Last spotted in San Francisco, USA on March 28, 2003, 1:23 pm
Who is he? Where is he going? Where has he been? David Barrett / Quinthar
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Down in the Bayou
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 1:14 pm

New Orleans is quite unlike any city I've ever seen. After a long day of driving, I arrived around 2am -- about the time I'm expecting everything to close up for the night. To my surprise and glee, I found that this was anything but the case and that the party stayed strong for four more hours! Ever since that radioactive-bat bite in my youth I've been a naturally nocturnal person, so this sat with me very well.

First stop, of course, is Bourbon Street. I imagine the bourbon was flowing freely somewhere, but all I saw was horrendously over-priced beer and margarita stands. Regardless, the crowds seemed to lap it up -- literally -- and there was no dearth of drunken debauchery. Walking down Bourbon Street is walking through some modern-day Moulin Rouge where beads take the place of diamonds, and "can cans" aren't a dance. If you get my drift.

After an hour or two I wandering in and out of bars and shops, I directed my oggling to the gorgeous architecture and artwork just filling the city. Every street is a postcard and every courtyard a mystery. Despite being reported as a terribly dangerous place to wander about aimlessly and alone, I did precisely that and found endless sights to see.

Eventually I ended up at a local's bar, got a beer whose price matched its quality, and sat on patio overlooking the street until 5am. Alas, all things must come to a close at some point, even in New Orleans, so with my beer finished I headed home.

Home was, of course, the back seat of my car in a very sketchy alley just a couple streets off of Bourbon. I climbed into the back and tried to get comfortable, only to find that the humidity was just over 100%, as was the temperature, causing me to experience sleeping in a steam-sauna for the first time. And a good thing, too, as I never would have guessed that it's about the least pleasant sleep you can possibly have.

The next morning I climbed out of my pressure-cooker, brushed my teeth in the gutter, and headed out to try the daylight hours. The alleys and courtyards nestled between tall shuttered buldings held limitless adventure -- more than enough to fill my day. I hit no less than three separate coffeeshops (some of which were very nice), talked to many wonderful people, and had some great local food. However, without a doubt the best part of the day: sleeping in the park. Ahh, the joys of sleeping below the dew-point.

As the sun set and the party resumed its inexorable cycle, I decided to steer clear and explore more of the town. Returning to one of the beforementioned coffeeshops for a cup of tea and a moment's respite, I met an extraordinarily kind girl that agreed to alleviate my misery by giving me a spot of floor on which to spend the night. We met at the appointed hour in a bar across town, well outside the din of downtown, then went even further away from the mayham to a bar in who-knows-where, and then to sleep on the cool comfort of her floor. Had I a tail, it would have wagged peacefully to sleep.

The next day I was up, soaked for a while in her fantastic cast-iron, claw-foot bathtub, and headed out on the road to continue the journey. So, like most wonderful places, I may have left New Orleans, but I'm not sure it left me.
Pat O'Brien's
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 2:58 am
The first bar to really catch my eye was Pat O'Brien's. It's a huge place divided into three separate bars: one unremarkable, one with two pianos and karayoke singers that I cringe to recall, and one outside in a huge courtyard party. In the middle of this courtyard is, of course, a flaming fountain. I wandered around and got my first beer of the evening, a Bud Light for $4.75!! Eek. Being on a budget, I stiffed the waiter (sorry dude -- serve cheaper beer to get better tips) with $0.25, walked to a quiet table in the back, and read a few chapters in my book. Eventually I became restless, put away my reading, and headed back out into the night.
Beads Anyone?
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 3:00 am
Needless to say, they have a couple of beads for sale. After a walk down Bourbon Street, I started to realize that beads are a wonderful investment, for both the seller and buyer.
Only on Bourbon Street...
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 3:03 am
... will you find rose petals and beer cups in equal frequency.
Statue in Courtyard
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 3:38 am
To get this picture I had to hop over a 6' spiked fence. I think it's worth it.
Jackson Square
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 12:19 pm
(Coming soon)
The Mississippi
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 12:27 pm
(Coming soon)
House of Brews
New Orleans, USA on March 17, 2002, 1:23 pm
The nicest coffeeshop I found in New Orleans was the House of Brews, a couple streets off of Bourbon. Upon walking into the opulent establishment the beautiful proprieteress (?) said "What can I get you, love?" Oh... bestill my heart. I asked for and received my Earl Grey, and fell back into a terribly comfortable chair to take in the surroundings and read my book.

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