From Mardi Gras to The Dolphins
Trip Start
Mar 02, 2006
1
40
Trip End
Jun 22, 2006
Amsterdam,
Noord-Holland,
Netherlands
Saturday, March 11, 2006
I left New Orleans the day after Ash Wedbnesday and two days after the Mardi Gras romped through the ruins of the Crescent City. Wallace Lester sent me some great photos from the Wild Magnolias gathering at 2nd & Dryades in the 3rd Ward, including a shot of my pretty Big Queen Rita and Big Chief Bo Dollis with your reporter right up there in the feathers of his crown.
My arrival at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam was smooth as ever and soon I was sitting at my special seat in the 420 Cafe just off the Damrak with Adam Brook, who'd arrived earlier that morning direct from Detroit. I had 150 euros and $132 in USDs in my pocket and no place to stay. That night I ended up renting a bed (for 23 euros) in a 10-man dormitory at the Hotel Kabul on the Warmoestraat and crashed like a ton of bricks.
Comments
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Whew. Gotta hand it to ya, John. I'd be biting my nails to the bone, worrying about the next meal or bed, but you manage to relax and enjoy *this* meal, cop *these* Z's. You're living by yr wits and seemingly having a helluva good time at it. (If you have yr down times--which seems inevitable, in this life--you are sparing us.) A good lesson for all. Morale is everything.
Nevertheless, it's a relief to see you've got an actual Room of His Own, to kern a phrase.
Well, as the Amish patriarch said to the Harrison Ford character in the movie 'Witness,' 'Be careful out there among the English.'
hallo john from cold chicago/wleming@berlin.com
hey man, next time you are in berlin. we gotta hook. im just back, and we are gearing up for the nelson algren birthday party.... www.nelsonalgren.org for those interested. the event will be this march 25, a saturday, and john will be thinking of you as we get down and dirty wid da peebles. miss your sonorous approach to the blues, bro, and those words of wisdom that flow like a fine wine come closing time from the very roots of your boodacious being. look forward to checking in with you and a great salud from all the gang in chicago. hoping you will be thru soon, and the very first number from the Frankie Machine Blues Band will wing its way into your heart.. if I can help it... Keep your ax in gear, have no fear.. live as you have lived at the very Heart of the matter. And please give our love to all those fine ladies in A Dam... still Hippy tibet- we Salute you, from the windy city. warren leming
Mardi Gras
Fabulous blog from the hardest working poet in the world. Please backdate entries to Mardi Gras travels. Yeah, you right, right on! Love, INIUSA