A Day in the Quarter
Yesterday the family and I made it out to the French Quarter (a first time for Aiden and myself.) It was a great day all around. Really, words can't describe the area unless you've been there. It's sort of like an all-the-time festival. The sort of stuff a lot of cities only get on holidays if they are lucky. We finally found a parking area and took off on foot. The diversity covered just about everything you could want. All types of food, artwork sold off the streets, high class galleries, zillions of trinkets, jewelry, clothing, sex stores, occult stuff, etc.
We first stopped at Voodoo Authentica. Having asked about an ingredient they don't sell up front to the general public we had a chance to go into the back where ritual items are prepared and met the guy who makes items for the store. He was really nice and we learned a few interesting things. He told us if we ever needed anything ask him since they hold a lot of stuff that isn't actually put into the store front. I think he respected us since we were more than the dumb, obnoxiously curious, yet somewhat disturbed tourist types that they likely get a lot of. Along the way we also located The Dungeon, which I have been wanting to go to since I got here. That will have to wait 'till another time, but I'm glad we at least found it.
Asani really wanted to try a Beignet, so we stopped at the famous Cafe Du Monde. I don't think I had truly lived until I had that experience, and the iced coffee was great too. Mmmmmmm! Walking in that area was interesting by itself. There were numerous paintings just being sold out on the corner, and performance artist peeps. There was a guy who looked amazingly like a Cowboy statue, painted up metallic and all... until I noticed his eyes were too real. By the time realization came to me he finally moved and pointed his guns at me making some really odd sounds. It was admittedly a little unexpected and nearly made me jump, but it was fun. There was an Asian girl by the cafe who was playing away at an electric violin... while wearing rollerblades! I could barely stand in those things. *L*
There were also donkey and horse carriage rides in the area so we got tickets and took Aiden for a short tour on one. Initially we were gonna ride with the kinda punkish girl. She actually used to live in Charlotte, NC and was a lot funnier than the guy we ended up with. I think the potential customers were intimidated by her... she kept heckling by saying if they didn't ride she'd have to "eat the donkey" and that her tour included a bank robbery with a carriage get-away. Since no one else was hoping on we had to board up with another driver. The tour was ok, but it could have been better. At least Aiden got to feed the animals for them. :)
Our last stop was the Voodoo Museum. I wish I had a camera, so I will have to go back to get pics. There were plenty of human remains and neat stuff... my favorite of the collection was of course the "Zombie Whip" that was used to beat Zombie slaves into staying properly submissive. They also had one of the puffer fish that contains the chemical used in traditional zombie potions.
After that we grabbed some Daiquiris and stopped at the park to let Aiden play a while before heading home... tired from the days activities. I will definitely be going back to explore more of the area. Asani wants to go to the "Unisexx Club" with "World Famous Love Acts by Men and Women" (full sex, not just stripping!), and I convinced her we should go to the Barely Legal Club too (they have "school girl" outfitted strippers... couldn't resist.) *L* We just have to wait until we have a sitter to make those trips. It's nice to be married and still be able to do such things. :)
Well, that's about it. Back to work tomorrow. Sleep eminent. Love you all.
We first stopped at Voodoo Authentica. Having asked about an ingredient they don't sell up front to the general public we had a chance to go into the back where ritual items are prepared and met the guy who makes items for the store. He was really nice and we learned a few interesting things. He told us if we ever needed anything ask him since they hold a lot of stuff that isn't actually put into the store front. I think he respected us since we were more than the dumb, obnoxiously curious, yet somewhat disturbed tourist types that they likely get a lot of. Along the way we also located The Dungeon, which I have been wanting to go to since I got here. That will have to wait 'till another time, but I'm glad we at least found it.
Asani really wanted to try a Beignet, so we stopped at the famous Cafe Du Monde. I don't think I had truly lived until I had that experience, and the iced coffee was great too. Mmmmmmm! Walking in that area was interesting by itself. There were numerous paintings just being sold out on the corner, and performance artist peeps. There was a guy who looked amazingly like a Cowboy statue, painted up metallic and all... until I noticed his eyes were too real. By the time realization came to me he finally moved and pointed his guns at me making some really odd sounds. It was admittedly a little unexpected and nearly made me jump, but it was fun. There was an Asian girl by the cafe who was playing away at an electric violin... while wearing rollerblades! I could barely stand in those things. *L*
There were also donkey and horse carriage rides in the area so we got tickets and took Aiden for a short tour on one. Initially we were gonna ride with the kinda punkish girl. She actually used to live in Charlotte, NC and was a lot funnier than the guy we ended up with. I think the potential customers were intimidated by her... she kept heckling by saying if they didn't ride she'd have to "eat the donkey" and that her tour included a bank robbery with a carriage get-away. Since no one else was hoping on we had to board up with another driver. The tour was ok, but it could have been better. At least Aiden got to feed the animals for them. :)
Our last stop was the Voodoo Museum. I wish I had a camera, so I will have to go back to get pics. There were plenty of human remains and neat stuff... my favorite of the collection was of course the "Zombie Whip" that was used to beat Zombie slaves into staying properly submissive. They also had one of the puffer fish that contains the chemical used in traditional zombie potions.
After that we grabbed some Daiquiris and stopped at the park to let Aiden play a while before heading home... tired from the days activities. I will definitely be going back to explore more of the area. Asani wants to go to the "Unisexx Club" with "World Famous Love Acts by Men and Women" (full sex, not just stripping!), and I convinced her we should go to the Barely Legal Club too (they have "school girl" outfitted strippers... couldn't resist.) *L* We just have to wait until we have a sitter to make those trips. It's nice to be married and still be able to do such things. :)
Well, that's about it. Back to work tomorrow. Sleep eminent. Love you all.