Wow. Day 22 in NOLA was a whole lot of fun. Yes, I had the opportunity to participate in a "fake" second line (it was a recreation of the ReNew Orleans post-Katrina parade). Now, ordinarily a fake second line is, by its very nature, inferior to a real second line (is anything once removed from itself as good as the thing itself?), but I ran into my buddy Daren (he of the crayfish from two "real" second lines ago). It was nice having a partner in crime for the parade, and it was extra nice since he got me into the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club afterward.
Now, I don't know that I necessarily needed an invite, but as a non-crasher I never would have intruded. I wouldn't have availed myself of the free food out back, and I certainly wouldn't have gone in for a drink. I wouldn't have shaken the Zulu mayor's hand. I just wouldn't have. But Daren, poking gentle fun, made me do it (his brother's a member - I think that's what convinced me: it was so run-of-the-mill for him). And I did. And it was great. I was totally out of my element, but I was loving every minute of it.
The best part? Bringing Daren out of his element.
We agreed to meet up later on to go to the inaugural Mardi Gras parade (the Crewe du Vieux). Daren was hanging out at his hangout - Razzoo. Not a place I ever need to return to. But that's cool. I had mapped out the KdV's route, and we headed out to where they'd be. But as we kept getting further from the regular Bourbon St. mayhem, my buddy kept getting more uncomfortable. Finally he said, "I'm totally out of my element."
It was magic. I feel privileged to have been able to spend the day out of my element with him, and then to have brought him out of his element to end the day.
As far as eatin' went, I stopped in at Napoleon House for a muff' (I didn't dare break through the parade crowds to go anywhere else), and I like the warm sandwich, but their olive salad is seriously subpar.
Reason I like longer-term vacations: they give you time to notice when the sign on the Clarion Inn Suites is repaired.
Now, I don't know that I necessarily needed an invite, but as a non-crasher I never would have intruded. I wouldn't have availed myself of the free food out back, and I certainly wouldn't have gone in for a drink. I wouldn't have shaken the Zulu mayor's hand. I just wouldn't have. But Daren, poking gentle fun, made me do it (his brother's a member - I think that's what convinced me: it was so run-of-the-mill for him). And I did. And it was great. I was totally out of my element, but I was loving every minute of it.
The best part? Bringing Daren out of his element.
We agreed to meet up later on to go to the inaugural Mardi Gras parade (the Crewe du Vieux). Daren was hanging out at his hangout - Razzoo. Not a place I ever need to return to. But that's cool. I had mapped out the KdV's route, and we headed out to where they'd be. But as we kept getting further from the regular Bourbon St. mayhem, my buddy kept getting more uncomfortable. Finally he said, "I'm totally out of my element."
It was magic. I feel privileged to have been able to spend the day out of my element with him, and then to have brought him out of his element to end the day.
As far as eatin' went, I stopped in at Napoleon House for a muff' (I didn't dare break through the parade crowds to go anywhere else), and I like the warm sandwich, but their olive salad is seriously subpar.
Reason I like longer-term vacations: they give you time to notice when the sign on the Clarion Inn Suites is repaired.
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