January 2008 - Drive to New Orleans!!

So we finally booked our cruise that Jane had won, and chose the eastern Caribbean, departing out of Florida. The original plan had been to drive down, hang out with Jane's parents in Florida for a few days, and then catch the boat. In the end, her parents ended up not going to Florida this year, so we had to scramble for a Plan B.

"Hmmmmm......" says Mike, ".....New Orleans isn't THAT far out of the way.....and it IS Mardi Gras....". Sounded like a fabulous plan. We set out very early (4:30am) on a Monday morning and crossed the border without incident (cranky US Customs guard notwithstanding). We drove south through Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee before stopping for the night. The next day we crossed into Missouri and then Arkansas in the pouring rain, stopping at the boyhood home of Johnny Cash in Dyess, AR. Suffice it to say that we have a whole new appreciation of "dirt poor".

From there we drove on through Arkansas and into Mississippi, stopping periodically to enjoy the scenery along the Mississippi River and surrounding area, ultimately stopping for the night again just past Jackson, MS. By Wednesday morning, we entered Louisiana and stopped at the Visitor Centre, where we were able to secure a hotel room in the French Quarter of New Orleans for about half the posted rate.

We chose the take the optional causeway across Lake Pontchartrain to enter New Orleans, and navigated our way to the French Quarter, arriving by early afternoon. Ridiculously pleased with our "cheap" hotel (Hotel Ste. Marie on Toulouse St.) , we spent the afternoon touring the French Quarter, sampling local culinary delights (gumbo; red beans, rice and sausage) and beverages.

In the evening we wandered the streets, took part in a Haunted tour...then made it over the Canal St. for the Mardi Gras parade of the day....this one involving The Druids. After an impressive haul of beads - NOTE: what happens in New Orleans in order to procure beads, stays in New Orleans - we wandered back to the hotel along Bourbon St. amidst sizeable crowds, even for midweek, and returned to our awesome old hotel room for a short sleep....

Dyess, AR - boyhood home of Johnny Cash

The sign says it all!

Down on Bourbon Street....

Bourbon St. during Mardi Gras