A long time ago before you was born dude when I was single and life was great I hung on Paul Simon’s every word… and learned about Happy Lafayette.
Now swap Paul’s ‘travelling salesman’ for selling travel and we’re just different sides of the same coin.
The great lyricist was sharing happy vibes about Cajun and Creole culture, zydeco music and the Louisianan locale.
And all that, long before it was named Happiest City in the USA by the Wall Street Journal’s Market.com.
Paul Simon’s jazzy paean to the Louisiana jewel popped back into this mush of a mind of mine.
Ahead of World Wellness Day on June 16.
On the back of our Louisiana pals flagging up the best places to chill.
On the trail of Simon’s Lafayette
Now, in the best traditions of American songsmiths Rhymin’ Simon gives us a mailman’s route through his hits.
You see he was standing on the corner of Lafayette after all, State of Louisiana.
Across the street from The Public/Heading down to the Lone Star Cafe.
Now through this great travelling community of ours I sought out Mr Jumbo’s advice for the aforementioned hot spots.
Only to find that our salesman was either trippin’ or being transported through the music.
From Lafayette Street, in Simon’s native New York, where these iconic venues buzz, to the Lafayette in Cajun country.
Louisiana jazz has that effect on you, it trumpets you to the heart of the Deep South.
Marching in
So for Paul Simon’s Clifton Chenier, the King of the Bayou, I’ve been drinking in the sounds of Louisiana and the Sazerac.
On annual trips to the American Travel fair which will be hotfooting its way back to The Big Easy in the coming years.
Until then I’ll let myself be transported by the Louisiana delegation and their famous IPW breakfasts.
Their jambalaya, Sazeracs and the New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band marching us into the conference hall.
To run us through why you’ll come away feeling all kinds of wellness.
And those Sazeracs too will likely make you feel like you’re in Happy Lafayette.