New Orleans for Mardi Gras was so fun! We mostly explored Bourbon Street, but also did a lot of eating and a city tour.
The decoration for Mardi Gras was crazy. Everyone went all out on their homes and their outfits. They have many different types of parades- ranging from the celebration of wine to the celebration of dogs where dogs would dress up and walk through the parade. We went to a few of the bigger ones, where they gave away everything- cups, fake tomahawks, beads, coins, teddy bears, etc... you get the point.
Recommendations for food:
Acme Oyster House (fresh and chargrilled oysters), Cafe Beignet and Cafe Du Monde for beignets, Carousal Bar for drinks, Cochon (best oysters, ham hock, and alligator steak) and Commander's Palace for a nice dinner, and Stanley's for an amazing brunch!
We also did a cemetery tour which was super unique; our guide told us about the history of the cemetery and why people are buried in family tombstones. Because the ground is so saturated and wet, a regular coffin would sooner or later end up in the Mississippi River,and bodies would go missing. Because of that, people started building these tombs instead- lined with concrete and brick underground and a family tomb on top. The body would be put into the tomb on a shelf and would decompose for a year and a day (it's super hot so bodies decompose within a year, and an additional day for respect), and after it is decomposed, the remains would be dropped to the bottom with the rest of the family members. Super different from the traditional burial!
New Orleans has a really rich history and amazing views, and I was so glad I got to visit NOLA with friends!
