Ocean Springs Mississippi #MardiGras

Some of you who are readers of this blog were asking me to post more photos about #MardiGras. I have all the photos stored in 3 PC's so; I am posting randomly. These photos were taken in Ocean Springs , Mississippi and if my memory is right, this is the Elk Mardi Gras. There are two parades in Ocean Springs that I can remember, one in the morning and the other, at night time. The town supported both parades in fact; both events were crowded.

Mardi Gras is part of the tradition in the South; Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Other's call this event, Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras season culminates on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is a big celebration of dancing, fun, eating lavishly before fasting and religious obligations. Before Lent season begins, there are so many Mardi Gras parades all over these places.

Mardi Gras is fun because families and friends gather around for barbecue and have a good time. If you never been to a Mardi Gras parade, you should visit New Orleans. If you love big crowd, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the best! Don't stay drunk at night in French Quarter okay?

I missed Mardi Gras events in Mississippi for two consecutive years now. Hopefully next year, we will be there! We will be moving to Mississippi any day now and we are just waiting for the final sale of our home. Hubby and I are excited! Thanks for visiting this blog always. Happy Fat Tuesday y'all!

Shrimp Boats by the Gulf

When I got out from work at 7AM, I was dead tired so; hubby and I would go to Hard Rock for breakfast, it's halfway between my workplace and home. My father-in-law at that time was still asleep. Hard Rock has a Satisfaction Buffet serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The buffet truly satisfies my growling appetite and it's only $7 per person. On Wednesday's and Friday's, it was 50% off. Basically, if we dine on those days, $7 covers for both of us. Great deal right? The photo below was taken at the garage of Hard Rock in Biloxi Mississippi, viewing the awesome Gulf, shrimp boats and deer island. The shrimp boats were owned by the local fishermen and a number owned by Vietnamese. A pound of large shrimp was only $2. We sometimes drop by at early morning to buy a couple of lbs.

Awesome View Along the Beach Boulevard

You see when we were living in Mississippi, I have two days day off in a row. On my day off, after lunch while FIL was taking a nap, hubby and I would go shopping at the Edgewater Shopping Mall along Beach Boulevard in Biloxi. The road that you are seeing below is the Beach Boulevard. The big building is Beau Rivage and Hard Rock which are both casino and hotel. Almost everyday, we dine in those places because the price is affordable.

The view by the Gulf is truly amazing! If you know Alex North in Facebook or seen his collection of photos  in ( www.naturallynorth.net ) , you will be blown away! The Gulf coast is a beautiful place to raise a family. Well, as long as the weather is great and the skies are blue, the Gulf  coast is a fun place to explore.

Twice a month, hubby and I would just drive the I-90 and off we go to New Orleans in Louisiana. It's about an hour drive.  The awesome view by the Gulf is endless. I tell you, if you can't go to Las Vegas, visit Biloxi. There are hotels and casinos in Biloxi. You will surely enjoy the beach, the slot machines and more!

Biloxi Bay Bridge

I was browsing photos in my Picasa and saw this. I took this photo along the Bay Bridge in Biloxi, Mississippi. I just got out from work (7 AM) and as we head home, the skies are gray but, the sun was trying to show up. I miss the view by the Gulf Coast and I was thinking, I will be posting more today. I hope you will like it. Thank you for stopping by.

Mardi Gras Day Parade in Ocean Springs

There is a big parade which is scheduled in Biloxi today. Hubby and I thought Mardi Gras this year would start this week and onward but, it started early about last week of January. We did plan to visit Mississippi for Mardi Gras and see the parades in Ocean Springs (day/night), D'Iberville, Past Christian and Biloxi. Before we could book a trip, we found out that some of the parades were over. We missed the Mardi Gras in Mississippi this year. Oh well, maybe next year right?

Here are some old photos that I took when we live in Mississippi. My sister-in-law and other relatives lived nearby Porter and Jackson Avenue so; all of us would watch the parade along these streets. Shown in the picture above is a group called Shriners in their Model T miniature cars. Cute huh? Looking great grandpa :-)

Mardi Gras is a very interesting parade. There is always a surprise like the photo above.

