New Years Eve New Orleans 2010

Wow my time in New Orleans has went by so very fast. Loved my stay here so much history, beautiful homes, and I won't forget to mention the many famous jazz and blues musicians.
This morning started out with RAIN and wind.  When we walked outside it was 73 F and humid with rain.  Thank Goodness Marlon had brought his umbrella which was in his golf bag.  I am thinking he wants to play golf when we get to Gulf Shores AL.  LOL
   Marlon took me to I~Hop for breakfast, wow the food and service was phenomenal. When we finished with our breakfast and got outside it was still sprinkling.  We have several hours before we have to be down by the river to board the Natchez for a 2 1/2 hour boat cruise.  Can't wait to ride on the last steamboat powered by a paddle~wheel and cruise down the Mississippi.  I think its funny every time I try to spell Mississippi I have to sing it to spell it correctly.
The French Quarters is getting ready for the Big New Years Eve Party. Rain or shine the party goes on.
Marlon and I shopped around the French Quarters because we still had some time before we board Natchez. The Christmas decorations around the French Quarter are very nice.  Outside the French Market was Margaritaville didn't have time to go through the store but there's always a next time.
 The entrance to the French Market was right beside it. Marlon is looking for spices to take back home with us.
Its time to go over by the Mississippi River and board the Natchez. As we approached the river we could hear the Natchez playing songs.
 The songs were beautifully played. When we got close the Natchez we could see a lady sitting on top the riverboat playing a steam calliope. This is played every time the ship is about to launch down the Mississippi River.  The steam calliope can produce 32 notes and is a uniquely American musical instrument that has been identified on many steam boats.
Marlon and I boarded the riverboat and was amazed at the 3 deck steam ship.  We looked around trying to decide what deck and whether we wanted to sit outside or inside.  Made our choice of the 3 rd deck sitting outside at a table under cover.
As the boat took off with a farewell toot toot we took our seats and observed what was around us. I saw the Creole Queen taking passengers on a boat cruise.
A huge ship was docked at river side lots of passengers got off the ship to enjoy New Orleans.
As we sat on the riverboat it was so nice to just relax and enjoy the scenery around us. Noticed a lot of other traffic on the river like ocean going barges pushing loads upstream.  We were told allot of cargo moves up and down the Mississippi River.

 The cruise was very informative. We were shown the Jackson brewery which is no longer in production. The brewery was also home to the 1984 World Fair.















We were shown the artillery park and Jackson Square.
Going down the river we were shown the place where lots of wharfs used to be before Katrina tore them down. 

We passed a house and the captain toot his horn.  The next thing we saw is a guy standing on the 2nd level of his home with a horn and he blew it back at our riverboat.  The gentleman was also waving his American Flag.
The wind was pretty strong on the riverboat and cool; at least it wasn't raining anymore.
Thought I would show you the living saving boat that we had. Only seen one so Hummm..???
While on the riverboat we went down to the engine room to observe how a ship operates on steam.
while we were down looking at the engine room we went to the back of the riverboat to watch the huge paddle wheel.
Went into the dining area and toured around, some people took our picture in front of the big captains wheel.
as the Natchez traveled back to dock the view of New Orleans is a city of life along the Mississippi River.
When the riverboat docked there was a street person doing a mime.  They are so good at this you can't see them move a hair on their head.
When we got off the Natchez we stopped at the Cresent City Brewhouse and listened to a jazz band and drank a Red Stallion.  Ended up buying one of their CD's we liked them so much.  The decorations in the brewhouse were unique. The lights were shaped like jelly fish.

 Decided to eat before we went back to the hotel where we enjoyed at Storyville restaurant.  We eat some red beans and rice with spicy sausauge, and a spicy sausage po~boy.
 We headed back to the hotel to rest and get ready to celebrate New Years Eve in New Orleans. It is raining so we had to take an umbrella but also it was warm outside and humid.  We took off heading out to Bourbon St. boy was it packed with people.
The people on the 2nd story of allot of hotels or pubs were throwing down beads to a few select. Of course they wanted you to show them your boobs and they would throw you one.  Well I never showed them anything but I still ended up getting some beads.  Bahahaha maybe they felt sorry for me. ?

The drinks NOLA is famous for is Bloody Mary's and Hurricanes.  Purchased a drink and walked over to Jackson Square where live bands were playing to bring in the New Year.  You can see my beads they dropped from the balcony to me. :-)

Jackson Square
HAPPY NEW YEARS..............WELCOME 2011 TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF LIFE

Day 4 Transportation Around New Orleans

Decided this morning to buy a day pass to ride the St. Charles Line trolley car as much as we want for a day.  Tickets are $5 a person. Got on trolley car and purchased our tickets from the driver. 
We got off the train in Lafayette and walked through a cemetery. Every Cemetery is different in one way or another.  The impression given by above ground tombs in New Orleans cemeteries have resulted in their being known as "Cities of the Dead."
Anne Rice frequently uses Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 for locations in her stories~ the Mayfair witches' family tomb for instance.

This above ground burial is for all members of the Jefferson Fire Co. #22.
Stone wall within the cemetery was very unusual.
This burial is for the Society for the Destitute Orphan Boys. 
Leaving the cemetery and walking on down the street to the Garden Distract.
I loved the walk through Garden District.  The homes within this area are absolutely beautiful.  I saw many many trees with allot of mardi gras beads hanging from them.  Guess the beads will stay in the trees not less a big wind storm comes and blows them out. LOL
Marlon and I strolled through the Garden District and admired the huge plantation homes. Allot of the homes were guarded by beautiful wrought iron fences.  The fences are unique to the homes.
Colonel Short's Villa
This photo is of Anne Rice's home in the Garden District. This house was used as the setting for the Witching Hour novel.

















A home that had some wrought iron fence around it was labeled corn stalk.
There is a lovely story of the early owner who brought his young bride to live here far from her native Iowa. To soften some of her loneliness for the waving fields of corn back home, he caused this replica to be made in graceful iron so that from her front gallery she could forever see something of her native land.







Walked back to catch the St. Charles line trolley car and head on down the line to eat lunch.
Took the trolley car back to the French Market where we shopped and scheduled a tour with the horse and carriage ride.  I noticed that allot of the shops have things pertaining to Voodoo.




After shopping it was time for our horse and carriage ride around the French Quarters.  Our drivers name was Charlie and our mules name was Sugar Daddy.  They use mules instead of horses because the society for animals said it was cruel to use horses to pull loads of people when they are not built for that.  They were informed they must use mules which are known for this type of work load.

The tour through the French Quarters was very informative.  We found out where Coop's Place is, this is a restaurant that Marlon's wants to eat dinner at.  He is going to get shrimp Jambalaya.  We walked down the street and stood in line to eat at Coop's Place.  The place was small on the  inside and not that clean.  The people coming out told us the wait is worth it. 
Time for dessert now we walked down to Cafe Du Monde where they have the best lattes around and beignets in the land.Waiting in line was well worth it I love their coffee and sweets.
Beignets are finger licking good. After eating and drinking our coffees we walked down to Jackson Andrew Park to get a night time shot of the park and the church.  We also noticed the place location of where the ball is going to be dropped on New Years Eve.  The location is on top of the old Jax Building which used to produce Jax beer.
so tired and ready to go home, I took some pictures of some nice decorated New Orleans homes.  Also got a picture of the oldest bar in the United States.
Oldest bar in the United States