I woke up this morning with parading on my mind. Which meant I couldn’t really concentrate on anything, so after trying and failing to get some work done, I took the bike out to work out some nervous pre-Mardi Gras jitters. The sun was shining bright, the skies were clear, and I was flying through neighborhoods, feeling incredibly happy. Continue reading
Mardi Gras
Parade at Magazine & Nashville
I felt inexplicably exhausted after teaching today, so my ride today was nothing but the commute. After a long afternoon working in the office, I put my heavy legs on the bike and headed to the grocery store for a couple things. As I came up on Magazine from Nashville, I saw a parade coming down the street. A parade! Oh, that’s right–it’s Mardi Gras! Continue reading
Closely Parked Cars Near Dauphine & Pauger
Carnival is upon us again, and even though I was feeling a bit under the weather, I wasn’t about to miss my last first-parade-of-the-season as a resident of New Orleans. I hopped on my bike and headed downtown without a sweater or anything, because I swear it’s already summertime. The traffic was crazy once I crossed Canal as folks gathered for Krewe du Vieux. Continue reading
Police Barricades at Canal & University Place
For some weird reason I was sore all over today, which meant my bike ride was a little tough–none of that “gliding over glass” business today. After work I decided to go for an easy pedal with lots of stretching. I headed up to the levee so I could ride unencumbered, but no matter how I spun, my legs just felt like lead. I made it out to the Huey P. Long Bridge, rested at the picnic table for a few minutes, and then headed back. You know what I saw? Continue reading
Zulu Float at Jackson and Claiborne
I woke up on this Mardi Gras morning to sunny skies and a flittery feeling, excited to spend the day outside, tooling around on the bike, seeing how folks are spending this most loveliest day of the year. I rode up past St. Charles and through Central City, where I ran into Zulu. Continue reading
Citadel Marchers in Orpheus at St. Charles and Delachaise
Carnival season is finally coming to an end. When it started, I didn’t want it to ever end. But if I’m being completely honest here, I’m ready to get back to my regular life (this is partly because I know there will be more parades and celebrations just around the corner). Continue reading
Confetti in the Sky at Canal and Solomon
Oh, it was a most beautiful day today. I woke up, had coffee, applied glitter to holiday dress, and then headed out on the bicycle. It was sunny with blue skies, and it felt good to be alive. I spent most of the day at parades, catching throws from a semi-famous person or two and a zillion krewe members. Continue reading
Catching Beads at the Krewe d’Etat Parade
Last night’s parades were canceled due to weather, so tonight’s slate of three parades got an extra, resulting in total paradgasmpalooza. I watched the parades with lots of folks gathered in front of the Discount Zone at Delachaise and St. Charles, and many others joined and left. Continue reading
Unloading Coke Zero at St. Charles and Louisiana
I am utterly exhausted from the last few days of football-related biking excitement, so I decided to take a day without too much pedaling–just to work and back, skip tonight’s parade. I stopped on my commute home to take a picture of these folks unloading a giant truck of Coke Zero. Continue reading
Saints Fans Celebrating on Decatur Street
The Saints flipping won the Super Bowl. Everything’s gone crazy, in good ways. I woke up this morning already overwhelmed–parades, tailgating, the Saints in the Super Bowl–too much, really. I don’t yet have the coping skills necessary for that constant level of excitement. Cope by bike, I say. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 