Hotels in New Orleans! What brought this to mind? As I was saying in my last blog post, I have been standing on the porch of The Columns Hotel, waiting for the Mardi Gras parade. So I begin to think about the variety of hotels available in this magic city.
I am reminded of my description of The Columns Hotel that I included in my novel. Here it is: Built in 1883, and located in the upper Garden District of New Orleans, The Columns Hotel is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It is located on 3811 St. Charles Ave. Here is the telephone number: 504-899-9308. The Columns, one of the primo hotels in New Orleans.
In my novel, The King of Cups, this is how I develop one of the scenes using The Columns Hotel, my favorite of the hotels in New Orleans:
"The hooded crone was in front of the Columns Hotel. ...She told me to stand facing the Hotel," said Marty. Mayor Behrman had replaced many of the gas lights with electric ones...A golden light emanated from the Hotel, casting shadows along St. Charles."
Hotels in New Orleans will include Bed and Breakfast sites as well, but that will have to wait for another blog post. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Mardi gras New Orleans
Mardi gras New Orleans! There is nothing like it.
I am standing on the expansive porch of the Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans waiting for the parade and I reflect on Mardi gras parades of the past. I am reminded of the Mardi gras parade from my novel, The King of Cups: "Masked captains on horseback, dressed as knights and holding cups...kings and queens, withches and angels alike...heads of beasts; demi-fishes, snake's heads with human bodies,and human bodies with arms of apes."
There is nothing like this in America. Other cities have tried to recreate the celebration of Mardi gras and they have met with failure. Why?
The roots of Mardi gras are a mixture of Catholicism and paganism, a mix of cultures so varied as Spain, France, Germany, Port au Prince, Nova Scotia. This accounts for the energy and the stability of Mardi gras New Orleans.
No amount of police control can duplicate the oder created from natural cultural limits that is built into the fabric of New Oreans.
It is all due to the underlying spirit of Mardi gras New Orleans. Nothing like it.
I am standing on the expansive porch of the Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans waiting for the parade and I reflect on Mardi gras parades of the past. I am reminded of the Mardi gras parade from my novel, The King of Cups: "Masked captains on horseback, dressed as knights and holding cups...kings and queens, withches and angels alike...heads of beasts; demi-fishes, snake's heads with human bodies,and human bodies with arms of apes."
There is nothing like this in America. Other cities have tried to recreate the celebration of Mardi gras and they have met with failure. Why?
The roots of Mardi gras are a mixture of Catholicism and paganism, a mix of cultures so varied as Spain, France, Germany, Port au Prince, Nova Scotia. This accounts for the energy and the stability of Mardi gras New Orleans.
No amount of police control can duplicate the oder created from natural cultural limits that is built into the fabric of New Oreans.
It is all due to the underlying spirit of Mardi gras New Orleans. Nothing like it.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
New Orleans Voodoo Spirits
"Bring me back a voodoo doll!"
How many times have you heard this request? You are off to New Orleans and your friend asks for a Voodoo doll. Why? I assume it is because Voodoo has been an integral part of New Orleans since early Haitian influence. Most folks expect the kind of doll one can stick with pins. The doll becomes a replica of an enemy. As I wander through commercial Voodoo stores, I note most of the dolls are individualized as replicas of Loas.
New Orleans Voodoo Spirits
New Orleans Voodoo Spirits are intermediate spirits. They represent good fortune in love, money, health, adventures of epic proportions. Priestess Miriam told me all about them. When I was writing my novel, The King of Cups, I spent a lot of time at The Voodoo Spiritual Temple on Rampart Street. I recall the temple dsplayed a lavishly decorated altar room. It was used for tours, meditation, readings, rituals and ceremonies.
Jolie Branch
Prior to Katrina, The Historic New Orleans Voodoo Museum was a favorite of mine. The Museum housed family pictures of Marie Laveau. It was the home of Jolie Branch, a ten foot seventy pound boa constrictor--a participant in many voodoo rituals. Unfortunately, a few years ago, Jolie died in child birth.
