It was a drag but I had to go to work so I could only take a quick early peek at Duval Street yesterday afternoon. The sun was shining as usual, and it's particularly muggy at the moment as we await the arrival of a slight cold front Thursday which should bring strong winds Friday with near perfect conditions for the big parade Saturday night.
So far Duval Street during the day is pretty low key. I did see a few elderly uncovered breasts appropriately pastied and at least one guy in a tutu and another dude in a tartan skirt, not really a kilt whose photo managed to get away from me.
Everything else was pretty quiet honestly. Boring even.
There area lot fewer hotel rooms this year but no one seems to be worried about it. Planning a Fantasy Fest visit requires forethought and preparation. Last minute beds are not generally available and planning to sleep in your car will not end well as neighbors are hyper vigilant and are particularly not keen on having people camping on the streets. They will call you in if you decide to camp.
Photography will get pretty intense as the bare flesh starts to appear..!
The shortest skirt I saw was as I left to get back to my scooter on Eaton Street.
An appreciative French tourist gawped as she passed and remarked to his wife that it was an actual dress, at least that's what it looked like to him and his prepubescent daughter. His wife was laughing in a very Gallic way. I guess we look like rank amateurs to some sophisticated people from across the way.
But wait! I got a lunch break during the early part of the night! What a difference a few hours makes!
I went to the corner of Duval and Greene, near Sloppy Joes and took pictures in the light available. Enjoy!
Approaching Duval on Caroline an old dude and a young naked woman took me by surprise...and strolled on by as I pulled the camera from my pocket.
Here we go once again, Fantasy Fest 2013 is swinging, as it were.