We watch the parade at Porter Avenue. The building that you see above is Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. My husband said, originally this building is an ancestral home of the O'Keefe family and they sold it to a guy named William 'Willy' Frederic Dale. He turned it into a restaurant and bar then, towards the end of his life he sold it back to the O'Keefe. Presently, this building is an elegant funeral home in the area.

Clowns afre always present in Mardi Gras parades.

Every time there is a parade, some folks find this event the best season on their business.

Most schools participated as well.

The well-applauded participants in the Mardi Gras parade are usually the police officers, firemen and military either active and retired men in uniform.

Cheering crowd!

A representative of every organization is present as well.

Here comes the firemen and gorgeous firetruck.

Shown above is a float with little krewe members in costumes throwing some beads and trinkets.

Here is another Mardi Gras float with Krewe members throwing strings of beads, doubloons, cups, frisbees and other trinkets. From the floats, they throw some of those interesting trinkets, plastic toys and cups to the spectators lining on the streets of Porter Avenue. These goodies consist of colorful necklaces, bracelets, beads and they also throw coins called doubloons, which are stamped with krewes' logos, parade themes and the year. Have you been to a Mardi Gras before? You should try it sometime. You will like it for sure. Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! Thanks for stopping by in my blog today. See you again.

The Bay Bridge Between Biloxi and Ocean Springs

Last September Hubby and I went to Mississippi and stayed there for 5 days in two hotels. Well, Beau Rivage is one of my favorite hotels in the area but, it was frustrating to stay in a hotel where you cannot access the Internet. Our room is perfect and the view from the window was awesome but, with NO WIFI, it was totally ridiculous. We moved to the Isle Hotel in Biloxi. I took these pictures from the balcony of our room. It was gloomy and foggy that early morning but, later on the sunrise shows an awesome display along the Gulf. Oh yeah, WIFI in the ISLE? It's everywhere in the building! Anyone can access it whether at the marketplace, Lava bar, Starbucks, and just anywhere! I can't understand why Beau Rivage cannot give the exact privilege to their customers?Anyway, this is the Bay Bridge along Highway 90. This is over Biloxi Bay between the cities of Biloxi and Ocean Springs. The Bay Bridge is a replacement to the old bridge which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This bridge was opened in November 2007. It has a pedestrian path along the Gulf side area where people can use for jogging and have a bicycle ride.

Beads From Mardi Gras

I got a full bag of beads collected from two Mardi Gras parades. My mother asked for these beads so she can distribute it to her sisters in Christ.Most of the friends of my mother are flood victims so, the beads that she gave to them before must have gone and washed out to the river. Definitely, these beads will be sent for them soon.

The Isle Hotel in Biloxi Mississippi

I took most of these pictures from the Front Beach of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. When we lived there for 18 months, the Front Beach is our hang-out place. We love driving down here and have a picnic at Fort Maurepas Park. When I was working, my husband and his cousin would go fishing in this area. The land across Front Beach area is the city of Biloxi and the huge building that you see here is the ISLE hotel and casino.The Isle hotel and casino is one of our favorites mainly for the ambiance and food trip. Not only that, this is the favorite casino of my father-in-law where his luck in this casino is unbelievable! Last September, we stayed in one of the rooms on this side facing the bridge that connects Ocean Springs and Biloxi! It was an awesome view!The picture below was taken while we were having a picnic at Fort Maurepas. The arrow shows the Isle Hotel and Casino across the waters. It's huge with 710 hotel rooms that includes 200 suite rooms.The Front Beach is beautiful. If you are planning to visit for the Mardi Gras parade, check out the Isle Hotel and Casino. You will have a good day ahead once you see the beautiful sight of the Gulf view. The sunrise and the sunsets in this place is truly spectacular and enchanting.From the Isle Hotel and Casino, you should check out the Front Beach in Ocean Springs. You will appreciate your awesome stay in the hotel if you visit this place and look at the hotel from this location.You should book early especially when you are visiting for Mardi Gras Season, Christmas Holidays, New Year, Valentines Day, Halloween, Saint Patricks Day, and 4th July. It will be sold out before you knew it! Speaking of Mardi Gras, we will be going there and we will be staying at the ISLE HOTEL AND CASINO. I will see you there, right? Thanks for reading.

