My Adventures in Mardi Gras

teawrecks

Note: I did not go to Mardi Gras in NOLA, I went to the one in Galveston, TX. I'm aware they're wildly different.




I went to Texas this past weekend! I stayed downtown at the Hyatt. Swanky hotel, ridiculous prices, stuffed my face on Einstein Bros Bagels all weekend. Because that was the least expensive, closest 24hr food place around. Seriously, I'm on vacation, I'm not going to walk five blocks just to find a cafe for breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner at like 11pm at night.


My Adventures in Mardi Gras



Friday, I didn't really do anything. I checked in, I ate some bagels, and then I walked to the nearest Forever 21 after trying to lay out by the pool and deducing it'd be way too cold for me all weekend in the clothes I had initially packed for this trip. Around 9pm on Friday night, I decided that laying about in my hotel room was not the way that I wanted this weekend to go.


I was there to have fun, to relax and escape not only from the snow, but my brain. So I did what I said I wasn't going to do, and I got into contact with my cousin. I found myself late afternoon on Saturday, in the passengar seat of her car, headed 30 minutes to League City.


My Adventures in Mardi Gras


Fun fact: did you know that uber and lyft are outlawed in Galveston? We didn't. We ordered an uber, he showed up, all 5 of us shoved into his Toyota Tacoma, and as we left the gate to turn on our way to Galveston - a predicted 40 minutes, if I recall correctly - he tells us: "You know uber is outlawed in Galveston? But I'll take you anyways." He never told us why, or maybe I just didn't hear him. Maybe I just didn't care because he was taking us to Mardi Gras and the whole trip only cost me $16, of which I was reimbursed. In the form of cash and beer.


Mardi Gras itself was chaotic. People...everywhere. Beads, everywhere. Walking was a lot like what ice skating is like. You step on lump after lump of beads, and your feet are slipping and sliding and you find yourself almost on your ass like five different times. Or maybe that's just my experience ice skating. But I kid you not - beads in the air, beads on the ground, beads on your neck, beads pelting you in the face because you're looking somewhere else.


My Adventures in Mardi Gras


I got a grand total of 41 beads that night, after shoving a taco down my throat and drowning my liver in Bud Light. What can I say, I'm a classy lady. And no, contrary to what popular belief is - I did not have to flash my boobs to earn any of them. I just used the good ol' throat screeching, arm flailing, eyelash batting tactic.


Seriously, there's nothing like reaching your short little arm out to catch some beads and having a dude snag them instead, and then upon looking at your face, looping them around your neck because he feels bad. Or probably hoped to see some tits for it. Either way, I got my beads. And a pretty bruise on my foot because someone in the crowd stepped on me. But some would say it's half my fault for wearing flats to begin with.


My Adventures in Mardi Gras


41 beads, one bruised foot, a free beer koozie, a spicy beef fajita taco, and two trips to a port-a-potty later: we were making a mad dash to my cousins friends car who was idling in a turn lane while we all piled into it in a lull in traffic. A 40 minute ride, consumption of pizza, and two episodes of Parks and Rec later: we were all passed out for the night.


Half an omelette, a pancake, and a 30 minute drive later: I found myself back in my hotel room, where I promptly napped the rest of the Sunday away and woke up ready to be back home on Monday. I fully recognize that I didn't get a genuine and full experience of Mardi Gras just from going that one day in Galveston, and that it's highly recommended to go check out New Orleans, but I had fun. And I got a feel for what it may be like. That's all that matters.

My Adventures in Mardi Gras
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