French Quarter

this morning I’m waking up in the French Quarter after being plucked from the swamps by a flame-haired singer and her spiritual advisor.

back up.

two nights ago I found myself at a campground/state park in the swamps of Louisiana. apparently - according to the ranger, the singer, the locals I’ve met since - I was in the swamp swamps. and apparently, the ranger used to be a tug boat captain and would jump from his boat down onto gators in the water below, wrestle them up onto his boat, slit their throat and have gator for dinner (my reaction: “you’re INSANE”). as usual, I had the campground pretty much to myself, except for the armadillos that were to this campground as rats are to NYC. at least one didn’t jump on me and bite me from behind.

I’m in Cajun country so obviously I ask nose around and get a recommendation for the best nearby Cajun food joint and 23 miles up the road later I pull into Pat’s. a couple pulls up at the same time and then, after gorging on fried God knows what, we happen to leave at the same time
and of course get chatting because that’s what everyone does in parking lots outside of the tri-state area.

they’re heading to New Orleans and invite me to pop by when I go through. so the next day I find myself at Royal Street Deli in the French Quarter where Ruby James, the flame-haired singer, works for her lovely friend Devon. and then I re-met Guy, Ruby’s spiritual advisor (that’s the best title I can think of for it) and I ended up spending the day and the night with this crew and their extended crew.

for dinner we met up with a notorious local named Amzie and, in our dinner party of five, two of the five were at Woodstock. So cool.

the Deli (it’s not really a deli, more its the only place in the Quarter that you can get a real salad and, I have to add, Devon makes a killer tomato soup) is such an eclectic place filled with all kinds of local characters. they wander in and out all day and hang out and chatter. if you’re ever in New Orleans skip the tourist traps for at least one meal and mosy over there. oh, she’s going to change the name to Love Food soon - either way, on the corner of St. Ann’s and Royal.

lots of laughing, lots of conversation, lots of random fun and awesomeness. I love New Orleans.