Git News

Archive for the ‘New Orleans’ Category

With new year comes new laws

Coin-operated washing machines must produce water hot enough to clean clothes; car windows must not be so darkly tinted that police can’t see what’s going on inside; and gyms and spas must be equipped with defibrillators to help clients who suffer sudden heart failure.

Those are just three of 29 new laws that take effect as 2005 dawns in Louisiana.

Morning after the night before and the city is cool and quiet – better get some breakfast and decide what we are going to do on our last day in Nawlins.  I want to go to a book shop and for the rest just chill before the 4th flight to Phoenix which I am looking forward to but the weather does not look very hopeful.

Well amazingly did not find a book shop,  found a good bar and who was it owned by – yes Mr Brennan, went walking down by the riverside and then had a po-boy and some gumbo and back to the hotel – bushed.  Also had a Hurricane cocktail which is the drink in Nawlins – crap! and Jean’s coffee was crap but we know all about that – see below.  I think we have seen what we came to see and am now looking forward to the next bit of our tour.  Spoke to Ma today and Dad is not so bad – she is of course partying!

I forgot to mention – the coffee is awful.

I asked for espresso and our waiter (server) was a little embarrassed and told me that he could only offer Brennan’s chicory  blend.

I thought – when in Rome – do as the Romans especially when the waiters (servers) name is Alfredo.  The coffee was shit.  Alfredo agreed and held up his hands as if in agreement.  He also knocked it off the bill.

Apparently something like 85% of America’s coffee is shipped through Nawlins.  Is that the reason why Brenann’s has some kind of loyalty to New Orleans chicory boiled shit coffee.  I don’t know.

I mentioned this to the Maitre D on my way out and also embarrased could not answer the simple question  – why Brennan’s di not have an espresso machine like all quality restaurants throughout the world.  Will Brennan’s ask their customers to vote with their feet and reject the NO chicory blend – I don’t think so. Whe be so defensive?

Well do you know – my one man crusade to change the coffee policy at Brennan’s is unlikely to have any success as the locals love this shit coffee.   You can’t push water up hill Mr Brennan!

Late to bed last night and late up this morning.  Went down to the river to get the harbour tour on  Steamboat Natchez – which is quite authentic although it runs on diesel and not wood & coal as in Huck’s  day.  2 hour trip which was very enjoyable – the view of the city from the water is always different  and usually unmissable – and so it was with Nawlins.  Oh and bar served extremely good Bloody Mary’s. 

We then went on the St Charles Street streetcar which has been running since 1835 and is a national monument.  $1.25 for a 6 mile trip at about 10mph – went out into the Garden Area of the City via the Financial District.  My, My, those southern houses and villas – eat your heart out Scarlet.  Back to hotel to chill before NYE – the whole city seems to getting ready – just walked up Bourbon Street which is very close by and it really is jumping and it is still light at 4.30pm.  Back to Broussards again tonight as could not get in anywhere else – but hey Broussards is fantastic – so no worries.  Music today courtesy of the Jackson Square All Stars

Interesting article in the local newspaper about new generation of parking meters

New Orleans is abfab – no exaggeration.  Tony, my friend in California,
said it was like nothing else in the US – he is right.  The city has its own patois, its own food, its own music and its own style – it ain’t called the Big Easy for nothing.

Some may say it is just a tourist trap – well let them think it. The French Quarter is an absolute delight and the buildings and architecture to die for.  Wonderful stone and clap board houses – usually no more than 2 stories high – with wonderful wrought iron balcony’s, verandas, stoops etc.  Just like Street Car…

OK its got a lot of stuff that I am not crazy about – such as high crime – but what it has got that I like, I love.

River boats look great but unfortunately at this time of year run without a jazz band. 
You hear the sound of their hooters all over town.  Very evocative of a bygone age when Huck Finn and Tom played on the river shore.

Great street jazz bands and buskers especially on Jackson Square.

People very friendly to outsiders whether from Europe or anywhere else.

Went into a bar today that had a big sign "No Sniveling"- great – another said "Only over 21′s" and another said "No Gambling" – this was over a fruit machine!  Pity only Bud Lite on offer.

French Market – got a great section just for hot sauce – I would buy some if I didn’t have to carry it around for the  next two months

Went to Cafe du Monde which is an NO institution – when we first went they were queuing – for coffee – no way.  However, we went back later and just walked in – great coffee (not sure about the donuts) – the place has been open since whenever and is open 24/7/365

Going to Brennan’s on Conti & Royal tonight – one of the best restaurants in town and the first opened in the 60′s by the Brennan’s, restaurant entrepreneurs of New Orleans.  Traditional Cajun food.

And finally … seen on Bourbon Street

Picked up a copy of the Wall Street Journal at Atlanta airport (as you do) – had always thought it was a boring read and still looks like The Times when they had the classifieds on the front page (that makes me feel really old).  It turned out to be a fascinating and serious read – article about Bob Dylan by a guy who wrote the sleeve notes for Dylan’s first LP was particularly good.  I am a convert – at least you can ditch the pages og shares prices and indices although surprisingly could not find the FTSE.

Glad to see Thorpy doing well for England – hope it will be a NYE win for them (that comment is about cricket for the uninitiated).

Went out for a a meal at Broussards on Conti Street  – no real science here just the first good looking restaurant that had a table for 2 – deep fried oysters and shrimps as big as your head,  Excellent,

Left Miami in rain, got a plane to Atlanta with a connecting flight to NO
When we got airborne and above the clouds we discovered where the sun had been. 
Have spent the last hour or so reading up on New Orleans – the sites, the music,
the food and of course our hotel on Dauphine Street in the French Quarter
- I now discover it was once a bordello – nothing new in the dives I am prepared
to rest my weary head in.

Tried the wifi in Miami airport but with little success – back to Starbucks! 

Just got to hotel and no wifi here!

Travelling by AirTran, which I found on the net.  Check in is also on the net where
you can print your own boarding card etc and jump on the plane within 10 mins of takeoff. 

We  had luggage to check-in but it is surprising the number of passengers that just have hand luggage.Just like hopping on a bus.

Starting to get email from around the world which puts a different perspective on travelling – also texts on the US phone from Italy, UK and US – which is proving to be very useful. 

I signed up for Alpha Telecom before I left UK.  This allows you to make cheap phone calls from around the world.  You just dial a number designated for the country you are in and then key in your acct number and password number and then you dial the number as if you were in the country i.e. for a UK number you dial the number including the leading zero. Phil & Irene put me onto this as when Phil was in NZand I was in UK they phoned each other for flumpence!  How you spell flumpence Ed.

Just phoned Ma to find out how Dad was and she told me to get off the phone as it was costing a fortune. 

I did not disabuse her!  Dad is not so bad but a little unresponsive when Geoff visited this morning.

US TV really is the pits – long live the BBC and the licence fee – when that goes, TV in UK will follow the US model.  Still they find it difficult to understand the licence fee if you have a TV but do not watch BBC.