June 10, 2010

Road Trip Recap: NOLA

Peeps, my sister and I left last Thursday morning for Florida and made two stops in Baytown and Fort Polk to take copious photos of nieces and grandnieces and daughters that we won't see for awhile. We took our time, which was a good thing since it rained almost the entire way. Wouldn't you know it, while we drove butt naked and laughed hysterically, nobody even noticed. What's up with that, Gulf Coast Road Trip Gods? You're making me look bad! Plus I caught a chest cold.

Then came our third stop Saturday night at the Sheraton in the French Quarter. Ooo-la-la! An important note about this hotel, people (especially if you are plagued by vertigo like I didn't realize I was): the windows of the rooms on the 21st floor are carpet to ceiling, so you can stand next to it and feel like you could fall right the hell out. To your splattery death. Were these windows openable, and you didn't fall to your splattery death, you could barf onto Canal Street passersby while looking down from WAAAAY on high, which is, quite frankly, where I'm meant to hang out, gazing down on mortal peons. Am I right?

NOLA dinner was at street level and we stopped in at Huck Finn's for gumbo and related Cajun eats. Then my daughter and her precocious son showed us around, and I was both impressed and grossed out in equal measure at the spectacle that is Bourbon Street. Had I visited there in my younger days as a singleton, I would have fit right in with the other drunks and worn many shiny, beaded necklaces. Now that I'm totally tame (heh, heh, quite possibly that should be lame), I just pose with big, fat, green grenades of the plastic persuasion, while a three-year-old clings to my back, and wonder how bad it would be if I poked a hole in Mr. Rubbery Girth just to watch him blow up and sputter around the piss-stained sidewalks. And just FYI, that is the real reason people get so drunk down on Bourbon Street--it's the only way to tolerate the stinkies. That said, I was completely mesmerized by it all.

The best part of Bourbon Street? I found the treasure of a lifetime. Oh yes. People, a TREASURE! You see, 25 years ago at a Sixth Street piano bar in Austin, a tawdry pianist (really, how do people say that word without laughing?) crooned about that little-known African pygmy tribe, the Fahkawees. They ran through the plains, leaping above the tall grass to see where they were, all the while shouting, "Where the fahkawee? Where the fahkawee?" I was so impressed by their plight, I held their story close to my heart all these years. And now . . . now, I'm an official Fahkawee, thanks to a little shop on Bourbon Street.

Life is good.

More later, peeps.

24 comments:

daisyfae said...

bummer about the rain getting in the way of the nekkid. bet if you'd just stood around naked at a rest area, you'd have had a few 'road trip moments'...

Macey said...

I NEED her shirt.
We did a road trip through LA, MS, and FL once. It was gorgeous.
Oh yeah, I keep forgetting...guess what? (go ahead, i can hear you, what is your guess..?) LOL
I got a Kindle and I'm gonna subscribe to your blog on it!
Just as soon as I figure out how. :)

Brian Miller said...

haha...love the shirt. sounds like you are having fun at least...smiles.

Jo ~ said...

lookin' good girl! Did you sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall in your birthday suits? haha!

and who the heck are the Fahkawees again?

Today I was having to proof reports, and I can just hear this slurry butt doctor saying Fahkawees...it would sound something like f*ck Louise!

Unknown said...

Glad you are having fun! Sister time is the best!

ellen abbott said...

Ah, Burbon Street. gotta love it.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Ah yes the aroma of barf and urine first thing in the morning as you're making you way to the place where they make beinets and drink car slugdge and tell everyone about how wonderful it all is.
I did like the streetcar ride past Anne Rice's houses and the great old architecture though.
Sorry the rain spoiled the skyclad deal for you and sis.
Adventure on for those of us who are too chicken or old...that would be me.
The Olde Bagg

Midlife Roadtripper said...

T-shirt looks good on you. How jealous I am that you have a sister.

Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip.

Unknown said...

I think they have higher education for that tribe now - WerDaFuhka U

Miss ya like crazy, but glad to hear you are headed for tar ball centr ... er, Florida.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Of course you caught a chest cold-- You were naked!
Hope you're feeling better :-)

LOVE that tee shirt-- it's hysterical.

Cheers,
jj

Unknown said...

Did I miss why you were nekkid..must've. But, nothing like having an adventure with the sis.

Alison said...

Love the tee shirt! I also heard about that famous tribe when I was a teenager.... Lol!

CiCi said...

I'm surprised to hear from you so soon, good surprise though. This is a big step or drive as it really is and I hope you enjoy every mile. Your sister looks like a snarky gal like you are. I like the picture of your grandson riding on your back.

foxy said...

Glad you got there safe, but extremely disappointed that no one noticed your nakedness. What's wrong with people these days??

mac said...

Dammit, I missed you driving by!

Your chest doesn't look cold?

De Campo said...

Wait. You purposely went to Ft. Polk?

Liz Mays said...

Is it really that full of debauchery on Bourbon Street? I've done a lot of traveling but I've never been to New Orleans. It's a must though...that cajun flavor and atmosphere is just so appealing.

It sounds like you had an incredible time!

Suzy said...

Welcome home. Love the shirt.

Pat said...

Sounds like you would have had a LOT of beads around your neck if it wouldn't have been raining all the way to FL! Wink Wink!

In all our travels we have never been to New Orleans, but I'd like to go.

Love your idea of putting a hole in the "grenade".

Jason, as himself said...

It seriously took me a couple of minutes to figure this out. At first I took it at face value. I'm a little dense sometimes!

Nanny Goats In Panties said...

Way to score with the store on Bourbon Street. It is a kind of stinky street, isn't? But oh my lord, the food! Did you have fried alligator?

Pseudo said...

Dear sweet lord, I love me a road trip. Have fun enough for the both of us ( I know you will and then some!).

Anonymous said...

I want to be a Fahkawee too. I also want to drive naked and nobody notice... It would be nice to not get arrested for once ;0)

Jocelyn said...

Here is what I know: you are adorable, and I'm glad I'm not needing to send bail money to Louisiana right about now.