Flags and a half-moon in the blue sky...
The dead heat hits me while dancing to Geno Delafose, at the Fais Do Do Stage here at the 40th Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, I had to go and listen to something else to cool off. So I tackle my way over to the Acura Stage again, where thousands of people listening to Bonnie Raitt, I get a little squint of her on the big screen, and I was not shocked like with Joe Cocker last week. Bonnie still looks the same, flaming red hair with a bushel of gray in the front, what did she run out of hair-dye??? Or is it the look she is after??? Anyway it is great to hear her live. But it is the wrong place to cool off.
Hot dancing to Geno Delafose at the Fais Do Do Stage...
Diana & Jeffry, from Atlanta, GA, resting while Bonnie Raitt is on full blast...
I give it another try to cool off at at a different stage. But before that I need to eat something, and I know exactly what, a Cochon de Lait PoBoy, the best deal at the Jazz Fest. A piece of french-bread, cut open and filled with cole-slaw, that is enriched with plenty of horseradish, then topped with, a slow roasted to perfection piglet, the meat so tender and juicy, a flavor explosion on the first bite, a joy all the way through for 7 bucks... I could eat 2 or 3 with no problem other than gaining more pounds.
The only food-booth at the Jazz Fest serving Cochon de Lait PoBoys...
Now that I'm feeling satisfied food-wise I walk over to the Gospel Tent where the mist-sprayer keep the temperatures at bay and listen a bit to VaShawn Mitchell and friends. It is always a joy to listen in for a while. But only for a while, then I feel the religious part kick'n in and then its time to move on. How about some more Mardi Gras Indians, with their amazing costumes, then the rhythm and the dancing, just fabulous.
The 101 Runners, Mardi Gras Indians...
The I had to hurry to get to hear and see Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band in the WWOZ Jazz Tent and finish with the Iguanas back at the Fais Do Do Stage. While the Iguanas where playing, I was just listening and moving to their tunes, when I sighted a face I have not seen at the Fest yet, Amy Thigpen, a girlfriend of Sabine, was dancing there with no-one less than Lonnie, which I haven't seen either today. I go over and join them, more familiar faces apeared, the dancing was wild, the feet dirty, the body tired, the mind lusty and with that another day at the famous Jazz Fest was coming to an end.
The Iguanas at the Fais Do Do Stage, with more surprises...
On the way out I pass the the Fruit-men one more time, he usually drives through the city streets with this truck, promoting his produce through a megaphone and adds color to scene...
Once I battle my way back to the bike-parking, I ride cross-town to meet up with Jeffrey & Diane Evans from Atlanta GA, at the famouse house of oysters, Casamento, on Magazine Street near Napoleon Street. Since I don't know the lay of the roads of New Orleans too well, I ride the ways I know, it ends up to be quit a detour to get there, but I make it and are now ready to eat twice as much!!!
Casamento's... famous place for Oysters...
A long line greets me when I get through the door, but I know better, I walk straight past all them folks waiting to get some of those delicious oysters, to the back-room. There is a table with an empty seat waiting for me. Jeffery, Diana and Moto are already having a cold one in their hands. Shortly after I joined them the first round of big juicy Gulf-Oysters arrive, laying there in their own juice freshly shucked in the bottom shell, waiting to be devoured by us.
Then Sara and Lee joined in, we gather two more chairs that are stacked against the wall. The waitress is patiently taking more orders, as we all try to figure out how many more Abita's, and what kind, we want and how many more dozen of oysters. The place is a trip, I love it. We all went there a year ago when Christoph and Ina toured the South with me. That is when the best thing happen to me. I was waiting in line with the others, when I made a comment to the guy shucking the oysters, he grabs them out of an old-fashion ice-box, kind of like a huge funnel where you dump the hole oysters into from the top, the box is cooled by ice, on the bottom is a access hole where the shucker reaches in with a metal-rod that is bend in front and bingo more oysters appear. "Those are some good look'n oysters" I said, and he offered me to have one, "but of corse, I'd love one". He then orders me to say way back there against the other counter, a distance of about 15 feet, I watch him shock an oyster, then he asks me if I'm ready, he flips the oyster out of the shell into the air and I catch it with my mouth, kind of like in the Zoo with the Lions when the keeper troughs the meat high-up in the air and these cats catch-it. Well I tell you, a few people watched it and a big applause followed, the guy grabs the tip-bucked and makes his rounds. As for me, that was the best oyster I ever had, an airborne one!
