This is not to 'rain on anybody's parade'. But if you head off looking for these sights at the real Mardi Gras, you might be disappointed - although you could probably head to the Latin Quarter and see scenes like these during that time (and also at other times of year).
Formerly, Southern Decadence, billed as the Gay 'Mardi Gras', and held at Labor Day (first weekend in Sept) was truly an unbelievably wild street event. To many outside the New Orleans area, the term 'Mardi Gras' has become synonymous with the flagrant street flashing breast by women and cock & balls (or butts) by men who are drunk and roaming Bourbon Street in the French Quarter after the Mardi Gras parades have finished elsewhere across the city, seeking to be rewarded with a string of shiny beads for exposing their privates or genitals.
Although fun and wild, and as such, it allows both the bead-giver and all of the casual bystanders too, a glimpse (or even more) of cute guys' dicks or their half-naked bodies (lower half - as they let their jeans and boxers drop), it is not really what Mardi Gras is. However, the myth persists. It's more likely to be an impromptu street party that spontaneously occurs during Spring Break or other holiday weekends in the old Quartier in downtown New Orleans. Tens of thousands of party-seeking college-age young people descend on the French Quarter on New Orleans during Spring Break, and "boys gone wild' is the name of the game.
"In part due to the way the news media has focused on the activities of those who "visit" and go the French Quarter "after" the parades, it now appears that all many think about when they hear the words "Mardi Gras"are activities occurring in the French Quarter; i.e., flashing women (tourists who are drunk or need attention) and crowd surges (a spring break crowd trying to catch a glimpse)! This is not Mardi Gras. It has absolutely nothing to do with the "real" Mardi Gras celebration. Unfortunately, sex makes more news .. so every news camera visiting our beautiful city for Mardi Gras heads for the spring break crowd on Bourbon Street ... and does not give adequate coverage to those who spend thousands of dollars and months of time planning "The Greatest Free Show on Earth!" It is our hope that visitors who have seen Internet sites by tourists to New Orleans showcasing these tourists realize that they are only seeing 1/10 of 1% of what happens during the entire Mardi Gras season ... and hopefully, will soon realize Mardi Gras is not one big spring break for dirty old men, but an enjoyable celebration for families and friends. Locals stay away from the crowded Quarter in the evenings after a parade -- but we wouldn't miss Mardi Gras for the world! Excerpted (with additions) from http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/
---------- The above amateur photos were forwarded message in a group email message from: atitlan on his [ymna] Yahoo group.----------
