New Orleans, II

I didn't expect to like New Orleans as much as I did. I expected a hard-partying city with not a lot else going for it, which was definitely not the case. First, the areas we walked through were lush and lively. There was great architecture, water around, a nice river walk, and lots of great food and music. I would've loved to drive around and get more of an understanding of Katrina's impact, and to have had the chance to visit the coastal wetlands. But we really only had about 36 hours together, and it seemed like most of that time got taken up by eating. (Hey, we used to be swimmers after all.)

Some of the interesting sights:

*There really were lots of beads. Suspended in trees, thrown from balconies. Linda and Emily even brought some back from their late night on Bourbon St, but they swear they didn't earn them the conventional way.

*We stumbled upon New Orleans' Spring Fiesta, which seemed to involve teenage girls dressing up in big antebellum hoop skirts and getting announced and escorted by their closest male relative on three loops of the big central park. I didn't think that teenage girls could be paid enough to wear that sort of costume. At least it wasn't a debutante thing.

*Half of the French Quarter lost power for our whole trip, including our hotel. If this had happened in another city, I suspect this extended electrical problem would've caused quite an outcry and been remedied faster. Instead, people quickly filled up the hotels that did have electricity as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. We moved into a historic hotel that featured industrial green carpet (a step above fake turf, but not much). The bathroom door couldn't open even halfway without slamming into a bed. We all agreed that we have turned into hotel snobs since college.

*It was bizarre to me the diversity of people on Bourbon street at night, and the number of people with open containers I saw traipsing by police officers. I expected the throngs of drunk-out-of-their-mind young people, but there was a surprising contingent of much older people, like the group of preppie women in their 50s with sweaters tied around their neck. Tourists?

Of course, the best part was seeing old friends. It's amazing how you can not see people regularly for seven years, but pick up where you left off. Dr. Grant, Ilener, we missed you!!!