque choux corn and a chocolate brownie pie. It was very good.
We then walked around some more in the French Quarter. Lots of street musicians around. One group had a guitar, violin, a washboard and a bucket bass. It was pretty cool to see and they sounded good. We also took a walk down Bourbon Street. DD liked looking at all the people. I got a hand grenade and we hung out on one of the balconies just people watching. When we got tired of walking we went to the car and started home.
Taught my Friday Music Appreciation class and being that it is a Friday during lent we went to Tsunami and had sushi. That place has good sushi. Do not remember much else about the day. We probably went home and hung out.
I had to teach today and it was my long day. DD got to watch me teach my Music Appreciation and History of Jazz class. During my Pro Tools class, he helped me put some stuff into storage so the studio is a little cleaner.
We then went to Dwight's. There we got all appetizers so DD could sample all the Cajun food. We got fried alligator, boudin and crawfish cakes giving him the authentic Louisiana experience. DD still does not like boudin. It is too strong for him. He did like the alligator and crawfish cakes.
DD and I went to find McGee's Landing just outside of Lafayette. Did not really find it but we did eat some good food at a restaurant overlooking some water. There were also 3 pet alligators in a fenced area with 3 turtles sunning in the sun. One turtle was standing on the back of one of the alligators and neither one caring. Just sitting still in the sun.
I then took a drive to Baton Rouge to just check out the city and DD spotted a casino riverboat. So we went in and gambled a little. Some slots and some craps. DD had fun but did not win anything. Drove a little around the city. Nothing special. Just a city. Then back home to hang out.
DD and I slept in really late so we missed the parades in Lafayette. We saw so many and it did rain a little bit so we really did not care. The problem was, not many places were open being that today was Mardi Gras. Which in this town and probably throughout Louisiana it is a state holiday were government offices and other places close. I am off Monday, today and tomorrow. Only some of the chains. So we went to Outback Steakhouse. DD and I have never been in one. DD got a steak and I got something with chicken.
We then went to Fresh Market and got some dessert and watched TV together and talked the rest of the night.
Lazy Day on Mardi Gras.
DD and I went back to Deano's. The same pizza place we went to on Friday and got the same pizza. DD really liked it and wanted it again. Then went to Office Depot to get him a bigger flash drive to put pictures on. We then parked and walked across the street to see the parade. I caught another stuffed animal. This time a colorful dog. It looked like something a little kid would have. So I found Malory, a cute little 2 year old near me, and gave it to her. She smiled and grabbed a hold of it real tight. I made her happy.
DD and I then went back to the Blue Moon Saloon for some more music and dancing. This time being a day before Mardi Gras, it was really crowed so very little dancing this time. I happened to sit next to an old woman who's husband of 47 years just passed away. She is out with her 2 sons having fun and celebrating life following his wishes. I also saw a former student there. That just might be the 1st time since I have lived here which is unusual for me. In Galveston I ran into my former and current students all the time around town. DD had fun there also.
DD and I started to head down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We stopped at Chicken on the Bayou which is somewhere near Henderson. A popular place. DD and I had an alligator po-boy. DD's 1st alligator and really liked it. Though not my 1st alligator, it is the best I have had. We arrived in New Orleans and found a place to park. The Thoth parade was already in progress. We found a spot to watch. The floats are amazing. Better than the Galveston floats and the Lafayette ones. There were also throwing really good beads and other stuff like stuffed animals and fake spears. DD managed to catch a spear and gave it to me. He can not exactly take it on the plane.
When that parade stopped we walked along the parade route to Canal Street. It was so crowded. There was an area of just ladders for people to stand on during the parade. Lots of ladders there and some others along the parade route. I then showed DD Bourbon Street. Though crowded, the beads being thrown from the balconies were crap beads. There were better beads being though off the balconies in Galveston. Galveston is much more fun than Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras.
We then went to get something at Arby's on Canal Street. Apparently, you can not use the bathroom unless you have a receipt. This was also true in McDonalds. When I went to the bathroom, girls were also going into the guys bathroom to use the stalls. Did not bother me but I did warn DD. DD thought it was weird and has told everyone he talks to when he talked about our New Orleans trip.
We then stayed on Canal Street to watch the Bacchus. Also amazing and elaborate floats. Some were 3 levels and some had 4 floats put together. After that parade DD and I started are long walk back to the car. The Endymion parade followed immediately after it. This parade is usually on Saturday but because of the major storm it was postponed to today. Also elaborate float and got my 4th stuffed animal. This time a cute orange fish. It was so cool being there during Mardi Gras. DD thought it was the highlight of his trip to see me. We were both so tired and our feet hurt from all the standing and walking. Going to New Orleans was something I always wanted to do for a long time. It was really fun.
Today we experienced some major weather. Lots of rain and wind. On the weather channel was a tornado warning. Found out later that there was a tornado in Rayne which is 30 minutes from where I live. After the storm passed, DD and I ate at Athena, a really good Greek place that happens to be at a gas station. We then went to a Lafayette Mardi Gras parade. This is my 3rd parade this year and I caught my 3rd stuff thing. This time a flower.
Then DD and I went to the Blue Moon. Good band and good Cajun music. DD and I danced with a lot of different girls and was really tired when we got home.
DD came in yesterday after a lot of delays, being put on stand by and almost be stranded in Houston. Went for Johnny Carino's for dinner.
Today DD came with me to school. I only had my 3 hour, 1 day a week Music Appreciation class. We then went to eat pizza at Deano's. We got a large pizza with black olives, fresh mushrooms and Louisiana smoked sausage (that they make fresh at the pizza place). It was so good with the sausage. DD and I talked about it all day. When home to drop some stuff off and then to downtown for the parade.
The parade was fun. Lots of nice floats and we caught beads. They still threw crap beads like the last parade and no great beads or even good beads as far as I could see and mostly the same kind of beads. After 2 parades it seems that Galveston parades through better and more variety of beads. I did get another stuffed animal. This time a dog. So that is 2 parade I have been to here and I have got a stuffed animal at both.
DD was hungry so we went to a burger place that opened in 1947. DD got a burger and I got a ham sandwich. My ham sandwich was really good. I love ham. Then home. More Mardi Gras fun awaits.