The weekend started just fine. We drove over on Friday morning and stopped at Oak Alley plantation. Here's Steve at the slave cabins.

Rex at Oak Alley.

On the balcony at Oak Alley.
 
We ran into some friends from Country Western dancing - Rik and Rob - and spent a lot of time with them.

One of the highlights of the trip: we ran across this friendly albino cat on the street.

Our friend Russell relaxes on the balcony at his room.

The small crowd in front of LaFites during the parade.

Ro was in the room next to ours at the Ramada on Bourbon (where we'll never stay again, and would highly discourage you from staying.)

Our friend Danny was in the room, too.

The ever-present protesters are re-grouping before annoying us again. There were about 10 of them (not quite the 1000 promised by Rev. Storm) (More news...)

This is how bad it was: bars and shops were actually closed at 10 AM.

Steve ponders a closed shop.

And it rained. The three dollar plastic bags to wear were yet another reason not to return to New Orleans.

Rain kept people off the street.

This is at noon on Sunday.

Monday was even more empty.

Closed bar.

Yet another closed shop.

This one was closed, but we did find one open further down the street: 10 AM on Monday.

And, there were thousands of straight people gawking. At what, I don't know, since the parade was painfully small compared to previous years.

Who in their right mind would take their child to an event labeled "Decadence"?

They got there early to get their good seats on the curb.

Many stood around with their arms folded and sour looks on their faces: "Entertain me!!" they seemed to say.

Some walked up and stood right in front of us. Have some manners, yuppies!

Many women were getting sloshed.

Boring. Boring. Boring.