3 PM: Jazzing to Geno...

Once again it is impossible to wake-up after this good nap I just had, wish I could remember the dreams, since the dreams in a afternoon nap are more vivid. I better hurry though because I have to go and get drinks for tonight's dinner at Moto. I bike quickly over to Rouses, buy one six-pack of Abita Restoration and a six-pack of Abita Jockamo and for the wine-drinkers a large bottle of Cavit's Pinot Gridio , I think that should do for a while. I pack it into my back-pack and buzz back to Karen's to unload, leave the heavy stuff to the girls and then bike over to Moto's in the University District. Another good ride along busy streets here in New Orleans. I got there via Airline, the overpass to South Carrollton Ave., let onto Fontainbleau, right to Broadway then zig-zag over to Pine street. Not no sweat at all, I arrived soaking wet, but had a fresh shirt and my flip-flops with me. Moto greeted me by sitting on her front-porch, Karen and Sabine haven't arrived yet. I'm ready to party.

Dinner party at Moto's with, Karen, Sabine, Jeffrey & Diana from Atlanta, GA, Sarah & Lee, in the backyard...

Moto prepared a large plate of Antipasti for appetizers, spaghetti with a meat-sauce and a salad. Enough to feed an army, but she was worried all the way to the end that it might not be enough for all of us. Al and Joann could not make it and later a client of hers showed up too. It was grand, what else can I say. In the end I was way too stuffed to sit my fat ass onto the bike and ride back to Karen's. Instead I stuffed the bike in the back of Karen's car and we went home that way. Ready for another good night sleep...

In the morning I have a bunch of things I want to get done before I hop back onto the bike and go to the Jazz Fest one more time. Writing this blog, fixing pictures, making Chai Tea, eating breakfast, uploading pictures, answering e-mail and then I had to force myself to leave. I want to be at the Fais Do Do Stage by 12:20 to dance to Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band. But first, lets send some birthday wishes to my friend Abbot Cutler in Western-Massachusetts, I'll have a drink on you later in the day!
This is a great way to get to the Jazz Fest, by bike, there is a special area for bike-parking right next to one of the entrances, racks are set-up and guards are on duty. Again, I'm soaking wet, I change from bike-shirt and shoes to a nice shirt and flip-flops and dive into the already busy Fair-Grounds. Music coming from every direction and the smell of food is making me hungry again. Good thing is that I ate a egg-sandwich before I left Karen's.

Bike-parking and the Grand Entrance of Jazz Fest...

Then Keith Frank with his Soileau Zydeco Band, with a few familiar faces...

It's gonna be another hot day, I can feel it. Better drink lots of water and conserve my energy so I last all day. I stroll along the crafts-fair booths and come across Ginger Kelly. She is a glass-blower, has a store in Breaux Bridge, LA, right around the corner form the famous Cafe des Amis. Last year during Laborday weekend, when I was there and Hurricane Gustav was about to ravage through this area, I bought a wedding-present from her for Christoph and Ina's wedding, she packed it up and mailed it to Switzerland and all went well.

Ginger Kelly at her booth at the Jazz Fest...

The variety of the different genres is amazing, like years before I went to see the South African Crocodile Gumboot Dancers, another jaw-dropping sight to see them perform this call and respond dance and singing.

Crocodile Gumboot Dancers from Durban, South Africa...