confessions of a southside catatonic chataholic

We're not in Kansas anymore! Quick post. For once. A few thoughts, impressions, etc. from today.

1. Cafe du Monde is better at 2am than it is earlier during the day. If, that is, being in crowds is an actual effort for you. Or for me, as the case may be. I don't totally mind crowds, but I'm not a fan of them either. It just so happens that a lot of what I want to do involves people. Lots of people. Waitangi Day celebrations. Mardi Gras. Armageddon. So the moments when I don't have to be around crowds is something I live up while I can. So take it from me, Cafe du Monde is much nicer at 2am than it is earlier during the day.



2. BEIGNETS. Seriously, if you're in New Orleans, make sure to try beignets at least once. What are they? A pastry made from deep-fried dough. Kinda like a doughnut. Unless you're Maori, then it's more like a sweet fried bread. And they come loaded with icing sugar. Mmmm, don't come here on a diet.








3. Bourbon Street is pretty by night. True story. And if it happens to be raining it's even more pretty, just make sure to have an umbrella.










4. Houses like to play dress up for mardi gras just as much as the people do!

5. People aren't sure what ethnicity we are. We don't fit anything they know of here in New Orleans. More often than not they seem to think we're a bit more exotic than we could ever be, really. The accent seems to throw people, and they're not shy about asking where we're from, how long we're staying and why we're here in the first place. There's a bonus in that people of all cultures and backgrounds will feel free to come up and start random conversations.

6. Locals are incredibly friendly, and incredibly helpful. More so than back home. And almost everybody greets you with, 'Hey, how y'all doin'?' I heart this city.

7. American men are more forward than Kiwi men. They think nothing of checking you out while you're standing right there in front of them. They also think nothing of asking to buy you a drink, or dinner, or asking outright if you're married/have a boyfriend/girlfriend, etc. It's extremely disconcerting.

Another rambling-y style post from me in New Orleans. Really, do I know any other kind of post that isn't rambling-y? Non, bien sûr. 6 impressions from day two of my trip.

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In which Tosca practises what the locals call 'lagniappe,' meaning 'extra.' If you follow me on Twitter and Facebook you'll see that I post umpteen photos there with little bits about them. Here on my blog, though, I'll give you lagniappe, a little bit extra, to go with whatever I'm posting.

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