Dahlia Jane and Megan wearing t-shirts that say "Bead Whore I survived Mardi Gras 2011"

I’ve physically returned from a fantastic, dream-come-true trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, but I haven’t quite mentally returned.  Colorful beads and crumbling crypts; the cacophony of a million marching bands and spectators shouting for beads; the warm, herbal smell of voodoo shops; spicy foods and melt-in-your-mouth pralines and beignets — I’m still recovering from sensory overload.  I’m reluctant to pull away from the decadence and return to reality.

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  My good friend Megan felt the same way.  Megan is the best travel companion because she is fun, up for anything, and never complains.  Our plan was hatched last year at Disneyland’s New Orleans Square on Bats Day in the Park (the annual spring day when Goths invade Disneyland).  We decided we were sick of dreaming about the trip and the only way we’d get there would be to plan it and figure out little details like how to pay for it later. 

You can’t drop-in on Mardi Gras.  So many visitors go that the population of the city practically doubles.  May, it turned out, was a little late to make hotel reservations.  Many area hotels fill up in the weeks immediately following one Mardi Gras for the next Mardi Gras.  After realizing most of the boutique-y hotels were already full, we found a room at Doubletree, which not only hands out free warm chocolate chip cookies upon arrival (do not underestimate our sweet teeth) but was situated on the night-time parade route.  We loved having parades right outside our front door and we were only a short walk from the French Quarter.

In New Orleans, Carnival, the period between January 6 (the Twelfth night of Christmas) and Ash Wednesday, is filled with more than sixty parades.  The season culminates with the four day Carnival weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday.  Each parade is organized by a different krewe.  Traditionally named for characters from mythology, the krewes descended from semi-secret social clubs.  Membership tends to be by invitation only. Members of the superkrewes responsible for the most elaborate parades often pay dues of thousands of dollars a year.  Every krewe member riding the floats is responsible for supplying the trinkets and beads they throw. 

Megan and I crammed as much carnival and traditional New Orleans as we could into our four night stay.  We saw most of three parades and part of a fourth.  We stalked the French Quarter and stuffed our faces.  A streetcar ride brought us into the lush Garden District.  I’ll be sharing photos and details about our adventures in the coming posts, but I hope that all of you get to experience a New Orleans Mardi Gras in your life if you haven’t already.

More From Dahliaj

• Mardi Gras 2011: Bacchus Parade
• Mardi Gras 2011: Orpheus Parade
• Mardi Gras 2011: Souvenirs

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 at 9:12 am and is filed under Other Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.