After a leisurely start to the day we went to get another Po'boy each and headed uptown to the only bar we knew would show the rugby. Finn McCools is a typical American take on an Irish bar - the Guiness is already poured and is super-chilled and it is quite dark inside... Outside there was a charity head shaving going on which Clare had to keep Rich from partaking in.
Clare even wore green to try to ingratiate herself with the Irish.
First the Ireland v Scotland match - then for the real deal. We had prime seats and some other English folk to celebrate or commiserate with. Luckily for Clare it was the former (Rich has been known to sulk for days following a loss...).
After that we were off for some Gumbo (thanks Stacey and Paul!) and some other creole "delicacies" - rice and beans and jambalaya (Clare's version tastes better...) but we also had the famous New Orleans drink - the hurricane - and the less famous New Orleans drink - the Irish coffee - to keep us happy.
There were maids from "Italy":
Dancers:
Floats with men throwing beads (and others walking along handing out roses):
And lots of music. Clare got lots of shizzle from the old men:
Then off on a ghost tour of New Orleans (thanks Carrie and Becky!) - it was great, creepy and Rich is convinced he photographed a ghost. Clare is convinced it is a lamp.
Someone on the tour did take a photo of a haunted house and there was a weird face in the window, so who knows... We just got a photo of a shadow...
Then off to Apple Barrel to listen to some jazz. The guy was singing covers of Sam Smith, so after one we headed into the the Spotted Cat - which was packed but Clare got a stamp which made her happy...
The bands were great but after an hour we decided to find a bar with seating... yep, we are old.
Went to the great Maringy bar, where two good experimental jazz bands were on for the rest of the night.
Sazeracs, martinis, moonshine and fireball whiskey were also great in this bar, a fitting way to sign off our time on Frenchmen Street!
