Scenery
Well, well, I hadn't been to New Orleans in almost two and a half years but well (not since Vanity Club gathering 2001 in March), they forced me to (grin). Actually what happened was an announcemnent came out that the Pink Kitties and FemmeFever were planning a T get-together in New Orleans and it reminded me how much I loved the city. As it turns out, except for Jackie on Friday night, and Debbie on Thursday and Friday, all of the girls were FemmeFever from New York. Karen is their "leader" of sorts and is a wonderfully nice friendly GG who does everything she can to make everyone comfortable and as tho they are "at home". The Southern Belles and the Vanity Club (Jackie is VC as well as a member of the other two groups and Carla Wild was able to be in attendance only on Friday night) were invited also, so that was the clincher. I had to go so I re-scheduled part of my vacation, got the plane ticket, reserved the room and decided that hell nor high water would prevent me from partying in the Big Easy. ...AND I DID!!!!
For some reason, this trip, I didn't seem to be in the mood to take pictures. It seemed I was too busy visiting with folks and just having a good time. It was almost as if taking a picture was an interruption of the fun at times. Also a lot of the time when I might have wanted a picture, I was alone etc. However, I think with other people's help, I scraped up enought pictures to make a page. (grin)
The first thing I would like to do is set the stage so to speak. These pictures are of 3 street performers. They perform on Royal Street for tips from passerby. What amazed me the most, I think, was the ones that didn't move for long periods of time as you can tell from the fact that two of the three of that variety. There were also some very good musicians that I didn't have time to take pictures of. I swear you couldnt even see them breathing. Also there are a few pictures of the hotel I stayed . The hotel was called the Dauphine Orleans and is quite a luxury hotel. We were treated like royalty. (smile) Also there are a couple of pictures taken on a corner on Chartre's St showing the skycrapers in one direction and the older, "country town" favor another direction.
Thursday was the first day of the event. This is the day that we all arrived, I arrived about 11:00 at the Hotel but was unable to get into the room and be secure to almost 5. It turns out that the last guest in the room left late plus the staff was busy. Anyway, I did some exploring and checked out "Starlight by the Park" in boy mode. This was the bar that some of us had gotten a "reception" of sorts planned for Friday night but no harm in checking it out early...right? It was a fun place no matter how I was dressed. After getting dressed I went back and continued the fun for a while. At 7:00 though, it was time to get with the group and we took some pictures in the hotel lounge before going to Bourbon Street. BTW, there were some fun GG's in the Lounge at the Hotel that insisted on getting their pictures taken with us. A couple of the below shots include them. Very nice ladies and fun. We went to the Oz, which I didn't think I wanted to go to because of the crowds. However, it was an absolute blast. There were some guys there that just loved us and we danced and had a great time. I even danced a tiny bit as you can see from the last picture in the series.
Friday was a lazy day for me. Having stayed up till 4:30 on Thursday, I was in no mood for rising early (LOL). However eventually I did rise as this was the night of the reception at Starlight. I had to be there, and be on time...by 8pm. We all started out in the lounge at the hotel where we had a drink or so. I left about 7:30 or so to make the walk over to the bar. As it turns out, there was a delay with the food so nothing really happened till about 9:30 but I had some time to just veg and relax and enjoy the bar. The people there were all very friendly. The bartender made over me again (he had thursday night as well) and it was wonderful. Finally everything got started and there were all sorts of people there believe me. And all sorts getting along too. Michael was one of the Hosts and boy was he a great one...made you feel like you were the center of the universe. Then Buck came in...what a handsome devil he is...with his girl. He and I flirt outrageously..and well, I confess at one point I was very very very bad...(gulp..giggle). All in good fun...(smile) While I was inside visiting with this one and that one, food was being provided on the patio and people were partying there as well. I didnt miss too much tho because I think I saw just about everybody on their way to or from the patio...and everybody was just wonderful. Here are some pictures from Friday night....Morwen outdid anything I could have expected with the cajun food and Michael was perfer as "assistant host". BTW, he is hugging me in one picture...aint he just the cutest guy!! (swoon) Other people I am with include Buck, Jackie, Betty and Morwen (wonderful new friends), Carla Wild of the Southern Belles, and the group from Femme Fever.
Saturday was a busy day, but not necessarily for pictures. Actually saturday was the day I did most of the scenery pictures as well as went with Karen and Siandra to eat at a restaurant up near the flea market called the Gazabo Cafe, listened to some jazz and bought a cd, went through the flea market (some interesting stuff in there...interesting names too..giggle) and then went back to the hotel to rest for a large dinner that night. I did all that in boy mode however obviously changed before dinner and taking of the obligatory pictures (grin). We ate at a wonderful restaurant called "Brennans". It was a bit on the high side at 60.00 per person but certainly fun to be pampered. We took about 3 hours to eat dinner...4 courses. The trip to the restaurant was an experience in itself..what with push button changing the plastic on the seat, and an attendant (I hate that I didnt take my purse and therefore had no money to tip her with so remember if you go there, take your purse to the ladies room) and getting lost on the way back (gulp). The staff was just wonderful, willing to escort you to the ladies room and guide you back...I know, after all I admitted getting lost. LOL The Maitre'd was easy to press into service as a photographer even moving furniture in the process and enjoying it despite the problem of having to fiqure out each camera. What a lark!! Other than myself, the girls were all Femme Fever and some I cant seem to remember their names (for which I apologize). I do know that Karen, Siandra, Andrea and Lilly, as was Maria from out of the country , were in attendance. We all enjoyed it...and of course pictures had to be taken outside the restaurant as well. The big sign was just tooo tempting. (grin) After the restaurant we just went back to the hotel lounge for a bit and then to Double Play where I personally proceeded to get into "trouble" of a sort I enjoy (wink) and then one by one we managed to get to bed. Sunday was "going home day" for most of us including myself and I spend the day in boy mode at Morwen and Betty's just enjoying fried crawfish tails, shrimp, a po boy, the computer and lots of chatting. All in all, one of the best if not THE best trips I have been on in a couple years.
