Randy

                                             Hop On, Hop Off Tour Bus


“Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting.”
                                             ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Eleven days ago, I met a most interesting man in New Orleans.  His name is Randy Bibb.   He was our tour guide, and I must say that we hit the Motherlode when we stepped upon his bus! Randy is one part comedian; one part entertainer; and one part true historian ~ add all of that together, and it makes for one, incredible docent.
The first impression that I had of Randy is that he loves his city, and he knows it.  He knows it well.  He has spent a lot of time pouring over archival material and old records to clarify the history of New Orleans that he shares with people like me who come to visit his fare city.  And, he takes great pride in setting the record straight on inaccuracies that may be out there and enlightening visitors on little bits of trivia that we may or may not have known about his town.  He’s a walking encyclopedia of anything cultural about the Crescent City.  He’ll even tell you how New Orleans came to have that moniker.  The Randy Bibb experience is worth the cost of admission! I’ve done several guided tours in various cities that I’ve visited, and Randy is by far, THE best tour guide I have ever come across.
The first thing I noticed about Randy that I immediately liked is that he wanted to know who we all were.  Each person who stepped onto the bus, he asked our name and where we were from.   There was a warmth to the gesture, and it set a friendly tone–mood among all of us.  
Do you like to laugh?  You won’t be disappointed.  He likes visitor participation, so be prepared to give a little.  After all, it’s true....you have to give a little to get something in return.  He gave so much of himself during the few hours that we spent with him.  People like that make an impression, and Randy certainly did.
Case in point, I was on the lower deck of the bus when he asked a question of everyone, and I hollered up to him to sing us something from “South Pacific”. {You had to be there} We didn’t get South Pacific but we got a little ditty that he penned to a tune from the Broadway Show “Annie”.  Oh. My. God.  It was a rip-roaring good time on that bus!  It was belly-aching laughter!
Randy was up and down that bus — giving all of us his undivided attention, spending time on both levels, making us know that he was overseeing the show — making certain that we were all having a good time.  He cares about the job he’s doing.  That was quite evident.  It was one of the highlights of my NOLA experience!
Whether he was telling us little tidbits of Hollywood trivia about Jayne Mansfield, Kitty Carlilse, Anne Rice, or regional history; whether he was explaining the differences between Cajun and Creole or informing us that the influence in the region wasn’t merely French, that there was also a strong German influence there as well; whether he was debunking the perceived image of Mardi Gras with what the true meaning of that family-oriented, religious carnival is vs. the drunken, often-times, X-rated party-hearty raucous time that most of America has come to associate it as being, he taught us things—important things about New Orleans. He did it with grand style and good humor and a large dose of fun.  That’s what makes one remember things: when a teacher approaches history in a manner such as Randy’s method.  It stays with you, because you enjoyed the experience that came along with the learning.
One of the purposes of these bus tours is so that people can hear a little history of the area and decide that they want to get out and investigate that particular area, so they get off the bus.  After they spend some time perusing that spot for awhile, they get back on another bus on the same tour and go to another spot and repeat the process.  Not us.  We hung with Randy for two loops around the city, because we had such a great time hanging with him.
When we finally got off, it was lunch time, and he recommended a place for us to eat: Crescent City Brewhouse  We took his suggestion, and it was terrific like I knew it would be.  If you can believe it, when the bus came back around to pick us up some time later, it was Randy and his driver, Denise!  Lord, he shook his head laughing in disbelief when he saw us waiting there at the odds, and we started to laugh too.  It did NOT seem fortuitous though it was a lucky break for us!
Eleven days ago, I stepped onto a tour bus guided by Randy Bibb.  I told him my name and that I had come to New Orleans to celebrate my 50th birthday with family and a few dear friends.
“An August Baby!” he said joyfully.  “Mine is the 26th!”
I KNEW there was a reason I immediately liked him! {Wink! Wink!}
So, today, we celebrate Randy Bibb.  Tour Guide Extra-Ordinaire!  I sent him an email this morning and told him if we were there, we’d have bought a round of banana daiquiris for the bus!  I’d have also belted out a little ditty from South Pacific just for him.  Since we’re not, I’ve attached both below, because good times should be shared.
If you are ever in NOLA, look him up.  You will NOT be sorry.  Let him entertain you; charm you, and teach you a thing or two.  Randy will rise to the occasion...each and every one of them.

Happy Birthday, Randy!  Blow the lid off, Baby!

  A Wonderful Guy~ from South Pacific/Mitzi Gaynor

Banana Daiquiri Recipe
Serves 4

2 large bananas, sliced, divided
1 cup coconut milk, divided
1 lime, juiced, divided
½  cup sugar, divided
6 cups ice, divided
4 ounces white rum, optional, divided

Directions:

Into a blender add 1 banana, ½  cup coconut milk, ½  of the lime juice, 1/4 cup of the sugar, and 3 cups of ice and add 2 ounces of rum if desired. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into 2 tall glasses, and repeat for 2 more drinks.


For NOLA tour information, contact Randy at: www.tourcreole.com   {Look for his name when you get inside the website}