May 30, 2002
...fourtwentynine...
As it happens, Cinnamon, Brandon and I took a trip down to New Orleans together at this time in 1998. We took Amtrak down, leaving June 4 and returning June 9. A full 36 hours of that was train time. Other than some strange incidents (including but not limited to: an unexpected mid-night stop for the police to remove a knife-wielding stow-away, air-conditioning on all night but not during the day, and a pack of good-ole-boy fraternity brothers making mildly racist comments while draining a cooler of beer) the train was OK, but I'll probably never take that long of a train trip again without booking a cabin.
To tide you over till I get back, here are some selected passages from my journal. You might also read the most recent monthly Huff Report, or peruse the archives. See you in a week.
"The red cap people mover is non-habit-forming." ---Brandon, mishearing an overhead announcement at Central Station.
"Went directly to Cafe du Monde after we got our room. Mmmm, coffee + beignets. We wandered around the French Quarter ... ate at ___?____ at 777 Bourbon St. -- crawfish and hurricanes -- the only ones of the week. we then wandered up to Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, where a horrible lounge singer was playing. [Receipt from "Rev. Zombie's House of Voodoo for one chicken foot ($4.95) attached to page]
"Top of the Mart" -- bar at the top of the [New Orleans] World Trade Center. We drank bad mint julips as we revolved once. ... Preservation Hall -- Olympia Brass Band. At times Cin, Bran and I were the only ones clapping. Good ole N.O. jazz.
Emeril Lagasse's place in Le Vieux Carré 11:30am. Wow! Amazing food! ... We left in such a food high that we were immediately ensnared in a shoe shine scam that cost me $20 (what's a trip to Nawlins without getting ripped off?)
[back on the train, heading home] In lower Mississippi, a group of 10 kids and 3 adults got on and sat right behind us. One little kid was talking to his cousin (one of the adults) about his sister, NuNu. He said, "She's so fat they nammed her twice."
