21 February ‘09
Saturday
By 11am this morning we were looking for the best parking spot in Mobile, Alabama. We were in town to see 3 different Mardi Gras parades, and it was going to take all day to do it. We happened down this very narrow one-way road and saw this little vacant lot. Noticing that they had some parking lines faintly painted on the broken up blacktop, and there were already 2 other cars parked, we jumped the curb and parked between the other cars already there. I was hoping that if there was a problem with us parking there, they wouldn’t notice us cuddled in-between. Pulling our beach chairs out of the back of the car, putting our coats on to ward off the cold wind, we head off to find “our” place along the parade route. A short block away we found what seemed to be the center of town. There was a large park located there that was having entertainment going on all day and we thought that setting up “camp” across the street would work. This way, we would be entertained while we’re waiting for the parades and far enough away from the speaker system that we’ll be leaving with our ear drum still intact. The first two parades came through one after another, so it really felt like there was only one.
Saturday
By 11am this morning we were looking for the best parking spot in Mobile, Alabama. We were in town to see 3 different Mardi Gras parades, and it was going to take all day to do it. We happened down this very narrow one-way road and saw this little vacant lot. Noticing that they had some parking lines faintly painted on the broken up blacktop, and there were already 2 other cars parked, we jumped the curb and parked between the other cars already there. I was hoping that if there was a problem with us parking there, they wouldn’t notice us cuddled in-between. Pulling our beach chairs out of the back of the car, putting our coats on to ward off the cold wind, we head off to find “our” place along the parade route. A short block away we found what seemed to be the center of town. There was a large park located there that was having entertainment going on all day and we thought that setting up “camp” across the street would work. This way, we would be entertained while we’re waiting for the parades and far enough away from the speaker system that we’ll be leaving with our ear drum still intact. The first two parades came through one after another, so it really felt like there was only one.
That was OK, as we caught enough beads and Moon Pies to last us a long time. With the next Mardi Gras parade not starting for about 4 hours, we pull the chairs and take them back to the car. Now we’re off for a walk around Mobile. I’m not sure of the population of Mobile but over-all the city it’s self can be walked easily. There are many homes and commercial buildings that mirror the designs and age of New Orleans. We noticed quite a large number of church steeples though out town but one set of two really stood out. The dome of both steeples were covered in gold leaf and with the sun setting on them, it made a beautiful site. These domes top the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
This just happens to be the first Catholic parish on the Gulf Coast and was established at Mobile in 1703. In 1835 the cornerstone for this cathedral was laid on the current site. As we passed through the huge doors and into the nave and looked forward to the sanctuary and apse, we were reminded of so many times that we had the opportunity to witness such beauty as we have re-found here in Mobile.
In Europe we admired so many absolutely beautiful cathedrals and now in Mobile, we’ve found another. Time for the 6pm parade was getting close so we started back to the car to gather our chairs and position ourselves once again for a Mardi Gras Parade.
As we sat low to the ground, feet on the barricade, eating a sausage and onion sandwich roll, we were visited by some parade “officials”. These 4 guys made such an impression on us that I just had to include them in my journal…
Well tonight’s parade is going to be our last for this year, but we will be back.