Mardi Gras....Galveston

Everyone has heard of Mardi Gras. Partying, drunkenness, debauchery, no inhibitions, all of these are synonymous. I remember in college an old roommate describing it as the "most free he has ever been." He was referring to New Orleans, the original. However New Orleans isn't the only place that celebrates it. Many places along the gulf coast have their own Mardi Gras celebrations (though they can't top New Orleans). About 17 years ago I went to a Mardi Gras celebration in Port Arthur, TX. I don't remember a lot of it except my companion that evening. Since then I've always wondered what an all out Mardi Gras celebration would be like first hand (and not watching the special Cops' Mardi Gras episodes). At the last minute I decided to spend the day in Galveston and experience their Mardi Gras celebrations. I mean why not? So I packed the suitcase, booked the last room at the Harbor House and off I went. I enjoyed it. I stayed mostly on the sidewalk not wanting to go through the throngs of people jumping and shouting for beads from the crowd on the balcony. Of course I saw a few pairs of female endowments despite the chilly wind that blew right down the damn street. In front of one grill and bar there was a breast painting stand and ladies were lined up to have their bare chests painted up. Now I'm no prude, but there were kids out and about and that really shouldn't be in view of kids. Just my opinion. It was about 1am when I decided I'd gotten the full experience and retired for the night. As I was leaving I noticed a long line of people waiting to get in. Since this is Texas they better hurry up because alcohol sales have to end by 2am whereas in Louisiana there is no last call.

Heaven's Cafe and Grill

I listened as my friend told me about a place off the road that she likes to eat at. She told me she can't go in there to eat and run. She has to visit with the owner for a couple of hours and she brings her friends there which I'm sure the owner greatly appreciates. The place is called Heaven's Grill and Cafe and it sits off of Hwy 321 between Dayton and Cleveland, TX, amongst some state prisons and some honky tonk bars. I wonder how many people went to the bars and simply ended up down the road in the prison. Anyhow I was looking for a place that still served breakfast close to noon time. Since I was in a small town that's harder to come by and I remember my friend mentioning this place so I decided to check it out. We walked in and were greeted by the staff (since they are tight with my friend it was more like a visit then breakfast). I'm not much of a food/restaurant critic so all I can say is the coffee was excellent and for $2.50 I couldn't finish the breakfast taco the size of a half stack of pancakes. If you're ever travelling between Dayton and Cleveland (Texas, not Ohio) along FM 321, I suggest you stop in.

Anyone Use Payphones Anymore

My dad shot this picture somewhere along Route 66 in New Mexico. He was amazed that there are working pay phones still around. Where we live we have remnants of long stolen/damaged/removed pay phones. They look like tiny, empty caskets in front of stores. I wonder who can remember in the days before cell phones, before calling cards, all we had were pay phones. Originally $0.10 would get you a local call. Then it went to $0.25. I have no idea what it is now. This phone looks like it's kept up. Is it because people in them thar parts don't have cell phones? Or is it because the owner tries to keep the past alive?

Walk Down Fremont Street

Most people who go to Las Vegas stay on the strip. However there are some people like me who want to see more than what the average tourist sees. I wanted to stay in downtown Vegas, the original Vegas where Sinatra and his boys lived and worked. One day we decided to walk outside of downtown on Fremont Street. This is what we saw.

Walk Down Fremont Street

Take a walk down Fremont St. I don't mean the tourist part. I mean go outside the box. See some old places and vacant lots that once held nights celebrated by revelry and debauchery. See the hotels that people who either cannot or do not want to pay hundreds of dollars for the resort rooms stay at. There is more to Las Vegas than what the average tourist sees.

Old Bar on Fremont Street

We decided to take a walk outside the tourist part of Fremont street. We soon found ourselves in what looks like the seedy side of town. While walking down Fremont Street we saw vacant and old buildings and even ruins of places that looked like they were hotels, casinos, bars, etc. We unintentionally picked up a bum who was pointing out where we could get cheap sexual favors (probably more like robbed and/or killed) but we took his word for it. We weren't interested in finding out first hand. I shot this clip as we were walking back to the tourist section. This sign caught my attention. I wonder if back in the 1960s/1970s this was a classier bar that served the likes of Sinatra's goons rather than the riff raff that hangs around it.

Gold Digger Bar

This is a clip I shot at the Gold Digger Bar in Las Vegas. We stayed in the old downtown section because I prefer the older, the original Las Vegas to the over rated strip (in my opinion). Quite surprisingly we had a great time. I'm not sure I can post those videos. You know what they say. What happens......