Girls Gone Mild #4: Mardi Gras, Garden District, & Vampires

This is a trip taken from Wisconsin to New Orleans. Day #1 in St. Louis, Day #2 in Canton, Mississippi, Day #3 on this forum and now day #4.

We had intended to worship at the St. Louis Cathedral but unfortunately we were still feeling the love from the cocktail tour the night before so we opted to sleep a bit later.

When we arose we had the hotel%26#39;s complimentary breakfast on our balcony. They served croissants, assorted pastries, juice and coffee. Not an elaborate spread but it was free and available plus we were able to over look the gorgeous courtyard so we made do.

Then we walked to the Algiers ferry to visit Mardi Gras World. The entire process took longer than I had expected. From walking, to waiting for the ferry, to waiting for the shuttle to take us to Mardi Gras World, the whole experience ate up about 3 hours and I%26#39;m not sure I thought it was worth that.

Upon arrival to Mardi Gras world we were shown to a theater area that had lots of costumes to try on. We did get some great photo opps here. Since we were the only two people there, we had to wait until another ferry load came over. Then they allowed us to see the movie about what Mardi Gras is. Since neither of us were too familiar with the custom, it was a great introduction. then we were given a piece of king cake.

The float storage area is huge. It was fun to see all of the creative ideas that krewe%26#39;s came up with and that Blain Studios interpreted. We were even allowed to board one of the floats and was interesting to see how everyone has to be roped in (so they don%26#39;t fall off).

By the time we got back to our hotel to retrieve the car to take us to the Garden District we were running late. We checked in for our reservation at Commander%26#39;s Palace and enjoyed a mimosa in the courtyard. After waiting about 45 minutes and realizing there were still quite a few people in front of us, we realized we would be late for our Garden District tour so we excused ourselves.

We ended up eating at . . . Subway. That%26#39;s right, we traveled all the way to New Orleans to eat at Subway. Ah well.

Then we met our tour Guide through Haunted History Tours for the Garden District Tour. I think the guy%26#39;s name was Midge or maybe Mitch? Never quite understood what he said. We were able to see some beautiful homes. We expected a bit more ';haunt'; in the tour but he was more of a ';history'; buff but it was still enjoyable. Especially seeing Anne Rice%26#39;s former residence. We were also disappointed that the Lafayette cemetary was closed on Sundays as that was part of the reason we booked this tour. The cost was $20 per person and this tour was about 2 hours long. I may or may not recommend this tour to others.

We had planned to take a tour with Lord Chaz this evening but unfortunately he did not return to New Orleans as planned. We were disappointed but figured we%26#39;d find something else to do. We drove back to the Place D%26#39;Armes to store our car, always very friendly car attendants there.

Then we were off walking in search of something more exciting to eat than Subway. And we found it at Arnaud%26#39;s Jazz Bistro, the culinary highlight of the trip.

We had wanted to try one of the three ';old guard'; restaurants and found ourselves here. Being a Northerner, most of the menus in New Orleans need ';interpretation';. So, feeling adventurous, I simply asked the waiter to bring me whatever he thought I would most enjoy. And friend, who is a meat and potatoes girl through and through got a filet mignon prepared plain.

For my first course, I was treated to crayfish, or is it crawfish? Anyway, I am presented with this small bowl of seafood with tails up and a tiny fork is placed next to me. So, not only do I not know what this is, but I have no idea how to eat it. So, sensing that I looked perplexed, our very cute assistant waiter Justin comes over and asks if we need help. To which I respond, ';I don%26#39;t know how to eat this.';

He gets wide eyed and asks, ';Are you serious?';

I nod. He then says, ';Ok, well can I have one?'; and I respond of course. So he picks it up with his fingers, places it in his mouth and pulls out the ';tail'; and says, ';you%26#39;ve just got to get dirty with it.'; At this point I should have leaned over the table to wipe the drool falling out of friend%26#39;s mouth :)

He then waits for each of us to try one. So, I pick one up and eat it as demonstrated to which he responds, ';there you go'; and then he looks to friend to do the same. Remember, friend and fish do not get along. If it isn%26#39;t a pig, chicken, or cow, it never goes in her mouth. But, there was Justin, smiling, wanting her to try it. So of course, she did. She tries to smile through the gag reflex and takes some water. He congratulates her and walks away. Then she starts the coughing and the ';I can%26#39;t believe I did that.';

Justin of course, tells our head waiter, who is a big friendly black man with a name I can neither say nor spell but he was fantastic. He then spent the evening lightly teasing us about being Northerners.

For the main course, I had some sort of fish from Lake Pontchartrain. I have no idea what it was but it was absolutely delicious. Friend%26#39;s filet was melting in her mouth and she had a side of some sort of cubed potatoes. When Justin came over to ask if we had any trouble eating these things I thought friend was going to melt right out of her seat.

There was a jazz band playing and it was just perfect. Not too loud that we couldn%26#39;t carry on a conversation, but loud enough to know we were somewhere very special.

For dessert, once again I had the waiter choose and he prepared a very special bananas foster tableside. It included more alcohol and also strawberries. It must have been quite special because several of the servers came over to observe. It was absolutely delicious. We ended the evening with photos and hugs. This was what I came to New Orleans for.

Now we would have been happy to just turn in for the evening but decided to take a quick stroll around Jackson Square first. It was fun to find artists displaying their wares, mimes, and of course tarot card readers.

Then we noticed the Vampire tour leader, Jonathan, sitting there all by himself, we couldn%26#39;t allow that. So we signed up for the tour again with Haunted History tours and we were the only ones that night. So we had a private tour of the Quarter. We absolutely loved this tour. It had a great way of balancing out the history with a little bit of vampire thrown in, we think taht was in no small part to a great tour guide.

The tour took a break at Lafitte%26#39;s and I tried some sort of ';Vodoo'; drink. It was a frozen purple thing. Ten minutes later, the air was warmer, I was giddier, and I could have easily been convinced that all the people walking the street were vampires. That%26#39;s the kicker with those sweet tasting drinks that I can%26#39;t tell there is alcohol until it%26#39;s too late.

We made it back to the Place D%26#39;armes and I was out for the count for the evening.

Girls Gone Mild #4: Mardi Gras, Garden District, %26amp; Vampires

That%26#39;s a great story.