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<\/a><\/p>\nWandered along Bourbon Street, and Royal Street, and that one starting with a “C” that I can’t remember the name of, working on the idea that I’d turn back if it looked too dodgy. Well, it got residential before it got dodgy, so that works out well.<\/p>\n
There were a few bands set up, some in the streets, one outside Jackson Square, doing what looks to be the New Orleans variant of busking, where you put out a bucket, and the more mobile folks in the brass section occasionally carry it around during a song.<\/p>\n I found Cafe Du Monde more or less by accident. For the record, I wasn’t lost, so much as uninterested in exactly where I was, which allowed me to wonder what that place over there is, and find the aforementioned establishment.<\/i><\/p>\n Not what I expected. I’d assumed, from the name & the number of folks who’ve mentioned it unbidden and unrelated, that it would be some high-end place with fine everything and a long-ass line.<\/p>\n The reality was much better. Covered and railed-off area with a bunch of little cafe tables, server\/porter\/waiter\/clearers in uniforms snaking their way through the space, and a menu so simple they can fit it on the side of the napkin dispenser.<\/p>\n From seeing it, I assumed I’d go to a counter, get food or maybe a little tag with a number, and find a table. Nope, table service; Sit down, wait a spell, and they come by.<\/i><\/p>\n I got a freshly cleared spot by the railing separating Cafe from Street, and had Cafe Au Lait and Beignets.<\/p>\n Not sure why the coffee comes in a lidded cup, but with an actual cup. Maybe to avoid spillage?<\/i><\/p>\n There is a mountain <\/b>of powdered sugar on those things, which explains the white splatches on the paving. And on my black shirt. And jeans.<\/p>\n I looked like I had crotch-dandruff.<\/p>\n No regrets.<\/p>\n Post-pastry, I wandered back to my hotel, because the heat & sun were intense, though I went via Frenchman Street, which turns out to be a big covered market largely filled with the same tourist stuff, plus the odd unique place trying to be noticed.<\/p>\n First time that’s happened, though I have had them ask “is that for me?” if I’ve been in the room at the time.<\/p>\n Went out again in the evening, in time to see a high school marching band setting up & starting their march, followed by a throng of people in mostly <\/i>partying attire, aside from the folks in business casual, and tail chased by a smaller band playing different tunes.<\/p>\n Clearly an organised thing, there were police leads & a tail of some sort, and a planned route.<\/p>\n The tourists took photos, the locals … sort of worked around it with a smile? The high school drummers were getting a phenomenal amount of volume going; I took some video, but uploading isn’t working, so so much for that.<\/p>\n I followed them for a bit, until they made a turn off Canal Street and into the French Quarter, then headed off along the waterfront for no particular reason.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n