The celebration Mardi Gras floods the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, with hundreds of people, noise, parades, beads, everything else that comes along with the season. Many who live in the midst of the festivities experience quite a few unique things during the Mardi Gras season.
             Jessica Paz, 20, of New Orleans about living in the city during this festival. "Unlike any other holiday, this one surely brings in tourists from everywhere. The streets are packed with people just standing watching the parades, fighting for shiny, plastic beads and enjoying the celebration.
             The college student Paz, attends University of New Orleans. She lives in an apartment near downtown New Orleans. "Even though I don't live on a street where parades pass, the area I live in is packed with people just walking around and partying. It's like one huge party everywhere you go. Trash fills the streets", says Paz. As she goes on to say, "I can't even drive in my car because of the overflowing crowds of people and commotion throughout the city."
             Paz has lived in the area all of her life and celebrates Mardi Gras in her hometown every year. "A couple of weeks after New Year's, balls and parties begin. King cakes also start to appear in the stores", explains Paz. Unlike any other city in Louisiana, New Orleans starts its celebration far in advance. Parades start about a month and a half before the actual day of Mardi Gras.
             Paz says, "We are off of school the entire week of Mardi Gras. Instead of everyone going home for the vacation, they stay in the city for the party. It gets really crazy at times, but I guess I am just used to living here during all of the activity."
             According to Paz, Mardi Gras is a huge party that fills the city of New Orleans with people from all over the world watching the parades and drinking all day. "Many people drink too much...