Evening star., 1948-01-18

Long-famous New Orleans has
acquired of late years another repu-
tation. Word has gotten around
that it is plagued with one OF the
tightest Of hotel-room shortages.
Whether or not the unexpected
guest can be squeezed in on ordi-
nary occasions, the approach OF the
Mardi Gras finds virtually all ac-'
commodations pledged far in ad-
vance.
Relaxation OF wartime controls
over rail travel and equipment has
permitted the use Of Pullman cars
again as hotels" waiting on the
side tracks. Thus the traveller who.
decides at this late date to take in
the fun of the pre-lenten carnival
can easily assure himself OF q bed.
At least two escorted tours from
Washington to the Mardi Gras will
provide Pullman car-hotel arrange
ments for three nights and two days
of laughter and make believe in the
Crescent City. Mrs. Laura Waters
of Waters Ideal Tours will conduct
one party in special group of Pull
mans, and w. Barry Jennings of
the Washington Office, United States
Travel Agency, will accompany
another.
Under both plans, the special
Mardi Gras cars will leave WASH
ington Friday, February 8, arriving
in New Orleans Sunday. The tour
programs include sightseeing in new
and old New Orleans, land trips
along the coast and on Mississippi
River steamers, lunch at the Edge
water Park Hotel, near Biloxi, and
seats for the big event Tuesday, the
regally costumed, effervescent pa
rade. Each tour will stop. at Chatta-
nooga for visit to Lookout Noun
tain, and at Atlanta for a sightsee-
ing trip that includes Stone Noun
tain.
II 4
Ash Wednesday, February H.,
brings ostentatious gaiety to close
in the colorful New Orleans.
Promptly on Easter Sunday, how
ever, it puts on display another
phase Of its character. For a thE$es1
week period March 28 to April 49,
it opens its homes to strangerskxer|
the annual Spring Fiesta Intrigu-
ing gateways, usually locked, swing
wide for visitors, who are. guided
by costumed hostesses behind the
scenes into present strongly tinged.
with the past. AS John Erskins puts
1t, TN New Orleans, yesterday, to-
day and tomorrow are AL Of a
piece" -; Z.
Announcement has been made
that the old creole city's fiesta will
include plantation pilgrimages to the
homes along Bayou Lafourche and
up the old river road beside the
Mississippi; tours Of upper New
Orleans and Vieu Carre homes,
"patios by candlelight," with for
NAL gardens frightened by spring
flowers; receptions at outstanding
clubhouses, steamboat rides by
moonlight, the Pirates Alley Out
door Art Show and q spectacular
horse show.
The Spring Fiesta sponsors make
no room reservations, but provide
general information to prospective
visitors. The Fiesta Associations
address Is 546 st. Peter street, New
Orleans.
With a bit of arranging, the
traveller can penetrate deeper into
the romance OF the Old South OF, his
New Orleans visit. The American
Express Co. is offering in the late
winter and early spring five 20
day cruises down the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi Rivers aboard the last of the
steamboat era's river packets, the
Gordon C. Greene.
The inland waterway route from
Cincinnati is more than 1000 miles.
Plantations of the King Cotton
Land" lie along the shores. Brief
pauses include Memphis, Baton
Rouge and Natchez. A three-day
stopover is made at New Orleans,
with the steamer serving as ones
hotel. On the northern voyage,
stops are made ut Paducah, Vicks-
burg, Memphis and Louisville.
Departure dates from Cincinnati
are February 21, March 13, April 8,
April "a and May Is.
~
A nine-day cruise was added un-
expectedly last week to the rather
ample list Of sea trips.
Moore Mccormack Lines an