René O'Deay gBlog: Mardi Gras 2008 New Orleans

Mardi Gras 2008 New Orleans

Posted by René O'Deay at 2:38 AM

The most incredible community party
Mardi Gras 2008
Superbowl Sunday? Who cares, the weather was beautiful. The crowds on St. Charles were ecstatic.

There is no way to explain it. Even when you are there in the middle of a parade, it is like being in a movie.
There is this sense of community. In this day and age when we are so unconnected, we have TV and computers, the internet. still so isolated.

It's not about the beads, it's about the connection.
When you see a float rider jump up on the front of a float and dance and raise his arms in greeting, you want a necklace from him. He is so joyous!

I've heard it said that riders are greeted by a wall of sound when they turn on to Canal. It can be brutal, there are so many people, all screaming: "Throw me something!"

The party on St. Charles goes on for days.
They were line dancing in the street between floats and parades.

It's probably more fun when you have a large group, family and friends, with chairs and ladders and shelters and food. Groups even rent their own porta-potties, parking them on the side streets.

You have to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans at least once in your life.

Here's some of the Pictures from the two parades I watched roll down St. Charles, the Krewe of Midcity and the Krewe of Thoth.

special to NowPublic by René O'Deay