Big Easing Along - New Orleans Day 1

View From Hotel Towards French Quarter

Well, safely ensconced in out New Orleans hotel writing this after a very long, but totally gratifying day on so many levels.  We got up at 3am (2am New Orleans time) to travel to Boston to catch our 6am flight.  We were a little delayed by that bane of my wife’s existence – the baggage weighing device.  After redistributing some items – my spare shoes ended up in my computer case – we hit the road about fifteen minutes late.

We were pushing the speed limit a little bit on the Mass Pike heading for the airport.  I was doing almost 80mph on the more or less deserted highway when three different police cars blew by me like I was standing still.  I felt relief that they were not concerned with my loose interpretation of the speed limit and hoped they were headed towards something to do with termination the Boston Bombing Bozos (little did I know).

Idiots

We made the flight just in time although we didn’t eat until Houston four hours later.  I paid for the in-flight direct TV on the flight and almost immediately learned that the bozos were identified and one was dead.  The other one was isolated in Watertown, one of the towns we drove through on our way to the Airport – explaining the speeding cop cars.  The rest of the day we monitored the clueless breaking news coverage lacking facts but lots of conjecture.  We learned they were Muslim and the older brother probably radicalized to the point he crossed the line to lunacy.  Kind of sad story in reality because learning facts about the family it seems like they were almost a stereotypical American success story of hard working immigrants.  Luckily the Feds have the death penalty.

Wife Shopping in Houston

We had a very bumpy flight and then a long layover in Houston where my wife immediately located and patronized the terminal shopping opportunities.  It was kind of nice/strange when we ran into a statue of the first President Bush.  This was a guy that used to show up with his secret service entourage to jog near our Washington DC house when I was a captain and now we were looking at a statue of him.

Wife and George

We were picked up at the airport by one of the other Roothuggers and ferried to the hotel.  We were the last of the group to show up arriving at 4pm.  I spent 45 minutes trying to check in as three bus loads of cheerleaders (calm down they were all about 12 years old) were also checking in.  We linked up with the group and felt immersed immediately in the great feeling of camaraderie that makes this bunch so special.

Roothuggers Reunited

After a short wine only (!!!!!) reception we wandered out into New Orleans and the nearby French Quarter.  We had an hour to kill before dinner and ended up walking along the waterfront and spied a sign in the distance that looked like it said “Roothugger Bar”.  It didn’t but we walked in anyways and were treated to a very energetic jazz singer and what I had imagined was a very typical New Orleans hole in the wall bar – I loved it.

Along the Mighty Mississippi

Wife in New Orleans

Roothuggers on the Prowl

Roothugger Bar?!!

Inside the Bar

One of the Roothuggers had some connections in the city and asked his friend to recommend a place to eat dinner where the locals ate – not the tourists.  A short drive and we sat down to an absolutely delicious Cajun dinner and very large beers.  It was obvious we were not part of the local crowd but we were welcomed warmly and it was a fantastic time.

Cajun Dining Experience

My Date

We ended up back at the hotel around 10pm and my wife was totally gassed and said she was headed for bed.  A couple of the other Roothuggers were not willing to give up the light since we were in New Orleans on a Friday night and one revealed he was on a quest to drink a hurricane (the drink – not the weather).  My wife, being a singularly outstanding individual, granted permission for me to accompany this adventuresome group. 

The Elusive Hurricane Captured

We made a bee line for the French Quarter only a couple blocks from the hotel.  I was initially severely un-impressed as we passed numerous bars and very sedate, touristy type crowds – certainly not what I expected out of the Big Easy.  We made the turn at Jackson Square (also deserted except for tarot cad readers) and made out way to Bourbon Street – where the city just exploded into life. 

The Fountain Fire

The streets were packed with crowds of well behaved, but severely inebriated partiers (we fit right in).  We stopped off at Pat O’Brian’s so our friend could acquire his sought after hurricane.  There was a large fountain in the outside courtyard bar that had a bonfire going off in the middle of it surrounded by a big crowd.

Bourbon St

After the hurricane was demolished we made our way back to the hotel via Bourbon St.  This was so……..much…….fun!  The crowds blocked the street from any vehicle traffic and the balconies were lined with people exhorting girls to earn beads.  I apparently missed a couple of these transactions.  I didn’t miss the well endowed young lady wearing only body paint who was regaling the crowd from one of the balconies.  It was the perfect ending for the day to celebrate the victory in Boston and the coming together once again of very good friends.  It was exactly what I hoped to find in New Orleans.  We got back to the hotel after midnight for what ended up being over a 20 hour day for me.  I could not be happier.

And Some More

And More

Balcony Crowd