Report from 2009 Mardi Gras Rally
It seems we’ve been in New Orleans for weeks, but it’s only been one week. Mardi Gras ended at midnight last night, but I was down long before that. Most rallies are good, but this rally has been exceptional. Busy, busy, busy. Among other activities, we saw 10 parades, the last three Tuesday–Zulu and Rex. We had reserved grandstand seats across the street from the MC–the mayor himself, Nagin.What seemed normal yesterday–silly costumes, masks, crazy hats, beads–now would be considered wierd. We have bags and bags of throws, most of them beads. We’re headed north to a casino campground, then back south to a state park where some sort of party will be going on March 6-7. Then it’s on to the Cajun caravan, which everyone says is great.Today we stayed here at the campsite at the University of New Orleans but need to be out tomorrow for a Robin Williams event. We drove over to the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish to see the flood damage. St. Bernard Parish has lots of nice homes, many still abondoned. We also visited the site of Jackson’s victory over the British in the War of 1812. The Battle of New Orleans was actually Jan. 8, 1815, and for 40 years was celebrated as much as the Fourth of July. –Bruce–
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