Tony and Margee's First Mardi
Gras Vacation
Thursday February
22, 2001 - Navigated by Satellite using our GPS
and our notebook computer to the Holiday Inn in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana.
Friday -
We drove around the Louisiana State Capitol buildings in Baton Rouge
and stopped at scenic views of the Mississippi
River. Traveled on to New Orleans and bravely traveled through the
city to scope out the place. We crossed the Causeway
Bridge to our room at the Best
Western Inn Covington.
That
night we went to Pat O’Brien’s
in the French
Quarter. We couldn’t find a seat so we enjoyed Hurricane
drinks as we stood on the fountain.
As we strolled down Bourbon
Street we negotiated for beads
(lace only for Margee). We stopped to enjoy the Cats
Meow Karaoke bar with live broadcasts on the Internet as we sipped
frozen White Russian drinks, yummy!
Saturday -
Cruise and tour on the Natchez
Steamboat. We ate lunch on board while listening to a Jazz trio.
The engine room was available for viewing the large steam engines and
paddle wheel. We walked through town and then relaxed and leaned up
against a tree at Lafayette Park to enjoy the Tucks
Parade. Our first parade grandstand seating was for the Endymion
Parade at Lee Circle. We
caught our first parade beads!!!
Sunday -
We ventured to the New Orleans Cemetery
One, unfortunately it was closed, and so we decided to tour the Garden
District by car in the rain. Walked to the Riverwalk
Market and has Beignets
(powered sugar donuts) at the Café
Du Monde. Strolled to Jackson
Square and back to Bourbon Street and we were blessed by a Pope on
a balcony. Got a parking ticket (the sign said no stopping 3:00 to
6:00, it was 2:00, go figure?). Drove into the Superdome
parking lot but know one was there and it said it was full?
Stood at Canal and Bourbon Street with the END OF THE WORLD
banner holders and watched the parade bead throwers try to knock the
dooms day sign holders down. Watched the Bacchus
Parade from Lafayette grandstand. Larry
King was toasted King of Bacchus. The Bacchus Parade was
beautiful, the floats were enormous and long in size. We caught a lot
of beautiful beads!!!
Monday Gras or
Lundi gras - Mardi Gras
Festival sponsored by Krewe
of Zulu on the Riverwalk. Jazz entertainers. Mr. Big Stuff
and the Governor from the Krewe of
Zulu arrived by boat on the Mississippi River and marched with
a Dixie land Jazz band to the Riverwalk stage. The Governor handed two
golden coconuts to the audience, coconuts are very special prize.
Tony and Margee
marched with Mr. Big Stuff, The Governor and The Band to the Riverwalk
round stage to the sound of the sweet Louisiana marching jazz!
We had Po-Boys
for lunch at the Jackson Brewery Mall. Headed on over to Bourbon
Street for the Krewe of Elvis
party at the Famous Door
Bar. We were greeted by some of the Krewe members outside door and
escorted into the party. The members gave us gifts of KOE beads,
beanie Elvis doll, Elvis Get Out of Jail Cards, KOE cards, souvenir
New Orleans cards and Elvis’ last prescription. We celebrated with
the members with King
Cake and drinks. Some of the members danced on stage and were a
part of the chugging contest. One couple would be married that evening
in the House
of Blues. We met Dan and Cocoa KOE members from Oklahoma City and
visited with other members as a parade went by the Famous Door.
We walked to Jackson Square and Margee had a palm-tarot
card reading. She is basically healthy, rich in love and money,
very generous and loving, but is misbehaving the last two days!!! We
traveled over to Harrah’s
Casino by Street
Trolley Car for dinner. Yummy scrimp Creole and Crawfish. We had
tickets for the Orpheus
parade grandstand. The parade included special guest star Whoopi
Goldberg who energetically tossed throws to the crowd. The sky
poured rain and we called it an evening back to the hotel.
Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras -
Tony transformed into “Elvis” and Margee transformed into
“Cilla” to march in the 2001 Krewe of Elvis Mardi Gras parade in
New Orleans French Quarter. We had to walk fast to greet the members
in front of the St. Louis
Cathedral in Jackson Square. As we rushed along people yelled
“Hey Elvis, sing me a song” from their cars and people on the
street said “Hey, Elvis is alive and he is in New Orleans!”
or “Hey, Elvis I thought you were dead?” Tony would say
“Hello” (with his hand in the Elvis salute) and of course “Thank
you very much” when they complimented his attire! The ladies loved
my poodle shirt with can-can. As we approached the Square we could see
the white suits glowing! We celebrated with the KOE and of course the
wonderful Elvis recordings. The crowd loved our creative costumes.
There was Dead Elvis and Elvira, Spinning Elvis and Creole Elvis.
Suits of Gold Red, White, Silver and Black, an African American Elvis
and several ladies dressed as Elvis. We had a group picture with the
banner and the crowd again loved the KOE and gathered to take a shot
too! We began out march at 10:30 am through the streets of the French
Quarter. We threw beads, the crowd threw beads and several of the
Elvis’ shook and sang. Everyone loved the KOE!! After we pushed
through the crowds and the cars tried to push through our parade we
stopped off at the Famous Door Bar. All the Elvis’ were invited on
stage to perform. The stage was full of Elvis’ and rocked to the
Jail House Rock! We partied inside for a while then spilled out onto
Bourbon Street to start our parade again. We met other Elvis
impersonators, Aliens, almost naked people, Doctors with their nurses,
Caesar, and various masked partiers. The parade was such a blast and a
great way to become a part of centuries old Mardi Gras!! We made it
back to Jackson Square and said see you next year we hope. Elvis
(Tony) and Cilla (Margee) walked to Canal Street to catch some of the
Zulu parade. Several people just had to have a picture with Elvis and
Cilla, even an 87-year-old lady celebrating Mardi Gras! We changed in
the car and headed to the grandstand to watch the Rex
Parade. We timed it beautifully, Rex arrived just minutes later.
We watched the toast to Rex and his parade and enjoyed sunshine and
the joy of celebrating Mardi Gras!
Our Videos
More Photos
Jester's Pre Party
Jester Video
Baldwin's KOE
(Click on photo to see large version.)
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