Monday, July 20, 2015

The Q

Plans were hatched to visit the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans one June morning with a new friend, Theresa. Well, as with most plans these days, the rain had other ideas. Refusing to let a little water stand in our way, we decided to forge ahead!

The rain continued, relentlessly, so we had no choice but to ditch the zoo plans and head to the Q, better known as The French Quarter. It was the weirdest day ever. Let's see, I was first approached by a very inebriated man who got right in front of my face gesturing the peace sign. Every turn of my head to avoid him was met with him doing the same. That was pretty unnerving. I finally got away from him which took a few exhausting minutes. Several times throughout the day he turned up doing the same thing to other people. More unsettling things happened, but I'll just leave it there.
A break in the rain. A lovely woman is focused on a book or her phone.



Here is Mr. Peace Sign harassing another passerby.

And here he is again, flashing the peace sign to another girl.
I loved the faces of the onlookers. I see anger, amusement, fear & caution
on all four faces.

Lots of colorful umbrellas. 



This precious little girl watching all the shenanigans
in Jackson Square.

Meet Dorothy Smith. She approached me in St. Louis Cathedral with a very sad story.
She got my last $10. I'm pretty sure I was snookered, but I did
promise to pray for her whenever I look at her photo.
After I gave her the money, I remembered a pack of almonds in my purse.
Offering her the almonds, she politely refused, showing me her toothless gums.
Talk about embarrassing!!!!!!!!
Lord, please help this woman find housing and 3 meals a day.
And if she is scamming people, let karma have its way.
Amen!

33 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Gail, awesome street shots and people scenes. The Mr Peace Man seems to be either drunk or on drugs. I love the shot of the sweet little girl. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!

Kathy said...

What an interesting day. You just went to the people zoo!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Ha...we're both people watching today. I like your settings better. :)

nookworm said...

What a really nice series of a walk there! You have a soft heart and have captured the mood very well here.

EG CameraGirl said...

Mr. Peace Sign would scare me out of my wits. I LOVE the photo of the little girl looking through the fence, though. I hope you weren't scammed...but if you were, I pray that karma gets her! ;))

Stephanie said...

You had an interesting day indeed. Love all the people and umbrella shots!

Inspired By June said...

Ha-ha, loved Kathy's comment! People zoo, indeed! Sweet pic of the little girl!

Barb said...

I like your street scenes and your big heart. The Peace Sign Man was scarey - I don't like anyone in my face!

DeniseinVA said...

You got some great people photos there. I haven't been to New Orleans in many years. I wasn't long in the States and it was Halloween. I remember a man in a gorilla suit getting in my face and screaming at me. Scared me so much but I don't think that is why I haven't been back ;)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I adore your rainy Q photos!

Stephanie said...

Hello, my friend! People are so fascinating and we are all so unique, aren't we :) Your photos were a delight to look at.

May you have a most beautiful week! Love and hugs!

Shug said...

I so enjoyed your "life" photos here. Totally awesome! Isn't it sad that you really can not trust stories from many folks out there. I hate thinking that I have been taken for granted when I come across people on the streets... But in the back of my mind, I always ask myself... Could this be Jesus...testing my compassion. Have fun on your Dallas trip!

Hannah said...

The French Quarter brings up lots of childhood memories, it was a stop on our way from Houston to South Carolina to visit grandparents. Once we stayed at an elegant old house there. Many parties had occurred in the garden and there beads left on the paths, remnants of broken necklaces. The street are always full of people, the rainy streets and umbrellas are a nice touch.

Bethany Carson said...

The umbrellas are lovely...looks like an interesting place to visit.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Kathy's right...there's more than one kind of zoo. I usually prefer landscape or animal images to city scenes, but you've really captured some interesting shots here. The little girl on the fence steals the show, of course; but I also liked the woman with her phone or ereader, with one shoe off. And I loved the many different umbrellas. I'd say you made lemonade out of your rainy-day lemon.

Melissa said...

Love seeing that rain! We're sure missing it here in Washington!

Anonymous said...

I really love that pink umbrella!

Anni said...

Awwwww, New Orleans!! A rich, colorful [and sometimes odd] city! One America should be proud to call its own, really. The history, the culture, the loving people...you managed to show it all here in your photo album.

Love the little girl at Jackson Square.

Anvilcloud said...

What a fascinating assortment of pics and anecdotes.

Debbie said...

ooooh gail, what a quandry!!! it is an interesting place, filled with very interesting people!!

you found some fascinating people, they are fun to watch and photograph!!!

Indrani said...

Nice candid shots! Absolutely adorable sights.

Evelyn S. said...

I do believe this is the most unusual series of street photography I've ever seen! Of course, reading your descriptions makes them more understandable, too. I love the images of the musicians and that little girl perched on the wrought iron. :-)

Anonymous said...

Sounds great Gail! You had a wonderful time...

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Sounds like you two had a very interesting day! I'm surprised that man continued on with his doings...I would think someone would send him on his way, but I guess live and let live is always the best way to go if he is harmless.
I hope you weren't scammed by this lady, but I believe in karma also!

TexWisGirl said...

i wouldn't care if the woman was scamming or not. if she's toothless, my life is so much better than hers anyway. she could have my $10.

loved the musician scenes.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

People watching at its finest! I love the diversity of the quarter, but admit I could have done without Mr Peace Sign. Did anyone dare to yell "NO" at him or "Get Away from Me"? (that's what I was taught to do in a woman's self-defense class once if being harrassed on the street. The teacher said women always tend to be too nice. We had to practice yelling. It was hard. I did it once in downtown Seattle and it worked. But it's always a worry that they might be carrying.

Anonymous said...

Love these street shots and your anecdotes. That's such a cute capture of the little girl on the fence.

Beate said...

What an interesting day you had :) It does sound a bit unsettling but your photos turned out very beautifully, I think you captured it all so well that we get the feeling we were there with you. The people's faces when Mr. Peace Sign approached them are captured perfectly.
I love that pink umbrella :)
I hope you'll get to go to the zoo soon :)
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Married life truly is amazing and we enjoy every second of it.
Many blessings and big hug back to you,
Beate

Anonymous said...

A wonderful blog. zyou do photos of people as great as your bird photos! Thanks.

Kerry said...

How many ways are there to love this post, Gail? SOOOO many. The French quarter is one of my favorite places on earth, but I know it is rough around the edges, dangerous, even. Fabulous photos that prove you can easily take shots of people, not limiting yourself to wildlife. Meanwhile, do you think you could send that rain our way?

Joke (Joke's Camera) said...

Wonderful street photography, Gail. The people in your pictures are so expressive. I think the little girl is my favorite. Great story too. Years ago my husband and I met a (less pushy) peace woman, carrying a big radio playing very loud one peace song again and again. When I hear this song now I always remember her. Have a nice sunday. Greetings, Joke

Suzan said...

How true --- Peace Man approaching people and their uncomfortable reactions!! When we travel - it's fun to sit around a public place and "people watch"!!
Dorthy Smith saw your big heart, Gail!!

Charlotte Wilson said...

Great street captures, Gail! God will certainly bless you for helping that woman in the Cathedral. We can never be sure of their intentions, God only knows.
Wonderful to come back to your blog and see what you are up to!

Hugs,

Charlotte