twina49

I am attending a conference next week in New Orleans at a hotel on the corner of Canal and Bourbon (when they told us where and when the conference would be held, part of me thought, "Are you out of your minds?"), and I'm landing at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. I called the hotel to see what options are available as far as the hotel shuttle or a taxi, and which streets might possibly be open, and the young lady said, with a polite "you're SOL, lady," tone to her voice, "That's Fat Tuesday!" She said the streets will be packed all day, so the shuttle will have to drop passengers off several blocks away. Obviously, the thought of walking with a small rolling suitcase and backpack through crowds of revelers is not necessarily my idea of fun, so any suggestions on what to expect?

Dukey1

When I lived in NO there were parades (Zulu and Rex amongst others) on Mardi Gras day which rolled down St. Charles Avenue and then across town to Canal (basically at your hotel's corner although routes change periodically) and then moved down Canal toward the river for several blocks. Yes, that part of Canal (assuming the same is true) will be mobbed and closed off to other traffic. "Throw me something, Mister" are familiar words on that day.

Possibly helpful to you: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/

twina49

Thanks, Dukey! I've been watching the EarthCam live web camera to get an idea of what I'll be experiencing. If nothing else, if the taxi can get me to within a few blocks, I'll just watch the parade and/or street spectacle. Or find somewhere to console myself with a Bloody Mary....