Goat Sacrifice
Sacrificing goats is a common practice in Voodoo rituals. The goats are sacrificed as food for the Loas. In my novel, The King of Cups, I describe a Voodoo Baptism in which chickens and a goat are sacrificed. "The Mambo adorned the goat's horns with colored ribbons and anointed its hoovs with pungent oils. Using the blood from the chickens, she drew a cross on the goat's head... The Doctor, addressing the worshipers, told them that the goat would cross into the spirit world and that no harm would come to it; its soul would live forever.
The Divine Horsemen
Check out the movie, Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti which captures ritual songs offerings and dances. It shows worshipers as they go into trance and become posssed by the Loas.
Happy journey through New Orleans Voodoo Spirits.
How many times have you heard this request? You are off to New Orleans and your friend asks for a Voodoo doll. Why? I assume it is because Voodoo has been an integral part of New Orleans since early Haitian influence. Most folks expect the kind of doll one can stick with pins. The doll becomes a replica of an enemy. As I wander through commercial Voodoo stores, I note most of the dolls are individualized as replicas of Loas.
New Orleans Voodoo Spirits
New Orleans Voodoo Spirits are intermediate spirits. They represent good fortune in love, money, health, adventures of epic proportions. Priestess Miriam told me all about them. When I was writing my novel, The King of Cups, I spent a lot of time at The Voodoo Spiritual Temple on Rampart Street. I recall the temple dsplayed a lavishly decorated altar room. It was used for tours, meditation, readings, rituals and ceremonies.
Jolie Branch
Prior to Katrina, The Historic New Orleans Voodoo Museum was a favorite of mine. The Museum housed family pictures of Marie Laveau. It was the home of Jolie Branch, a ten foot seventy pound boa constrictor--a participant in many voodoo rituals. Unfortunately, a few years ago, Jolie died in child birth.
Goat Sacrifice
Sacrificing goats is a common practice in Voodoo rituals. The goats are sacrificed as food for the Loas. In my novel, The King of Cups, I describe a Voodoo Baptism in which chickens and a goat are sacrificed. "The Mambo adorned the goat's horns with colored ribbons and anointed its hoovs with pungent oils. Using the blood from the chickens, she drew a cross on the goat's head... The Doctor, addressing the worshipers, told them that the goat would cross into the spirit world and that no harm would come to it; its soul would live forever.
The Divine Horsemen
Check out the movie, Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti which captures ritual songs offerings and dances. It shows worshipers as they go into trance and become posssed by the Loas.
Happy journey through New Orleans Voodoo Spirits.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Huey P. Long
OK, I’m driving across the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans and I begin to reflect that this bridge carries a two-track railroad line over the Mississippi River. The bridge is only nine feet wide and has no shoulders. Holy Cow! How can one possibly navigate this space, particularly when one is sharing space with a train thundering across the Mississippi River on the same platform? How does one cope?
Become an ostrich.
I have a friend who vows never to drive across the Huey P. She promptly puts her head down and hides her eyes (like a child hiding from the scary parts of a movie), awaiting her husband’s announcement that all is well. They have crossed the bridge and she can now raise her head and open her eyes. Others refuse to ever hazard a trip across the Huey P.
Fantasize the Worst Case Scenarios
Crash! A blowout careens a car into another and the train breaks loose from its track creating havoc. The bridge caves in. The train and autos tumble into the river below. As I drop toward the water, I am wondering if my windows should be open or closed. Won’t all the water short out the electrical system as I sink? Should I have a hammer hanging from my visor …a hammer to break the windows if I find myself trapped under water? And if I am forced to break the windows, how do I get through the window without cutting an artery?
The Good News
The Huey P. Long Bridge is being modified to three lanes that are 11 feet wide. Also, the negative fantasy may be just that ….a fantasy. After all, the Huey P. survived Katrina.
