Narnia - These people are the worst. "Narnia, Get Up", "Narnia, Let's Go", "Narnia, Get your blog done!"
Let me break it down for you, I'm a napper. The only thing I like better than a good nap is a really long warm sleep. Sharing the moho with these two 'go getters' is becoming a real headache. Before we go any further I'm going to give them a list of my demands as follows:
1) No camping in cold places, that sweater you make me wear is embarrassing.
2) No driving more than three hours a day. I can't hold it for longer than three hours, so if you don't want a puddle of pee in the middle of the floor then stopping frequently would be purrfect.
3) When you leave me alone for the day my treat ball must be full, otherwise expect a barf or two due to treat deprivation.
4) When I am herding you to bed at 7:30 at night don't give me any of that backtalk like "It's not bedtime yet". Just get into bed and pet me.
5) Finally, if I am sleeping it does not mean that I want to go for a walk. It means I want to sleep, so clip that damn leash around your own neck and take a hike, I'll protect the moho.
Gratuitous photos for my fans.
WALKING THE STREETS OF THE BIG EASY
Catherine - New Orleans is a bucket list item for two out of three of us, and it still is because once you have been, you want to go back, at least that is how I feel. Now that I have hit the hot spots, listened to the music and explored I want to get deeper in to the real New Orleans. There is a vibe there that is difficult to explain, but I feel it is part pride, part being different, part being open to life and part music. Swirl that together and boom – The Big Easy.
We stayed at The French Quarter RV Resort and for an RV one cannot get a better location. About a 5 block walk tops to the French Quarter. We took an Uber/Lyft home at night for safety, because it was darn cold and our feet hurt. I always felt safe, found the streets easy to walk and everyone amazingly nice.
Being music fans, Kathryn and I made sure we listened to live music every night. Some of our highlights were Jon Roniger and the Good For Nothing Band at Maison, Salvatore Geloso at The Spotted Cat Music Club, Albanie Falletta at The Three Muses and the both funny and entertaining Chicken on the Bone band. Dinner highlight for us was definitely the Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro where we went twice.
We wandered into the Garden District to watch the Saints play a wildcard game at The Avenue Pub and then took the bus home. Fans were yelling “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat?! Who dat?!” I was glad that Kathryn googled what the team cheer was so we knew what was going on when the whole bus sprang in to chorus. Americans love their football, especially when their team wins.
Oh, another highlight was me winning a CD by The Good For Nothing Band for answering some questions on New Orleans. That’s what happens with Kathryn goes to the bathroom! The Big Easy is a jazz musicians dream. Live, free music every night, everywhere, great bathrooms, good food and nice accommodation make for a fun getaway. I can hardly wait until we go back!
Joan of Arc Parade 2018
Video Credit: MurielsJacksonSquare
Kathryn - An interesting aspect of the culture in the city of New Orleans is the influence of the french language and french history. About 600 years ago a fourteen year old girl named Joan of Arc received divine inspiration. Three angels instructed her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination during the 100 years war. At seventeen years of age she was sent to Orleans where the English had taken siege of the city. Led by Joan the French army along with Scottish support returned Orleans to the French control. Two years later she was captured and turned over to the English and burnt at the stake.
Six centuries later on the other side of the world, hundreds of people gather to celebrate this victory and its heroine Joan of Arc. The medieval-style parade is set in Joan’s time, 1400s France, with medieval costumes and music, characters on horseback, jugglers, knights, stiltwalkers, and giant puppets. True to the period, participants craft costumes and props to reenact the battle and the characters of the war. Some participants also make throws for the crowd, these too are historically accurate - pins, lavender sachets, mini lanterns, wooden swords and more. This parade occurs on January 6, Joan's birthday and the Epiphany, marking the beginning of the Mardi Gras season.
Catherine and I thought it would be fun to volunteer for such a grass roots, historical event so we e-mailed and asked if we could participate. You can find us right behind the wall, I am wearing white carrying a banner and Catherine is wearing blue and holding a woman's dress out of the mud. What an opportunity to be right in the thick of things. Thank you to the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc for having us walk with you!