And even more Mardi Gras

I'm sure you're thinking - did this trip ever end?

Well, we're starting to wind down. After the big event on Saturday night, we slept in a bit on Sunday. After getting some mandatory beignets (mandatory, I tell you!) we headed uptown to take in a parade (or two, as it turned out).

It was an odd moment for me - after we parked, and were walking, I suddenly thought: here I am, walking with such confidence in the direction I think is towards St. Charles Avenue ... but what if it's not? I don't remember uptown streets that well anymore. I know the big ones, but suddenly, I'm not sure I know where I am. And in a town I grew up in and explored nearly every inch of ... that was a really strange moment.

Of course, I had been right, and we were headed towards St. Charles.

I hadn't been to an uptown parade in many years. I mean ... well over a decade. Maybe over 15 years. So I'll grant you, it's hard for me to offer a comparison.

Were there fewer people than what I remembered about an uptown parade on a beautiful day? Probably, yeah. And strangely, in spite of the unprecedented crime spree in New Orleans, I felt safer than I ever remember feeling.

But what I found perhaps most strange was the fact that people really set up camp on the neutral ground. In a way I'd never seen, ever. There weren't just ladders and chairs and picnics - there were tents. Areas roped off. There was even furniture. (Shelley couldn't resist the photo of this guy). So it was really hard to get up close TO the parade, because you felt like you were really walking through people's private parties - which is an odd (and frustrating) sensation on a public street.

Although I think I figured out WHY this phenomenon was occurring: The St. Charles streetcar still wasn't running, so no one had to move out of the way after a parade; and all of the midcity and uptown parades had been condensed to the one route, so people could camp out in one site and be set for a week or more.

I still think it's rude. :)

After two parades back to back, we grabbed some lunch and then headed back across the river. We rested a little before heading out again for dinner, where Dane and Michael caught up with us. And oh! I forgot to tell you - Dane got us tickets to the Orpheus Extravaganza for Monday night from the fabulous Bob Pavlovich ... meaning we get to get all dressed up again!!! :) So over a laid-back breakfast-for-dinner until they kicked us out of the restaurant, we all just had a wonderful evening, just ... being. I like that.