Mobile, AL | New Orleans, LA | Austin, TX | Las Vegas, NV
Four Boys, Four Nights, Four Wild Mardi Gras Cities...
Starting in Mobile, Alabama (considered the 'home of Mardi Gras' since it has been celebrating the festivities 7 years longer), Jon, Kyle, Michael and Sharkey commenced upon a wild Mardi Gras adventure that would span over 1700 miles, encounter numerous people, acquire many beads, and last 5 days.
The first event was the Mobile, AL celebration on Thursday. Joining them were Keith, Scott, Brian, Bruce, and Jason. There was a fun parade and bars and billiards afterwards. Next, the boys headed over to New Orleans, LA to party hard on Bourbon street. They had a place at the Marriott on Canal Street and which kept them close to the action of the parades and partying. While there, beer was imbibed, beads were earned and given away, horns were worn, wigs were 'froed,' legs were humped, and sleep was missed! Kyle ran into some old friends while Sharkey met up with the Love of his Life! One party-goer, we will not mention names(Jon), stayed up dancing all night and returned to the Hotel at 11am, only because we were checking out!! That's hardcore!
With only a few hours of sleep between the four party-seekers, they travelled 8 hours to the next destination... Austin, TX. Jon's mother provided an excellent meal with fried chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, peas, string beans, and of course, banana pie and chocolate silk pie! With some food in their bellies and some 'clean' clothes, they headed out to brave the fun streets of downtown Austin. This place was packed. Mostly everyone was congregating on 5th street and their was as much 'action' there as there was on Bourbon. But, here, the population was predominately college-aged kids who were a little more dressed up. Worn out on the whole bead issue, the group headed to a few bars were we skipped the line due to Jon's connections! At this point, the boys got a little silly and started with the picture taking with stupid faces with stupid girls.
The last leg of the Mardi Gras journey was from Austin, TX to Las Vegas,NV. This was (roughly) a 1200 mile ride. We left Jon's house around 12 noon on Sunday, got an oil change and headed out!
With a few stops for food, gas and some random photographs, we arrived Monday morning on the "Strip" in Vegas @ 7:30am. On the way in to Nevada, I awoke (was anyone really asleep?!) as we were crossing over the Hoover Dam. It was raining pretty hard and it seems like the locals don't deal well. You could say the few inches of rain they were getting was like 6 feet of snow back in the Northeast!
We went to the Paris Casino and Hotel and attempted to check-in... we were told check-ins can't take place until 11am. So, we went ot a buffet, stuffed ourselves, then got another plate! Afterwards, some of us gambled a little before we left and winded up at the Hard Rock Hotel. Checked in and found this to be a really well decorated place!
Most of the day was spent resting, doing laundry, or checking out the event site. LAter on in the evening, Sammy and Phil arrived and met up with some other promo buddies... Dan Reeder & Stacey Greer and some friends. We all spent some time at the tables.. and some $$$!
