Saving the Best for Last

Our last day in New Orleans just couldn't have been better.  Not only was the temperature bearable, the sky was absolutely clear.  We were suitably jovial filled with gumbo, jambalya, catfish, and mint juleps.












We drove down town and parked the car close to the French Quarter and the Old Mint building.

We spent a leisurely day strolling up and down the narrow streets of the French quarter on a gorgeous sunny Saturday.

We enjoyed the French Market,

aroma of coffee, cinnamon rolls, pralines, and cajun cooking mixed with the smell of stale beer, cigarette and stogies wafting from the jazz clubs.

The architecture of the FQ dressed for Mardis Gras,

horse carriages lining the street,

artists displaying their media were just waiting to be photographed.  Musicians and buskers

lined the streets as crowds grew thicker throughout the day and the sun dropped.

































During the day we took advantage of two free concerts presented by the National Jazz Park.  Our first concert was a piano and vocalist/poet duet,

and the second was the New Orleans Marine Big Band.

 After the last concert, we made our way to the parking lot and warmed up in our car.  Russ read , and I took a little nap, before we made our way to Royal Street where we ate dinner at Mona Lisa's then enjoyed the first parade of the Mardis Gras season from the Krewe Du Vieux

and Krewe Du Lusion.  KDV is the oldest of parades where the floats are small and pulled through the streets with everyone walking.  These parades are satirical, irreverent, and considered pretty raunchy.  Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.

Let the good times roll.  Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler

And then in a blink, we turned into pumpkins, and it was time to return home to California.  Now home safe and sound.

All is well with the Worrall Travel R's