Let The Party Begin!!

It's a cold start in the morning after an even colder night.  We had all the blankets on the bed!! But we get up to a sunny morning; sitting in the sun inside the RV everything seems possible. I go for a long walk in the late morning and warm up.

In the afternoon we take a shuttle into downtown New Orleans. We are dropped off at the corner of Burgundy and Toulouse Streets in the French Quarter with instructions to be back at that corner at 8pm for a ride back to the RV park; any later and we are on our own!

Coffee first!

We walk to Bourbon Street; along Bourbon Street to Canal Street. It is fairly quiet but that is about to change!
We have a coffee at PJ's.




We then walk to Decatur Street, pass by Jackson Square and back to Bourbon Street. It is early evening and the number of people out on the streets has increased considerably.


This is a Thursday and a cold afternoon and evening; even so we find the restaurants are filling up and the street and cafe entertainers in full song!

A group of young guys - about 30 - are walking up Bourbon Street singing loudly, accompanied by a 5 piece jazz band. Great sound! Perhaps that is what you do for your birthday; hire a band????

We have dinner at Remoulade on Bourbon, a casual restaurant serving creole and cajun cuisine. Sounds like Trevor??  He has  Jambalaya and I have a dish of Red Beans, Rice and Smoked Sausage - both delicious. We each have a Cypress Screamer. It was green and quite sweet - that's about all I can tell you!

As we dined I could hear a little of the conversation at the table next to us. An unmistakeable Aussie accent. So we started up a conversation and discovered they were from .... Mandurah!! A small world!

Then back to our corner for the shuttle and home to our RV. All good fun.

On both Friday and Saturday we took the early shuttle - 10am - and stayed downtown until the 8pm shuttle. We walked and walked.

We spent several hours at the National World War II Museum, the world's most extensive museum commemorating World War II and designated by Congress as the country's official World War II Museum. The museum covers the entirety of the war emphasising the American experience. It opened on 6 June 2000, the 56th anniversary of D Day.
The building is large; it takes up several blocks in the city. In the atrium aircraft including a Spitfire, Messerschmitt, Douglas SBD dive bomber and Douglas C47  are suspended from the ceiling.
The most recent exhibit opened in January 2013  - the US Freedom Pavilion: the Boeing Center where are displayed 5 fighting aircraft and an interactive submarine experience.

A mural on the wall of a building alongside a parking area.

New Orleans ironwork both wrought iron and cast iron are seen throughout the city, particularly in the French Quarter and the Garden District where balconies, fences, window grilles and gates are adorned with decorative motifs.
It adds a romantic touch to the city.

Street musicians

In the evenings we find ourselves back at Pat O'Brien's - the Home of the Hurricane!
The original Pat O'Brien's (there are now 2 venues in New Orleans) was founded  in 1933. It is located at 718 St. Peter Street, an historic building built in 1791 - the first Spanish theatre in the US.





The Hurricane drink had its birth in the 1940's when, during World War II there was a limited supply of whisky because the distilleries were used to make ammunition! However rum was readily available from the Caribbean. Bar owners were forced to buy large quantities of rum in order to buy a case of whisky. The mixologist experimented with different drinks and came up with the fruity concoction. The name was chosen because the drink was, and still is, served in a glass that is shaped like a hurricane lamp. Somewhat addictive!

On Friday night we have dinner at Maison Dupuy, a great little restaurant on the corner of Burgundy and Toulouse - so no problem waiting for the shuttle and out of the cold wind!
We both have Jambalaya and a margarita. Locals now!
There are so many people out on the streets;  it is the approach to Mardi Gras  - and - New Orleans is host to the Super Bowl on Sunday 3 February.  A perfect storm!!