New Orleans, Louisiana

Aka: NOLA, The Big Easy, The Cresent City, “N’awlins”

Chapter 1

Rollin’ On The River

Mississippi River Cruise 2025

Monday, July 14, 2025

Several things were on my ‘must do’ list to experience / accomplish on this trip.

1. Listen to some New Orleans Jazz
2. Eat local / regional cuisine
3. Visit several antebellum plantation homes

Of course, I wanted to get the experience of sailing up the Mississippi River in an endeavor to relive what it might have been like during the heyday of paddleboat steamboat travel. We, in 2025, were to have a much more relaxing time with comforts not afforded to those travelers in the old days.

I had done a lot of research finding a cruise that would best fit my timeline and found American Cruise Lines a good choice. Lauren, our agent through Vacations to Go was very helpful in coordinating hotels, shore excursions and cabin selections for Mark and I and Mark’s sister and brother-in-law, Penny and Stu who agreed to join us for this experience as well.

Last year, my friend Roger had taken a similar trip on an actual, operational paddle wheel boat, which would, to me,  create the absolute best experience replicating a trip from the 1800’s. Unfortunately, this year, that company ceased operations and use of that ship. That was a bummer. But American Cruise Lines did have one ship with a paddle wheel, the American Splendor. Yea! This would be as authentic as it could get.

Not until we boarded and were underway did I see that the paddle wheel was for show and not an operational device. Oh heck, it was moving in the water, and it looked real, so go with the flow, as it were, and just imagine it was real.

Mark and I had arrived one day earlier to experience the city, particularly the French Quarter and the famous Bourbon St. with its attractions and nightlife. We were not disappointed.

Our first day there, as we were exploring, rain put a bit of a damper on our walk about, but not enough to deter us. The rain was mild and short lived allowing us to continue our walk. The cathedral was being renovated so that was off the list, and the rain prevented us from walking through Jackson Square in front of the church.

All along our walks we kept seeing signs “Keep IV Waste”. That seemed peculiar and I interpreted it to mean keep intravenous waste, as in drug paraphernalia, i.e. syringes and needles. Was that to mean keep it off the streets? Odd. Where then were the sharps containers? It didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that this city with some reputation for being wild, could have a drug problem.

The answer to those signs “Keep IV Waste” would be revealed to us the following day. Check out the explanation in my chapter 2.

What about higher humidity?

Having arrived from Phoenix and its broiling summer heat, we were aware that the humidity in this area might pose a challenge. But, although it was in the 90’s, the humidity did not dampen our enthusiasm or comfort – too much. As in Phoenix, so long as one didn’t hurry and kept on the shady sides of the streets as much as possible, it was tolerable.

Ambling along, window shopping, trying to keep out of the rain, Mark got waylaid for a free chair massage and further up the street we both were enticed to come into a salon for a facial treatment. The young man assisting us was way easy on the eyes, so he had both our whole attentions. Applying the product to my under-eye bags, he was funny and very engaging with us. His product did work wonders for my under-eye bags, but the product cost was far more than I was willing to spend, even as he dropped the price – twice. I was nearly tempted to return and make a purchase, but a night’s sleep allowed me to come to my senses and settled with aging with dignity.

Since we had arrived at our hotel around 4 PM, by now the sun was setting and hunger was gnawing at our stomachs. On Bourbon St. we chose Mambo’s for dinner. It sounded like a good old New Orleans name that fit in with the city’s character.

In keeping with my desire to experience local foods, I bravely ordered Alligator Tail Bites and Shrimp. The alligator, breaded and deep fried, had its own taste that was good. Maybe a bit chewy, but still a decent choice. ( Though I noticed afterward, that if anyone got too close to me, I involuntarily snapped at them!;-) JK

Stepping out onto the street again, the night was blazoned with all manner of neon signage. With the street closed off allowing only pedestrians the atmosphere was fun and colorful, including a bar with bare legs swinging out the window enticing  passersby to enter. Other business were actively advertising  with attractive, scantily clothed young women posing in doorways and bruiser type men outside encouraging men to join the festivities indoors. Rather aggressively pursued by one on those men, trying to avoid him, I stopped and asked if they had any MEN inside.

Well sure, he says.

BUT, says I, are they IN the show? Then the lightbulb went off and he laughed at the irony of my meaning. A fun atmosphere indeed!

Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped at the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the US, Lafitte’s, for a beverage. Monday night, few patrons and a much smaller place than I had imagined.

One beer and back to the hotel.

Time to get some sleep.