| Page Views: 12,673 Last Visit to New Orleans: August, 2003 I Used To Live Here | The Naughty Madame by jadedmuse - last update: Jun 27, 2008 |
********** ********* *********Personal commentary on the Katrina tragedy the day after it happened - see my Farewell to the Madame travelogue********** ********* *********
Is She Really That Easy?Many people who visit New Orleans never really get New Orleans. Sure, they'll spend a long weekend there reveling in its seamy underbelly, repulsed by and yet attracted to, any number of tacky sex shows or raucous bars dispensing alcohol 24 hours a day; they'll laugh at the strange mannerisms of the locals or the bawdy behavior of a fellow tourist and wonder how is it that anyone could actually LIVE in such a backward yet fun town; maybe they'll take a ride on a streetcar and question whether people other than tourists actually ride those things (they do) - they might even go on a plantation tour if they're feeling especially ambitious and can get up early enough without suffering the after-effects of a bad hangover.
But most of these many will eventually return to their respective hometowns, glad to be back to a familiar place after partying their arses off in a dirty, smelly, tourist-infested city in the Deep South.
I'm not one to argue the above, nor will I wax elegiac about how great New Orleans "used to be"; I won't talk about all its cutesie nicknames or how awful the streets smell in the French Quarter; I definitely won't gush about the latest celebrity restaurant, and I won't carry on about how it can be a dangerous place or how it's such "The Big Easy".
That's because I don't think there's anything easy about New Orleans at all. On the contrary - she's quite secretive, and it takes some real poking and prodding to get past the surface to appreciate her more nuanced charms. The fact is, I find the character of New Orleans to be like that of a retired Madame - the town itself is her brothel...many of the tourists passing through her are like eager johns, in and out for a quick weekend fling with debauchery.
And it's true - no town serves up the wicked and wild like New Orleans does...offering a smorgasbord of alcohol and iniquity that is unrivaled in the United States. After all, this famous city's personal axiom is "laissez les bon temps roullez" ("let the good times roll") - and you pretty much can't escape doing just that when you're there. |
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So What's the Attraction?
So then...what is it that's so attractive about this Madame called New Orleans? Ironically, she's been prostituted from the very beginning - passed back and forth between the Spanish and the French, then sold to the United States in one of Napolean's biggest negotiating faux paus and geopolitical blunders (aka The Louisiana Purchase). Is it any wonder the Madame winks at the passing tourist like a wearied woman who's seen it all?
You may speculate...is she still naughty, shamelessly promoting outrageous behavior and tolerating all manner of depravity like we've always imagined her to be? You bet she is. She may seem retired, but she's still a Madame who runs a tight business. A bit more commercialized than we'd like to think of her...but her secrets can be revealed if you cajole her, flatter her, and you're sincere in your desire to learn more about her lifestyle. It's different - unique even...flavored with decadence and history and betrayal and intrigue and all of the elements that create a spicy gumbo of mystery and romance in a town where funerals can turn into impromptu street jazz celebrations.
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To Know Her is to Love Her
The Madame is not easy to get to know. Many people drift through her in an alcoholic haze, catering to their ids and indulging themselves with hedonistic abandon. (I suppose that's one way I could describe my college years there). But the Madame is rich, savory - and full of all the delightful surprises and eccentricities one would expect from someone of her historical and arguably off-color stature.
I love the Madame. I was lucky enough to make her intimate acquaintance during the four years I lived there. I made it a personal mission to get to know her, and I always make it a point to stay in touch with her.
Like any savvy Madame, she may take your money - but she'll show you a good time in return for it.
It's just up to you to find the real value.
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 Comments for jadedmuse about New Orleans | | | | |
klj&a Mon Mar 30, 2009 06:11 UTC
Great and useful information. You're a wealth of knowledge. | rcsparty Mon Mar 23, 2009 13:31 UTC
As a frequent visitor to New Orleans, appreciate the great page...Happy birthday. | RedEaredPanda Wed Feb 25, 2009 05:24 UTC
can't wait to get to New Orleans and do it all.. thank for all the excellent info, now I know about creole vs. cajun... thanks again. | TravellerMel Sat Aug 2, 2008 18:38 UTC
Ahh - the good old days when the Absinthe House was a great, dark bar. It's now a neon daiquiri bar - makes me want to cry! |
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