New Orleans & Carnival!

Upon arrival to the French Quarter and Amber and Tatum's house after my 12 hour bus ride from hell I am quickly offered a giant Mardi Gras themed beer!

Here are Amber and Tatum, my lovely hosts the first night and guides for successive adventures.

Amber and I meet again after 13 years!

A bar with everything you could want! Food, drinks, games, and .... a washing machine?

other important things in New Orleans include air conditioning

and a way to transport your booze in style!

See me in the reflection?

Beads please!

Strawberries are in season in Texas and Louisiana

Here are my second hosts Jolene and Steven in front of the Joint where we enjoyed...

... tons of BBQ! I was really excited so I ordered a plate with two meats (brisket and pulled pork) and two sides AND sweet tea and a beer. Super NOM!

 Look at the headdress!

 

These are called Key West houses, I wish houses in Key West were that colorful!

An old manhole

 Abandoned house balcony in the Marigny

Abandoned building in the Lower 9th Ward

a much more festive house in the French Quarter

The law office we hung out at and watched some parades from on Sunday

Some kids who played When the Saints Go Marching In for us

Palm Trees in the Central Business District

Jolene's friendly rat saying hi

 Crawfish or lobsters?

The roads in New Orleans are in awful condition.

The crazy stairs up to Jolene and Steven's room

I hear ya!

The stair case in the beautiful law office we saw the parades from on Sunday

Louisiana truck

a sign in the Joint