I had heard so much about the festival of beads and moon pies that when offered the opportunity to travel to Mardi Gras I had to seize it. Interestingly enough, New Orleans wasn’t on my mind. I was heading to Mobile, Alabama.

Note: It has been argued that the first Mardi Gras festival in the U.S. was held in Mobile, Alabama before gaining world-wide notoriety in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Grey Hound bus trip from Atlanta, Georgia was nine hours. I made this journey at night so there wasn’t anything interesting to see on the way.

Mobile seemed dark and deserted at first, but the next day I was able to get out and mingle with the locals. I drove to the local flea market where I sampled hot sausages and roasted corn with “special cajun seasoning”. Delish!

The Mardi Gras parade on “Fat Tuesday” was lots of fun. There were Revellers cavorting in the streets wearing brightly painted costumes as floats made their way down the boulevard dispensing candy, beaded necklaces, and of course, moon pies to the crowd. At some point during the festivities, I found myself making mental references to the “West Indian Day” parade in Brooklyn, New York (I guess it was the fusion of cultures and melange of colors). The music was an interesting and upbeat mixture of rhythm & blues, hip-hop and jazz which definitely took some getting used to.

Following the parade, I drove to the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi, Mississippi which is seemingly where everyone heads for the after party. Sad to say I didn’t win it big, but I had a hell of a time partying with other fun-seekers who had also traveled from near and far to experience one of the most commercial festivals in the country.

The very next day I was back on a bus to Atlanta.

Fun Times!

~M~

It’s a sunny but chilly afternoon, and I am packed and ready to go. It would soon be discoverd that where I was headed was at least 25 degrees colder than New York City. I was going to New Hampshire!

The first stop on my scenic road-trip was Dunkin Donuts in northern Massachusetts. The air was crisp and so were the leaves that had fallen to the ground in observance of autumn.

Another two hours heading north, and I’m having dinner in New England at a restaurant called the Weather Vane (if you are ever that far north and crave fresh seafood, stop by and let me know what you think).

To get to my cabin-style bungalow I had to ascend a frosty and somewhat desolate mountain. Of course, you know when driving in those regions you must be careful of the moose and other animals that often cross the street without warning. Did you know that it is highly likely that you and your vehicle could be crushed if you hit a moose at fair speed? Scary! My lodging was spacious yet toasty with a fully functional kitchen and fireplace. There was also a deck out back which offered picturesque views of a placid lake.

During my weekend stay, I saw the snow-topped Mt. Washington, visited the Weather Museum, perused the cultured gift shops, spotted a fox, ate great burgers at Horse Feathers, and had the most delicious pumpkin pancake breakfast at Glen Junction.

Note: The pumpkin pancakes (which are a local favorite) are made from scratch, so are therefore only available during the fall season.

I must say that the locals were particularly friendly and easy going with a strong appreciation for life, however the next time I visit the “live free or die” state, it will be during the warmer months when I can truly take advantage of the myriad outdoor activities the town has to offer.

~M~