Page 74 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2016

Cruising to

New Orleans

on a Virgin

Voyage

Buddy Guy wowed at both his standing-room-only performances
Photo by Ÿ Joseph A. Rosen

By Kate Martinelli of Ozcat Radio, Vallejo, CA
I’ll admit it – I was a 50-year-old New Orleans virgin. I In 1814 we took a little trip
talked a good game – I’ve seen all the documentaries, movies Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip’
and TV shows; I make beignets, king cakes, muffalettas and We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
gumbo for our annual Mardi Gras party...but I had never And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
been to New Orleans. When Blues Festival Guide’s publisher
Kaati told me about the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise We noticed a flurry of activity as the ship docked and we
(LRBC) New Orleans trip in October 2015, and described her headed out to experience New Orleans for the first time. The
amazing experience of coming into the Port of New Orleans crew lined up along the deck to greet Carnival Corporation
via the Mississippi river, I booked passage for myself and my President and CEO Arnold W. Donald for the maiden port
husband David. ceremony, and our musical experience began right away as a
I was a returning cruiser, while David was a Blues Cruise full New Orleans jazz band greeted the ship.
virgin as well as a NOLA virgin. It turns out our ship, Holland Like all newbies, we started the day shopping in the French
America’s ms Westerdam, was also a virgin – she would be Quarter, browsing through glittering stores filled with antiques,
making her maiden port of call in New Orleans.
On the morning of our arrival in New Orleans, I awoke to a jewelry, Mardi Gras masks and more. We stopped for street
new sound – the large waves of the Gulf of Mexico had given corner buskers from all over the world who had made the NOLA
way to the smaller lapping waves of the Mississippi – we were pilgrimage; we even met a band called Jeez Louise playing in
on the river! Up on deck, I met the distinct earthy smell of the an intersection that was from our neck of the woods in Northern
mighty Mississippi. My arms prickled with history and nostalgia California. We meandered onto Bourbon Street where I bought
as we wove our way towards the “Crescent City.” an enormous Hurricane cocktail, which you can carry on the
Sightseeing from the top deck, I ran into singer and pianist street and from bar to bar as you please, and it’s sure to last
Marcia Ball. She pointed out historical sites of note such as the you all day. On Frenchman Street we watched group after
site of the Battle of New Orleans. She actually sang the song group of musicians pop in and out of the local clubs to try their
impromptu for those of us gathered around her – you know the chops out in New Orleans.
one, sung by Johnny Horton and others – it goes: We really looked forward to our stop at the world famous

72 Blues Festival Guide 2016