New Years in New Orleans

It's been two days since New Years and I am in a full state of lethargic body dilapidation, braving my first day off in what feels like weeks.  The weekend proved to be explosive for tourism in New Orleans, bringing in record numbers in lieu of many large travel sights naming the town as the New Years destination spot, as well as the Sugar Bowl taking place today. 

All of this was unbeknownst to me until the pre-Mardi Gras initiation stood in a line out the door for three days in a row, open to close.  I work in a small cafe, we almost ran out of everything.  It was so much work, and late nights, and early mornings, and I wish I could say that the tips reflected the amount of high maintenance neediness that was inflicted upon us by these tourists. It is an ever-present struggle between 'can deal with/some are cool' and 'hate'--I cannot bring myself to define this relationship as 'love-hate'.

Needless to say Jackson Square was jam packed on New Years Eve, with bands and festivities beginning in the early evening and riding the party wave through midnight ending with an incredible fifteen minutes fireworks display at midnight over the Mississippi.  We took part in the festivities earlier in the night, but being exhausted, hungry, and already a little drunk, we stopped through Verti Mart and watched the fireworks from our front porch while dining on almost the best fried chicken po' boy in town (if they used traditional french bread instead of the sesame it would most definitely be the best). 

We had a great view of the river's fireworks, as well as the hundreds, literally hundreds, of fireworks going off around our neighborhood.  Our poor dog was so distressed.  The fireworks went on until at least three in the morning when somehow I finally fell asleep amidst the sounds of a Civil War battle surrounding our house.