These are some thoughts from our New Orleans Adventure; We take journeys some are life changing or you almost get arrested three times before lunch. This was one of those.

While in Mobile that Sunday, had lunch at Morrison’s Café, yes that Morrison’s. The last one left, talk about your step back in time. Took me all the way back to being a kid and going to Pensacola to Morrison’s. It took me back to a time when the top of fine dining was a square piece of cherry jello.  Sundays always included Ambrosia or shrimp in aspic, those were fine china dining. .       

We caught the Amtrak Mardi Gras Special from Mobile AL to New Orleans

Traveling by train is a transcendent adventure. The Mardi Gras Special, hugs the Coast. Fantastic views, smooth, the side to side rhythm. It’s like seeing Americas backyards and peek into people’s lives. Through the windows rolled America in its working clothes — backyards, rusted sheds, children’s bicycles, clotheslines, old shrimp boats, and porch philosophers staring into eternity with a beer in hand. Three hours of seeing America, unvarnished the way it really is.

We took Business class, sodas, snacks included nice seats. The best part on and off first.

 Had 5 hours to do stuff in New Orleans, in steps the whole difference. We met Darius Singleton.  He promised a memorable tour, Darius delivered in bag fulls.

 If you ever saw a 70’s movie: “If it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium” with Ian McShane. It will give you an idea of our whirlwind dive into New Orleans.

First we covered New Orleans in one day. Not possible you say? You didn’t have Darius Singleton for a guide did you? Let me tell you about Darius, One hell of an entrepreneur/salesman. Darius sees a couple of tourists waiting to cross the street. Asks are they visitors, hears an affirmative, jumps out of the Buggy and hands out business cards. See’s you standing on the street, jumps out and hands you a business card. Darius is also one heck of a guide, you will have an adventure and a history lesson all at the same time. Darius also knew escape routes the cops haven’t figured out, a talent that came in handy.

Another thing I as a Cat Herder like about Darius no road rules. Darius is a firm believer it’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission, Wrong way on one way street, oopsie. Traffic jam, sidewalk. Across medians, up on the grass, at the Ninth Ward Memorial at the levee. He was not going to be intimidated by any ol Truck, bus etc.

As a Cat Herder of ADHD Cats, I admired the hell out of Darius.

Took us to the Garden District, homes start at 1.02 million, famous folks live there. John Goodman, Sandra Bullock, Anne Rice, author Vampire Diaries.  But the streets are as bad as any third world countries streets. Maybe to keep the riff-raff at bay. Makes Eglin Parkway seem as smooth as a babies butt. 

Some strange things, at the 9^th Ward memorial, paintings of life in the Ninth before the Katrina flood.  Pictures were on the Levee where the failure accord, flooding the Ninth ward.  There was no graffiti not a bit, everything else was fair game but not there.

We visited Mari Gras World, this cavernous building full of those iconic Mardi Gras Floats. These floats make the Macy’s Thanksgiving Floats designed by Catholic school kids. Some of those Floats would scare the bebeerus out of a drunk Mardi Gras participant. Some Floats they are scary defiantly not suitable for kids or the weak of heart. It was a fun visit.

Lunch as only New Orleans can make.  I told Darius I would buy lunch. Darius thought that was the best thought all day. Takes us to Buffas, been at its Esplanade Ave venue since 1939. Buffas sits at the edge of The Quarter. Buffas is not a touristy spot, strictly local. You can smell the decades of old whisky and cigarette smoke imbedded in the walls. The food simply incredible, I’m given to hyperbole for sure. But the onion rings were simply incredible. I understand the red beans and rice were simply the best. Darius, of course, goes up to the bar and orders a bourbon on the rocks.   "Laissez les bons temps rouler." Darius certainly weaponized it. 

The Postman that came in for his noon highball certainly subscribed to it.  

Darius took us to The Hotel Pontchartrain, very famous for being the location of “Vampire Diary’s” by Anne Rice. It is supposed to be the most haunted hotel in New Orleans. It’s famous for the view from the roof top bar. Now it’s only 11:00 am, bar not open yet. Darius never lets little things like that, slow down the Adventure. Up in the brass 1940’s elevator to the top. Closed, just the cleaning folks up there. Darius open the door and steps out on the porch. Incredible view of New Orleans. Take pictures, guy comes out and says “you can’t be here”. “Oh I’m so sorry we will get out of here right away “.  Darius apologized with such smooth sincerity that for a moment I suspected the fellow might thank us for visiting. So back in the elevator and out the front door to a very bustling New Orleans, still dodging incarceration . 

Took us to City Park, huge place and it has Café Du Monde another version of the famous on Riverwalk. But no lines walk in and get the famous Beignets, no waiting, just good Beignets and coffee. We wind up on The Famous Blue Bridge.  Darius drives right on up through the bollards. Pictures, oops, no vehicles allowed. “Sorry sir my mistake leaving right now”. Beginning to see a pattern emerging here?  

You can’t truly describe the wonderful trip it was. Darius made all the difference he brought the whole city to life as never before.

You cannot truly describe the place because it refuses description. It is music, heat, history, whiskey, tragedy, celebration, and mischief all rolled together like dice on a crooked table. But I can say this much: the city came alive because of Darius Singleton. Without him we would have merely visited New Orleans. With him, we survived an adventure.

If you ever take the train adventure include Darius. I can put you in touch.

Just do not let Darius drive your car.

Thank you to JoeJoe and Sandy for the great photos

“Let the Good Times Roll Baby’