Just got back home from New Orleans Mardi Gras was fun, but still lacking. I'm from New Orleans and Mardi Gras is something I grew up with. It's not the same like it was before Katrina. And the city looks awful in some parts and even the nicer areas has its share of boarded up houses. Not as many but you see them. On Bourbon, in the Garden District, the 8th ward which is where my mothers family is from. New Orleans East which is where I grew up looks empty. And oh man the lower nine is pitiful. I do however see signs of hope. My grandmother house is directly across the street from these new houses. The are very modern but still traditional shot gun style.

I slept on Mardi Gras which was Tuesday. The partying I did before Mardi Gras caught up to me, and I spent the majority of it sleeping in my Aunts truck. I had a hangover plus it was cold, it was like 35F. I had also left ALL of my medicine at home. I missed Zulu parade because we didn't get there early enough. Zulu starts at 8:30 and we got there at 12:00. By 2pm I was in the truck sleeping and I woke up at 6pm and enjoyed watching the festivities from the car. It was like a big block party. We were posted at my Aunt's food stand. The group next to us was Blasting Music. People were dancing and drinking in the streets; there were bikers, ghetto queens fighting and lots of fun. I love New Orleans.

Even though I slept most of Mardi Gras I got to see alot of family I haven't seen in a while so it was great. And I also had a BLAST that Sat-Mon. The routine was simple, wake up around 10am go to the parade with the family. I normally start drinking around 3pm leave the family around 5 party till about 4am and repeat. We went on Bourbon twice. The first time was OMG crowded. There was so many people on some parts of Bourbon that you couldn't move. It would be like a traffic jam of people. Coincidently most of these traffic jams was everywhere a Tropic Isle was, which sells Hand Grenades, advertised as the strongest drink in New Orleans. The recipe is a secret but its known that Everclear 190 is in it.

The partying caught up to me though evidence the fact that I slept on Mardi Gras lol.It was cold and we spent alot of time outside. Mardi Gras is mostly just walking and drinking and eating. I'm now home nursing a cold, and a bit of pain. Nothing crisis level though. But seeing my family and partying with my family and friends was so much fun.

Only in New Orleans does the local daiquiri shop post a sign saying Mardi Gras day open 6am. And the shop closes at 3am. Most clubs and bars also have last call around 4 and close at 5. The casino's serve liquor 24-7. Its not free like in Vegas, but cheap you wont pay more that $4 for a drinkers. I love my city!