New Orleans

I decided to go to New Orleans, Why? Why not haven't been there so I wanted to see what the French Quarter looked like. I love history and well this is a pretty historic area and not just from Katrina stand point but perivious history. I saddled up I think the hottest part of the year so far but when ya take your time you take your time. I headed dwon 301, cause I wanted to enjoy the ride and not just blast down the highway 100mph with my hair on fire. Anyway about 30 minutes or so I got nailed by a bee. Yep I'm allergic so I had to tear everything apart and get the benadryl out. Cool I spent the last week and a half on Benadyrl. Once I reached 10 and headed west the pace picked up. I passed by the onlly civil war battlefield in Florida, which byt the way is the only nice part of 10 if you aske me. I wanted to head south, towards a little road that folllows the cost. Once I headed south towards the coast there was slight relief as the noon day sun was cooking reaching the high 90's. I know what your thinking, I should be used to this cause I'm from Florida right? Well, your wrong! We've had really mild temps until right up to this point now its just silly hot. Anyway the coast even offered little relief with the sea breezes that were well non existant at this time. How ever the Gulf of Mexico is always lovely, and so are the white sandy beaches. The day was growing long and I was not yet in Mississippi were I wanted to be for the night. The rrains came in and the tra traffic was getting heavey as I entered Destin. Shit this place has changed a great deal in the last 10 years or so. for that reason I headed back up to 10 and crossed the state line in about an hour. the clouds had cleared by this time and the sun was dipping down over the horizan. To find a place to stay not where I wanted to be but close enough. Day 2 of my journey finds me not more than 3 hours west of New Orleans. So I didn't rush to get a start. However that would be my mistake as this day would be even hotter and more humid. I reached canal street where a great deal of the larger hotels were located and found one not to far from Burbon street, I think just a couple of blocks. I parked in the parkcade and would not ride it for the entire visit. The Hotel didn't promise or even indecate that it would be safe in their garage. Oh well, I've never had problems in some of the big cities so I didn't think I'd have one here. I hide in theotel until dusk as the temps were closer to 99 with very high humidity. means you go out of the air conditioning and within a minute your soaked. Ok, so down the streat I go to burbon street. I will tell you honestly this if it were not for the historical interest in the French Quarter I would not even have stayed. New Orleans has some wouk to do. I think this says it all. All business owners wash the fronts of the buildings and and streets down every moring and a street cleaner comes down every moring yet there is still a sect the it has that's all its own. Burbon street that it. Since it was night fall I stayed on burbon street. From the catwalks as they are called are the bead throwers, if they think your flasihing even if your not be prepared to be pelted with dozens of beads. Then there are the bars, strip clubs, the entertainers hang in the door ways shaking it, shps with masks, feathers and beads. After one passes throught he business distric the homes and streets become much more quite. This is the area I'm most interested. I decided to tour this in the am hours so I got up at but crack and strolled down to the residental areat. Foks that have homes that are close to the business district have signs and cameras out infront of their homes. "please us trash cans for condums" "Don't sit here your on camera" things like that. However if you continue past this area, home with great catwalks with flowers that have been restored to former grace. There you can talk to the owners about the history of the places. I found Johnny Dep lives there, there's a story of a woman who killed and nulated slave children., There's stroyes of a first stop on the underground railway, desperate lovers in one home. A number of tales but the most haunted they all agree is "captian Jack sparrow's home" . I went to visit the Queen of Voodoos grave. The Location is isnteresting its behind cinder block waslls and fences. The graves are above ground due to very high water table here. But the lockers are all granit. Theya re beautiful. I presented her with a gift from my self a spell star, not a cheesey voodoo doll thing they sell in town. After reflecting in her great power I left the French quarter I went to the river and saw that I could have dinner on a paddle boat so I planned to do that. I went back to the hotel for a swim and afternoon nap as the day was balls assed hot. The even was setting in when I walked to the river which was like 6 blocks , this area of New Orleans is frequented by tourist so they didn't think there would be problems, however in other areas I may not be so welcome. There was a walking parade in progress very interesting, and I also came upon a sctchish wedding. The couple from Edinburgh, Scotland. I wished them much happiness. Mom, tld stories of growing up in Scotland and being a biker after the war when many US machines were left behnd. Her husband got one ans that was their first bike. The toured all over scotland together. I gave them all beads from the walking parde, The Bride gave me a cake decoration, and he gve me his tartan and family thisle crest.. Wow what an honor, I felt really well I don't know as I had a toast for them. Currently the happy couple is in Florida doing Disney World. Good Luck. The water front is lovely in New orleans I have to say espically at night. Tomorrow I will lleave this place but fron now its green gernade time. I'm glad that I did go to New Orleans. There is much work to be done there, however I feel its not due to hurricane Katrina but to the people them selves. There are areas where one feel truely uncomfortalbe. You know the hair stands out on your neck, but that's not because of the distruction from Mother Nature, that's from the disprespect of human life frome the folks that live there. I now not all the folks of New Orleans are hard core, however the numbers up to now good is very evident. So, politicians, if ya want higher tourism in your area, its time to stop pocketing the money and put it to projects that put the people in the area to work! Would I go there again well I might but for the most part I'm happy saying I've been there, but I might go back for all things change. have a great one! "T"