Today is the last day before the start of Lent for many people, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or simply Pancake Day.

Tradition had it that you would clear out your larder of all your food and cook it up into a feast to be shared with family, friends & neighbours.

This is of course followed by forty days of fasting up until Easter.

I have been to the vibrant, party city of New Orleans just once, but absolutely loved it.

I enjoyed visits to the Carnival & Jazz Museums, frequented many live music bars on Bourbon Street, took a paddle steamer along the Mississippi (watching a jazz band of course!), ate gumbo and took in all the fab architecture.

Sadly the famous carnival will not happen this year, but let’s hope it returns brassier than ever in 2022.

Here are a few pictures from my visit to the Crescent City in 2000.