[UPDATED] Superbowl Mambo!

For all those that still do not know: New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. In NOLA's words: "AMEN, after 43 years, our prayers are answered!"

The whole city which is normally located some feets below sea level has elevated to some feets above and people are going completely crazy about the Saints one week before Mardi Gras. As there is only one person not going crazy around here (Charly), I decided one more time in my life to follow the crowd and tried to freak out as hard as possible. It seems to be impossible to reach the average level of craziness here but at least everything is on the way.

Theoretically the Great Mardi Gras Parades will take place next weekend, in fact the Greatest Parade took place yesterday: The (new) Saints Parade! We started from Louisiana Superdome with Quarterback Drew Brees on the top of the first parade car followed not only by the National Guard but by nearly every Marching Band, all the leading cars of Mardi Gras Parades and obviously every group or organization that managed to have good reasons to be allowed to march on that Parade. Tulanians and the Tulane Marching Band were right in front of a New Orleans Fire Fighters car in the first Quarter of the Parade. We started at 5 and had the route finished at 9:30. OK, there's virtually no part of my body that didn't hurt from playin', dancin' and singing and I couldn't speak or hear anything afterwards but that was a new definition of a New Orleans Parade. Even bandleader Barry was kind of ecstatic when we finally reached our busses. The only picture I have for now was taken in the bandroom some minutes before departure but we will get some more after Mardi Gras. By the way: Tulane President Cowen cancelled every event including courses on Tuesday just to allow all Tulane students and staff to attend that parade.
UPDATE 1: First impressions of the Saints Parade online!
UPDATE 2: + some pictures of the very first Parade warmup in Covington, LA

 

Over all that Saints, Tulane and Mardi Gras News I shouldn't forget to to give extensive information about Tulane studies and apartment life: It is still a massive load of work and we're going to repair the glasses Charly broke up today.

praise the Saints
Rödel

PS: Today I got in contact with a great quartett playin' fine Dixie. The cornet player turned out to be Duke Heitger and he will play in Jazzland Vienna from February 16 to 20. Don't miss that event! And by the way, maybe you'll get some TUMB fan stuff straight from New Orleans on February 16.