Unfortunately it did not happen this time, but still I went on checking on the guy and there he is, shucking hundreds of oysters, day in day out.
Master Shucker at work, with a smile as big as...
Now back at the table, trying to figure out what to eat for dinner, after all the oysters are just an appetizer. I wanted the Fried Seafood Platter, but I know that this is way too much for me, I'll eat the whole damn plate, feel way to stuffed afterwards, and be regretting it. Instead I order a half Fried Shrimp and half Fried oysters dinner, that comes with french fries and a pice of bread. To our surprise Sabine walks in and joins us I know this is not her favorite place, but I told her that we all meet here after Jazz Fest.
The party goes on, this time with booze and food...
Me and Oysters... this time from the Gulf...
A happy family affair...
After the feast is over, I'm completely done, riding my bike back to Karen's will be interesting, again, not sure of what is the best and also safe way to get back to Metairie, but I manage to find it and after a cold shower fall to bed without even reading a line in my new book...
Almost back at Karen's. Riding on Metairie Road...
The night is way too short and next thing is I'm back in the kitchen heating-up some water to make some tea for the road, packing some of my things and head out the door. It's just a few minutes after six, I'm heading to Interstate 10 and drive west for 130 miles.
Cafe des Amis in Breaux Bridge, another beautiful day in Louisiana...
After all it is Saturday morning, like every Saturday morning, Cafe des Amis is hosting the Zydeco Breakfast. I did not even check who is paying, because it does not matter anyway, important is that I'm there. As I go through the door I almost get greeted by Corey Ledet as he is setting-up to play soon. Then I look around and I recognize so many more faces, it is amazing how that works. I am hungry like there is no tomorrow and so I sign-up right away for a seat. That way I get to have some food rather sooner than later, the place is already packed full at the tables. Jo, a dancer from the Bay Area comes to me and invites me to share the table with her. She s another one I run into yesterday at the Jazz Fest, and now here again. Of corse I see Leon, Thommy and the ever present CJ, I can't help it but be happy!!!
The music is good, the people are fun, and the dancing is great...
A new Annelise I danced with, and two ladies crazy enough to come for this all the way from England...
I dance, I order the food, I dance, I eat, I dance, more to drink, more to dance. KAren get there too, Lonnie made it back, locals out of towners and more locals. Jo form Eagles Hall in Alameda, and so many people I know.
But like all good things, this too comes to an end and Karen, Lonnie and I make our way ofer to the local Cafe. Not without detouring via looking into Ginger Kelly's little store, she is closed today because she is at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans, another stop at the world's famous Cajun Microwave Store, you have to see to believe and understand the obsession Cajuns have with food, here is just one sample, watch the movie clips on the link I provided for the Microwaves... please no drooling over the keyboard please!!!
Finally we make it to the coffee place...
It is hot today, the Crawfish Festival in town is already in full swing of things, but for us Zyde-hoes is nothing on yet, so Karen Lonnie and I take each a car and drive to Lafayette where I am planing to spend the night at the local campground in the Acadiana Park. We're all in need for a nap, I'm up since 5 this morning and can't stand another minute. I set-up my tent, go back to the office and pay 13 bucks for tonight's home... and lay myself down onto the bench for a nap, just to wake-up at 3 for further actions...
We all lost our Momentum during the nap time...
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