March 17 – 2018 New Orleans, Louisiana


Today, Saturday, we moved from Gaultier, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana.
Only 120 miles (ca. 200 km), and we could unhook the camper for the first time since Ft. Lauderdale.
We are staying at a nice state park only 7 miles (ca. 11 km) from downtown New Orleans.
We got here so early that we had time to do something in the afternoon.
We don’t now a lot about New Orleans at this point, so we are excited to find out.
We associate it with New Orleans Jazz, creoles, a French speaking part of the US, Cajun food,
New Orleans Saints (amerikansk fodbold), The French lily (den franske lilje) and the hurricane Katrina.


But today it was not about the above, but all about the Irish.
Today, March 17th is, St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish National Holiday.
St. Patrick, a catholic bishop, is the patron saint (skytshelgen) of Ireland.
He died on March 17th year 461.
Without knowing for sure, I would guess this national holiday is the one celebrated the most all over the world. Also in New Orleans. There is a big group of Irish descendants (efterkommere) in New Orleans.
Around the time of the potato famin in Ireland, a lot of ships needed ballast after unloading in Liverpool, England.
A lot of them went to Ireland and picked up people who were desperate to get out, even as human ballast!
A lot of these ships went straight to New Orleans for a new load of cargo.


We went downtown New Orleans where there was a big St. Patrick’s Day parade.
It was crazy!! The parade followed a 3 mile (5 km) long route. The route was packed on both sides of the street, and in the street. Seems like everybody is Irish today!! Us too; after all the Irish got their red hair from the Vikings! 😊
It’s hard to guess, but here must have been near 100.000 people there.
Lots of vehicles in the parade and LOTS of green! It was real fun.

Wrtiten by JJ
 
 
 
 



Part of the Black Irish community in New Orleans 😊
 
Remember the "Where's Wally" (Find Holger) books? This picture is - Find Mary


This officer had a gun AND a cigar

 
 
 

They threw all kinds of things from the parade vehicles -
candy, beads, cabbages! Here they are throwing beads (perler)
 
 

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