Fat Tuesday and the Zulu Parade (part 1)

We awoke for Fat Tuesday very early, the Zulu parade starts at 8AM and Ray wanted to watch from Central City, the African American neighborhood where the parade begins. Kate was feeling a bit under the weather and wasn’t sure if she was gonna make it but she was a real trouper and we had an amazing time.

 Elroy James Zulu King 2012 (day job: attorney)

Kate and the King the day before!

Ray's close friend Alice marching in her first Zulu parade

Ray and Alice

The Zulu Queen (day job: oncologist)

Cool Mask

Another cool mask: this girl was having too much fun watching the festivities

After the king and queen we saw float after float with crazy stuff like this and folks throwing beads and other stuff off the back. Painted Coconuts are a coveted Zulu "throw"

Zulu Club Floats 

Legendary early jazz player Kid Ory had lived right across the street from where we were hanging out!

I love this typical New Orleans house right across the street from where we watched the parade.

Miss Watson and Ray 

After an hour or so we jumped in the car and drove to the Zulu club where the parade winds down but on the way to the car we passed our first round of Mardi Gras Indians in their amazing costumes.

Their costumes are totally made by hand 

Ray and his very close friend Bill a few blocks from the Zulu Club

Alice Chillin' after her 6 + mile trek 

To be continued!!