April 7, 2019

La Plata, MD: Mardi Gras Highlights – New Orleans, LA (Warning – Adult Content)

Elizabeth H. Pumps, Shoe Bliss, Travel Adventures, Uncategorized, United States Back and White Plaid Skirt, black heels, Chic Looks, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, GUESS, Guess Bizzy pumps, Guess heels, La Plata Maryland, Mardi GRas, New Orleans, Office attire, Office looks, Outfit Ideas, pantyhose, Petite Blogger, Petite Fashion, Robert E. Lee, Shoe Blogger, Skirt, Southern Maryland, stilettos, style, Travel Blogger, White House Black Market 26 Comments

Almost every year around Christmastime, my childhood friend, Lee, brings up Mardi Gras.  And every time he brings it up, I hesitate because I loathe crowds and rarely drink.  I would always tell him, “Maybe next year.”  To which he would respond, “Liz, you need to get out more.”  

Lee is a successful partner in an engineering firm and is a frequent traveler.  Yet, New Orleans, Louisiana had always escaped him.  Which is odd to me because Lee loves festive atmospheres.  I’ve partied with him in Vegas and love receiving his texts and pics when he is in Miami for a long weekend.   

When Mardi Gras came up this year, I surprised Lee with an affirmative response.  Why?  I don’t know.  Perhaps, I am taking Lee’s advice to “get out more.”  😉  Coincidentally, while planning this trip, I discovered another good friend of mine, Connor, would be there too.  Like Lee, Connor had never been to New Orleans and I knew both were in for a treat.     

Connor and his cohorts arrived several days before Lee and me.  I could sense the excitement in Connor as he and his friends walked the French Quarter and found their way to a bunch of bars on Bourbon Street that first night.  Connor loved the music.  Unbeknownst to many, Connor is an aspiring artist.  He is a songwriter, music producer, and singer/rapper.  New Orleans was the perfect city for my friend to indulge in music and, of course, alcohol.  Connor and his friends enjoyed the flowing libations for the next couple of nights.  Maybe a little too much…

After being in frequent contact with Connor, I stopped hearing from him.  A seed of worry planted itself in the back of my mind, but I didn’t think too much of it.  I figured Connor was having fun and simply being present in the moment.  My cautious optimism turned to concern when I received a strange email text from an unknown number.  It was Connor and he revealed his iPhone had been stolen!  He couldn’t remember when it happened only that when he woke up the next day, his phone was gone.  Naturally, Connor was dejected about the theft.  When I told Lee, his response was, “Rookie!”    

Fortunately, Connor’s spirits were buoyed when Lee and I arrived. 

As we walked the French Quarter, we were on sensory overload!  I’d been to New Orleans several times, but never during Mardi Gras. 

The vibe was different, more lively.  The electricity that permeated the French Quarter shocked everyone into a state of euphoria, especially the inebriated ones.  😉  Lee, Connor, and I found ourselves obeisant observers to all who had lost their inhibitions and were in various states of undress and demeanor.  I could not stop watching!  Connor felt like he was in a different world.  We all did.  It was as if Dionysus himself had cast a spell upon the revelers. 

The debauchery continued into the evening.  By then, I had had a couple of drinks while the boys had more than a couple.  😉  Bourbon Street was so crowded we could no longer move forward; we were at a standstill.  So, we turned around and Lee and Connor found a corner where mostly women were exposing themselves for beads. 

Lee, always the instigator, encouraged me to “earn” some beads.  While Connor, always the protector, countered with a firm, “She’s not going out there!”  And for the record, I would never go out there.  Instead, I became one of the boys on that corner.  Together we chanted:  “Show your boobs” to all the women who needed encouraging. 

I was having so much fun!  I did not want to leave my spot when Lee and Connor wanted to get more drinks.  In fact, I refused.  I reassured them I would be here when they got back.  Lee and Connor knew better and they refused to leave me.  Connor had to trick me!  He raised his hand so that I could give him a high five and when I did, he grabbed my wrist and propelled me forward.  At that point, I gave up my resistance and we both followed Lee to a nearby bar.

On our walk and in my less than sober state, I thought I saw Slash from Guns and Roses!  Well, a younger version with lighter hair.  He said he got that a lot and posed for a pic with me.

We also ran into a gang of religious zealots!

The evening ended exactly at midnight when police, EMS, and fire departments commenced a procession down Bourbon Street to mark the end of Mardi Gras and the beginning of Lent.  Lee and I walked back to our hotel and invited Connor to join us.

Back at the hotel, the alcohol took its toll on my body.  I began to feel dizzy and ill.  Then the dry heaves began.  I was not in a good state and I was very lucky to have Lee and Connor take care of me.  Connor held my hair as I retched.  Lee kept giving me water to drink.  Eventually, my dizziness and nausea subsided and I went to bed.  

Connor flew back the next day while Lee and I had an extra day.  Lee accompanied me to Ash Wednesday Mass and we spent the rest of the day touring the city.  We took a cemetery tour and a ghost tour.  Then, we grabbed dinner at my favorite Café Pontalba for its barbecue shrimp!  We ended the evening at Pat O’Briens where Lee enjoyed their famous hurricane.  Even I could not depart New Orleans without a sip of Lee’s drink.  😉 

And ladies, Lee is single and ready to mingle if you’re ok with a boy who irons his jeans and cuts his bacon with a knife.  😉   

Have a great week!

Lizzy’s Latest for this week is the Guess Bizzy strappy pumps.  My review of these heels will post Wednesday of next week.  For now, enjoy the pictures.