Our very first Mardi Gras and we decided to be there just a week before February 12th. And we flew down to the madness on the fourth of february and went straight to Baton Rouge. My husband had some official work as well, so we stayed there during the weekdays.
Come Friday and we were in New Orleans. And what better place to watch from than Canal Street and though we were late, we still found a good spot and enjoyed our first parade. It was the Krewe of Hermes followed by Krewe of d'Etat and the final one - Krewe of Morpheus which began around 7 in the evening. We really had so much fun, collected quite a beads and did join in the shouting with the crowd.
Parade Float, Mardi Gras 2013
After the parade was over, we headed to the Bourbon Street. Had amazing creole food for dinner and enjoyed the ever crowded 'Party street'. Next day there were some parades for the daytime, so we planned to be back on Canal street by 11. We were there just in time, and saw the Krewe of Iris and Krewe of Tucks. It was complete fun, and we also got to click some amazing pictures. We had lunch before the next Parade started at 4. As we had heard, the Krewe of Endymion was spectacular. The floats were the best we had seen till now and the streets were packed to watch it.
After the parade, we went to the usual bourbon street. Spent quite a while there before going back to the hotel with our bounty of beads for the day. On sunday again, there was a fabulous line-up of various krewes. We got our spot well in time before the first one i.e. Krewe of Okeanos and then the Krewe of Mid-City and Thoth. All the three were too good and our bounty of beads also grew by leaps and bounds.
Parade Float, Mardi Gras 2013
The next parade was to start at 5, so in the meantime we finished lunch and enjoyed our time waiting. The Krewe was Bacchus was super fun, the floats had interesting one-liners and we did get plenty of beads this time. Right after the parade, the barricades were moved for people to cross the road, and it was like the whole crowd started walking towards Bourbon street including us.
We had a delicious dinner and went to one of the pubs after sometime. Live music and crazy crowds, we had quite a time. We left from there pretty late and next morning we were back in Baton Rouge.
And on Tuesday, the 12th of February, we came back to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras. We were there around 10 in the night and went straight to join the Bourbon Street frenzy. It was just the same and we really had a great time. And around midnight, Mardi Gras was officially over and the best part of it was that the police actually paraded through the street on foot, in cars and on horses. That was like the perfect way to signal - that the party was over.
Bourbon Street frenzy
I can say this very confidently, it was the one of a kind and the craziest experience ever. The parades, enthusiastic crowd, lively streets, mouthwatering food - who couldn't enjoy all this.
After the parade was over, we headed to the Bourbon Street. Had amazing creole food for dinner and enjoyed the ever crowded 'Party street'. Next day there were some parades for the daytime, so we planned to be back on Canal street by 11. We were there just in time, and saw the Krewe of Iris and Krewe of Tucks. It was complete fun, and we also got to click some amazing pictures. We had lunch before the next Parade started at 4. As we had heard, the Krewe of Endymion was spectacular. The floats were the best we had seen till now and the streets were packed to watch it.
After the parade, we went to the usual bourbon street. Spent quite a while there before going back to the hotel with our bounty of beads for the day. On sunday again, there was a fabulous line-up of various krewes. We got our spot well in time before the first one i.e. Krewe of Okeanos and then the Krewe of Mid-City and Thoth. All the three were too good and our bounty of beads also grew by leaps and bounds.
The next parade was to start at 5, so in the meantime we finished lunch and enjoyed our time waiting. The Krewe was Bacchus was super fun, the floats had interesting one-liners and we did get plenty of beads this time. Right after the parade, the barricades were moved for people to cross the road, and it was like the whole crowd started walking towards Bourbon street including us.
We had a delicious dinner and went to one of the pubs after sometime. Live music and crazy crowds, we had quite a time. We left from there pretty late and next morning we were back in Baton Rouge.
And on Tuesday, the 12th of February, we came back to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras. We were there around 10 in the night and went straight to join the Bourbon Street frenzy. It was just the same and we really had a great time. And around midnight, Mardi Gras was officially over and the best part of it was that the police actually paraded through the street on foot, in cars and on horses. That was like the perfect way to signal - that the party was over.
I can say this very confidently, it was the one of a kind and the craziest experience ever. The parades, enthusiastic crowd, lively streets, mouthwatering food - who couldn't enjoy all this.