Warming Up

Time to head over to Lafayette for the Mardi Gras parade but first we had to make a stop at the local drive-up bar. That's right--you drive up to the window and order your drink which is delivered sealed but with a straw. Apparently as long as you leave some paper on the straw you are not driving with an open container. Best of all, the place is incredibly cheap. Here we go!

In Lafayette we stopped to inspect the third largest live oak tree in the United States. It is massive; the green plants on its branches are called resurrection ferns. During dry periods (do they have those here?) they shrivel up into little brown vestiges of their original shape, but when it rains again they come back to life and flourish. Since it had been raining heavily in the weeks preceding our visit, they were extremely green and thick on all the beautiful big live oaks in the area. On this behemoth they seemed to really have a life of their own.

In late April Lafayette hosts an international music festival somewhat similar to ACL but it is free. I really would like to attend this event--maybe next year. It sounds like another heck of an excuse for a party!

We stopped for libations and food to fortify ourselves for the parade. Here you can have alcohol on the streets--anytime--so fill up those styrofoam cups and let's go!