Mardi Gras in Ocean Springs is Always Fun

I was checking on some pictures in the folder of my working pc and saw these Mardi Gras photos. I took these photos during a Mardi Gras parade in Ocean Springs, Mississippi in the Government Street. This was a chilly and cold season and though everyone was bundling up, the wind will really get into your bones.
There are so many beads they gave with awesome designs in fact, some of us got collectible beads. One of my cousins told me that when she comes back from her travels, she will provide floats and all of us will participate in giving out beads, sort of thanksgiving for the family. I am looking forward for that event. I remember the first time I went to a Mardi Gras parade. I was hesitant to bring a bag but, when I was there, everyone brought more than one bag for the beads.It feels funny that I was just standing there watching the fun atmosphere but, hesitant to raise my arms asking for beads. When I looked around, everyone was cheering and giving signals to throw 'em some beads. The more you cheered at them, the more they love to give nicer beads.There were two Mardi Gras parade in Ocean Springs that time, one in the morning and the other parade took place in the evening. The evening parade was fun but, the chilly atmosphere was even more brutal but, we enjoyed it. Most of us brought our snuggie even if we already bundled up. This year we will be heading to Mississippi and we will be witnessing the Mardi Gras parade in Biloxi, Ocean Springs and D'Iberville.

While On Vacation at Mississippi

For less than two years, I lived in Mississippi and I worked in one of the casinos in the area. Everyday, I passed by the Beau Rivage Resort and I wanted to work here too. It looks so huge and grand! Anyway every morning, I would treat my husband for breakfast in the buffet in this resort and the next day to other places. It was too tiring for me to prepare something after I work on the grave yard.Anyway, the area on the right is an expensive jewelry shop. This is the front of the resort. I always wanted to have a souvenir photo in this area but, as usual, we have no time to stop by and have picture taking. Even though we stayed here for three nights, we were just on the go!This is the entrance to the shopping center inside the resort. If you want to stay in Biloxi to play the slot machine and other stuff, check in this resort and also, Hard Rock which is located beside this resort.
I enjoyed our short vacation here. I love the room because it was on the 23rd floor. I love it for the price we pay. It was actually a good deal booking.

Grand front facade right? Bravo to the landscape workers.They did a good job!

Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi

This is Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi. This is my favorite hotel and casino in this area because it's big and grand. We stayed for three nights and our room was on the 23rd floor of the resort. There was a Wi-Fi in the rooms using the Ethernet cable but, around the resort premises, I cannot access it using my iPad2. There was a password but, not all guests were given the password, a HUGE set-back! We moved to another hotel for that reason. This is the bathroom which is huge with a separate restroom and a standing shower plus, a soaking tub.There was double sinks and the bathroom was spacious, clean and has a phone line in the rest room. The soaking tub was truly a big plus in the room. I enjoyed it.

The double sinks are spacious. Yep! I love their bathroom. I do not like the location of our room which ends 004 , ahhhh...too far from the elevator.

Resorts and Hotels in Biloxi

When you travel Biloxi Mississippi to unwind by the beach along the Gulf Coast, I would personally recommend Hard Rock, Isle, Palace and Beau Rivage. For simple reasons, I stayed in these hotels. This is another hotel and casino that you might check out. My neighbor works here and so many times, she invited me to visit Grand Casino for a free buffet. Their price is a bit too high compared to Hard Rock, Isle, Palace and Beau Rivage. The Harrah's in New Orleans is a sister-company of the Grand and though I love their casino, the hotel rooms are priced beyond our budget.The Beau Rivage is a grand resort and casino and my favorite casino place to hang out. Well, I do not really gamble but, I love their shops and buffet area. The only set back in this place? You cannot access the Wi-Fi anywhere in the vicinity. They have it but, you can only use one computer per room because they are using Ethernet cable. I cannot access Wi-Fi using my iPad2. I tried asking for the code but the lady in the front desk can't give it out. Well, that is why ISLE is a big thumbs up for that. Anywhere in the property, Wi-Fi is Heaven!
The room in Beau Rivage is great because we only paid an affordable budget. I love their soaking tub and the huge bathroom.
You can actually find cheaper prices if you keep checking. There is an IP which you might check it out also. All these hotels and casinos are just located in BILOXI area and walking distance too. There is a Best Western at the front of Beau Rivage too. Well, if you want the good service for your money, why settele for less right? I live in this place before. If you have questions, I might have information about it. Just leave a comment here. Thanks for stopping by.