February 16, 2020 @ 2:15 AM
Lucky's Bar and Laundromat
New Orleans, Louisiana
Pouring Rain
New Orleans has yet to consent to let me go to my next place. I was booked on the 11:40 PM Flixbus to San Antonio Texas. I showed up early. Twelve souls showed up early. Most of my fellow passengers weren’t going far, maybe Baton Rouge or Houston. We were standing at a curb on Loyola near the Union Passenger Terminal that services Amtrak, Megabus and Greyhound. As far as I know, Flixbus passengers have no real right to be in the terminal. And the staff at UPT can be really tough on identifying ticketed passengers.
I like the Flixbus interface. The application assigns a seat automatically although for two dollars one can choose as window seat in an empty row. The prices beat Megabus prices, which are pretty low prices. I picked the late run because it drove ten hours through the night, a night bus for sleeping through the night.
Because I chose the night bus, I had time to catch the Krewe of Pontchartrain parade, one of six on the Uptown route. I was hit with a waiter tray emblazoned with the Krewe’s logo and collars, a prize throw. Stunned, the tray fell to the ground and a child picked it up. I wanted it but well it was fun to see a child nab it.
On Facebook, I noticed an art opening at a gallery on Royal Street, and I hadn’t made an art opening during my visit. It was a little far and yet, I knew I had time to catch the opening and still shop for the bus trip at the all night Rouse’s Market. It was a great evening at Angela King Gallery, a place where I had visited three years ago. I met a noted writer and his wife, who hosts the jazz show on the local public radio station. We found a smaller gallery attached to the larger gallery, and we relaxed on the couches, drank wine and talked about New Orleans arts and culture.
I made it back to Rouse’s Market near the bus stop and bought water and a snack for the road. That’s when I joined the waiting passengers, and we shared notes about Flixbus. Our scheduled departure time arrived and Flix bus sent a message delaying pickup by a half house. Just before that half hour elapsed, Flix wrote that the bus was cancelled. It was twenty minutes after midnight, What could be harder to find a proper place to sleep after Midnight on a Saturday during Mardi Gras marching season? My Flix deal wasn’t seeming like a deal anymore. Megabus has never, ever cancelled a bus on me.
I could have gone to wander the casino, which remains open all night long. Hearing the noise of slot machines all night long didn’t appeal to me. So I walked over to St Charles to Lucky’s, which doesn’t close and gives me the option of washing my clothes. Five dollars and my entire suitcase will be freshened. These little things really mean so much more to me now.
Who are my nighthawk companions as I write through the night? Faust the bouncer kept me company. He has the first name of Josh but he has the last name of Faust, and he knows the story from Goethe of the man who sells his soul. He serves as a tour guide in the French Quarter although the loudness of Mardi Gras drives him nuts.
He served as a correction officer, a post that left him with Post Traumatic Shock Disorder. When people are loud in the quarter, the noise can set him off. I don’t know the name of the bartender, but she has dressed as a cat for the night. A man gave me a salad. Another has bought me a drink. There’s worst places to be a nightowl.By noon, I’ll be on my way, sleeping in a comfortable chair.
Starbucks near the bus stop opens at 5:30 AM.
#Flixbus
#TwentyFourHourBars
#MegaBus
#NewOrleans
#UnionPassengerTerminal
#IKnowWhatItMeansToMissNewOrleans
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