03032014-41
Nowhere else have I seen so many religious protesters — I mean, I’ve seen groups this size at many Pride events, but never so many separate such groups scattered around one event. The vibe at Mardi Gras is a rather strange one, I must say: it’s ostensibly a religious observance — the local ABC affiliate during the Oscars kept showing clips of revelers with the slogan GOD BLESS LOUISIANA — and yet it’s famous for its unbridled debauchery. And yet again, I didn’t even see that much debauchery! I did kind of get the sense that there may have been recent efforts to make the whole thing to some degree more wholesome, although when it comes to the drinking, I’d say that was met with limited success. I did see more than one person bend over in the street, retching with evident intent to vomit (which, thankfully, did not happen) -- people would gather round to watch. Where else in the world do you find both Jesus freaks and vomit as entertainment on the same street?
We did also see, at one point, two separate groups walking single file down the sidewalks on either side of the crowded Bourbon Street, singing hymns.
03032014-41
Nowhere else have I seen so many religious protesters — I mean, I’ve seen groups this size at many Pride events, but never so many separate such groups scattered around one event. The vibe at Mardi Gras is a rather strange one, I must say: it’s ostensibly a religious observance — the local ABC affiliate during the Oscars kept showing clips of revelers with the slogan GOD BLESS LOUISIANA — and yet it’s famous for its unbridled debauchery. And yet again, I didn’t even see that much debauchery! I did kind of get the sense that there may have been recent efforts to make the whole thing to some degree more wholesome, although when it comes to the drinking, I’d say that was met with limited success. I did see more than one person bend over in the street, retching with evident intent to vomit (which, thankfully, did not happen) -- people would gather round to watch. Where else in the world do you find both Jesus freaks and vomit as entertainment on the same street?
We did also see, at one point, two separate groups walking single file down the sidewalks on either side of the crowded Bourbon Street, singing hymns.