For those who crave a taste of brine in the breeze, there's no better place on this big, wet ball to be this week than New Orleans. Operation Sail, the city and the US Navy are combining forces to host Navy Week in NOLA, a festival of big and tall ships and a celebration of America's victory over our old colonial masters in the war of 1812.
The Navy's power will be on display with the arrival of the USS Wasp and a show by the matchless Blue Angels aerobatic team, alongside several Class A tall ships, including the US Coast Guard's cutter barque Eagle.
Ceremonies opened today with the berthing of several vessels. GF and I slipped down to the Bienville Street wharf (Woldenberg Park) to welcome the lovely ladies of sail.
The Ecuadorian school ship Guayas and Indonesia's Dewaruci were already in dock when we got there, gangplanks down and ready for eager visitors.
Here's the Guayas with the more familiar sight of the sternwheeler Natchez on her regular run downriver.
Indonesian sailors climb the high rigging of the Dewaruci.
The ornate bridge cabin of the Dewaruci sports the richly carved hardwood found throughout the ship.
The wheel of the Dewaruci.
Soon, helicopter, harbor police boats and fire boats announced the arrival of the Coast Guard's pride and joy, the sail cutter Eagle, right on time.
These lovely ladies, and their more modern counterparts, will be on display this week at four different berths along the downtown waterfront this week, open for public tours. More information and a full schedule of events can be found at Nola Navy Week. Ahoy and welcome.
Other divertissements of the day:
Today's photoshop treat, for the ladies, can be found here. And, of course, you never have to wait too long before another of my videos comes along: