three days at mardi gras in new orleans.
This weekend, one of my favorite cities on planet Earth turns into the debauchery capitol of the world. In fact, I think it always holds that title. New Orleans is like Vegas, but with a Southern-Cajun-French mash-up culture that’s been named Creole. The only rule, as far as I know, is don’t pee on the streets or mess with the police horses, and you’re golden. Excessive drinking, flashing, and even puking, usually seem to looked over and often cheered on. I’ve spent many-a-days in New Orleans, and a few of those days fell over Mardi Gras 2009 & 2010.
New Orleans, Louisiana has SO much to offer: the cuisine, the people, the historic buildings, the jazz, the bars, the drinks, the list goes on… but during Mardi Gras, it mostly boils down to the partying and the drinks. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat at a famous restaurant, then yay team. However, the great news is you can grub on Muffalettas, Po-Boys, and Beignets all over the city, not just in the French Quarter.
[Editor's Note: Most of these pictures are from the 2009 trip because I lost my camera the second I walked on Bourbon Street in 2010. It was waterproof and shockproof, unfortunately not idiot proof though.]
Day one will be spent exploring the city and getting your bearings.
You’ll check out the souvenir and sex shops, whilst giggling uncontrollably. You’ll purchase oversized beers and realize how dumb it is because it is warm and disgusting 2/3 through finishing. You’ll walk by the aquarium and decide that you just HAVE to go in. You won’t be disappointed. You’ll walk over the the river and see the massive freight ships and reflect upon how much water must have been there during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. The night comes and you figure you better see what Bourbon Street is all about. Enjoy it. The next days you will yearn for the day you could walk around without clinging tightly to your best friends. You won’t drink too much because you know you need your energy and healthy liver for the coming days.
Souvenir Shop
New Orleans Aquarium
the Mighty Mississippi River
The infamous Rue Bourbon
Rockin’ the jeans and tennis shoes look – no shame at Mardi Gras, I tell ya!
My first Mardi Gras crew!
Day two is the big day.
You will attend your first parade and hundreds of thousands of others who are day drinking. You gather as many beads, t-shirts, bags, and other random souvenirs as possible while you get jealous of all the children and their million items. You then remind yourself that you are not a child, and it’s better to pass some of these items along to them. As night falls, you make your way to Bourbon Street and are sure to try the famous Pat O’s Hurricanes and Hand Grenades from Tropical Isle. They cost at least $8 each, but they’re delicious and get the job done. You party with packs of strangers. You openly drop your jaw in disbelief at the sorts of people roaming around. You see a young man chugging a hand grenade while his friends cheer him on. He throws up. And then continues chugging. And this is not even the most disgusting thing you’ll see. But it’s all in the Mardi Gras fun (ok, no), but really, it’s 90% a street filled with happy people just looking for a good time. And good times are had.
NOLA Charm
Each float is run by a Mardi Gras Krewe – a membership organization.
Gimme! Gimme!
One guy even threw us a beer.
We caught bags to hold all of our other Mardi Gras swag we caught, clutch.
Still my all-time fave photo with Sterling.
Don’t worry, I bought the T-shirt to match the cup.
Why yes, you are seeing this correctly.
Mardi Gras Swag.
Some things are best not remembered.
Rain or shine!
Mardi Gras smiles.
Guys waiting to see some boobies.
Trust me, you don’t need to show your own boob to get beads. They’re everywhere. Don’t grab them off the ground though either, half the novelty as that you caught them yourself – kinda like the wedding bouquet.
Don’t forget to meet up with all your friends who also made the trip to NOLA.
Krystal Burger – the White Castle of the South
Day three you wake up mid-afternoon and realize you have a 6 hour drive back to Houston.
You don’t know how you’re going to make it there. Luckily you have the support of friends who feel just as terrible as you do. You grab some greasy New Orleans grub on the way out and spend the entire car ride laughing at photos, recounting all the memories, and making plans for next year..
Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras?
THERE’S STILL TIME! Want to win $20 to Amazon.com or an awesome T-Rex T-shirt? All you have to do is like my page. Enter here.
I also updated my bucket list recently, so give it a looksie.
Why has everyone been to Mardi Gras but me? I AM OVER IT. We are all going next year. Put it on your calendar. I will do whatever you & Helene say because y’all are experts.
Um can this actually happen? Bloggers take on Mardi Gras. It’d be all kinds of madness!
I like what Staci said above. And we should venture to Mardi Gras together since it sounds like we do it the right way. The best time ever. I wish I was going this year!
Mardi Gras, Tomorrowland, where else can we go?!! I like all these plans a lot.
New Orleans is probably THE place which I am most curious about in the U.S. I soooo want to go!!
Your pictures look like you had great great fun !!
Love,
Svenja
Happybluebird
Oh it’s such a must see and do, anytime of year, it’s just great! The food, the people, the scene, it almost feels like you aren’t in the US at all!
Haha, I’m not going to lie, reading this made me laugh. Most the time, the people you see downtown for Mardi Gras are definitely not from New Orleans, or really any of the surrounding areas. If you ever go down and want to find locals, and have a good time try Uptown, and those parades. Though Bacchus and Endymion are definitely parades you have to do at least once downtown. I’ll be attending lots of parades this weekend, so I’ll definitely keep you in mind!
xo, Maria
I’ve done Bacchus and Endymion, always fun. And ya I’ve been out in uptown with some LSU friends, but hard not to check out Bourbon during Mardi gras
I hope you had a blast Maria!
I don’t know if I would be able to handle Mardi Gras, but I would love to go to New Orleans some day. The food alone is worth the trip, I’d imagine!
Oh most definitely! All the cajun flavors and seafood and drinks – so worth it for the food alone!
Yes, although a member of a protestant faith, I have celebrated Mardi Gras, on a number of occasions.
A couple of times in New Orleans, on the Ms Gulf Coast and in Galveston, Tx.
I have found that, as I’ve grown older, parades & crowds of inebriated humans, doesn’t hold the same attraction it once did?
I still love New Orleans, particularly during non-event moments. I used to travel there for work on occasion and had the pleasure of enjoying many of the cities fine restaurants on the company tab.
I highly recommend Commander’s Palace Business Lunch during week-days. They feature 25 cent Martinis an entree, side and desert, all for less than $20. Felix’s for oyster on the half-shell, Domilise’s or Casamento’s for a Po-boy, Drago’s for the char-broiled oysters, Port o’call for burgers & Pascal Manale’s for the bbq shrimp.
Have a safe, moderate & memorable trip to Cologne.
Love you, proud of, and for, you!
Daddio
Not even sure I could handle the wild mardi gras action like I could before, but still fun to htink about! Thanks for the recommendations dad!
Holy moly. Mardi Gras looks insane. I’ve only been to New Orleans once, and it was only for a few hours when we were driving through, but I can imagine that it gets pretty freaking crazy!
You definitely need to make it back – if just for the food. Oh it’s so good. So fried.
Looks like so much fun! Like Fasching with beads instead of costumes.
I want to go there someday!