New Orleans: Mardi Gras

Even though I arrived in New Orleans more than a week before Mardi Gras, the streets were already decked out for the carnival. Balconies everywhere were strewn with decorations:



On the infamous Bourbon street, you can rent a balcony of your own for private parties -- mostly so you can throw beads at people from them, it seems.



Like I said, even a week before Mardi Gras, people were in the mood!



And so were the protesters.
Even the furniture storefronts got into the party!



And the clothing stores...



By Thursday night, though, the real celebrations had begun. Even though I had to leave on Friday, luckily I still got to see my very first Mardi Gras parade!



Love how the shifting traffic lights added to the whole scene.



And even after I retired to sleep at 10:30 (hey, this is a business trip after all!), I could still hear the parade (which started at 7 pm) going on right outside the window. It lasted until almost midnight! Can't believe how many floats went past in all those hours :)