Become an ostrich.
I have a friend who vows never to drive across the Huey P. She promptly puts her head down and hides her eyes (like a child hiding from the scary parts of a movie), awaiting her husband’s announcement that all is well. They have crossed the bridge and she can now raise her head and open her eyes. Others refuse to ever hazard a trip across the Huey P.
Fantasize the Worst Case Scenarios
Crash! A blowout careens a car into another and the train breaks loose from its track creating havoc. The bridge caves in. The train and autos tumble into the river below. As I drop toward the water, I am wondering if my windows should be open or closed. Won’t all the water short out the electrical system as I sink? Should I have a hammer hanging from my visor …a hammer to break the windows if I find myself trapped under water? And if I am forced to break the windows, how do I get through the window without cutting an artery?
The Good News
The Huey P. Long Bridge is being modified to three lanes that are 11 feet wide. Also, the negative fantasy may be just that ….a fantasy. After all, the Huey P. survived Katrina.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Driving in New Orleans
Welcome to Driving in New Orleans
I live in Metairie, right off of Veterans Blvd. and I-10 freeway, so in the mornings, four days a week, I hop on I-10 and head toward the West Bank of New Orleans. That's where Holy Cross College is located. It is where I teach. If you take this route around 7:30 a.m. you will encounter a bottle neck as you exit Veterans.
Be Ready to Change Lanes.
You had best move toward the left as you enter I-10 If you don't you are going to find yourself having to exit prematurely. Once you move over to the left for two lanes, you will have smooth sailing until you approach the The Crescent City Connection. Here you will want to get into the far right lane.
Don't Use Turn Signals
You will now put on your Mario Andretti hat and look for an opening to your right. Forget about turn signals. If you use them, you will only cause the driver to your rear to speed up. I remember a saying from bygone days: Left side, Right side; Right side, suicide. Not here. Here is a free for all, a constant game of chicken.
Driving Styles
I begin to think about driving styles in different cities. I grew up in the south, near New Orleans and I always said you had to watch the traffic more than the lights, but when I moved to Michigan I was amazed to see drivers actually follow the road rules. In Santa Barbara California I noted that they were overly polite. Traffic would be held up because everyone was attempting to yield to the other driver.
Inspect Yourself
As you arrive at your destination, inspect your car if not yourself. After all, you will want to see if both are still intact. I don't know about you, but I get rear ended a lot in New Orleans. Par for the course.
I live in Metairie, right off of Veterans Blvd. and I-10 freeway, so in the mornings, four days a week, I hop on I-10 and head toward the West Bank of New Orleans. That's where Holy Cross College is located. It is where I teach. If you take this route around 7:30 a.m. you will encounter a bottle neck as you exit Veterans.
Be Ready to Change Lanes.
You had best move toward the left as you enter I-10 If you don't you are going to find yourself having to exit prematurely. Once you move over to the left for two lanes, you will have smooth sailing until you approach the The Crescent City Connection. Here you will want to get into the far right lane.
Don't Use Turn Signals
You will now put on your Mario Andretti hat and look for an opening to your right. Forget about turn signals. If you use them, you will only cause the driver to your rear to speed up. I remember a saying from bygone days: Left side, Right side; Right side, suicide. Not here. Here is a free for all, a constant game of chicken.
Driving Styles
I begin to think about driving styles in different cities. I grew up in the south, near New Orleans and I always said you had to watch the traffic more than the lights, but when I moved to Michigan I was amazed to see drivers actually follow the road rules. In Santa Barbara California I noted that they were overly polite. Traffic would be held up because everyone was attempting to yield to the other driver.
Inspect Yourself
As you arrive at your destination, inspect your car if not yourself. After all, you will want to see if both are still intact. I don't know about you, but I get rear ended a lot in New Orleans. Par for the course.
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