Mark and Kris agreed to watch mom for a week, so off I went...to New Orleans!!!
I only had two full days there, so I really had to make the most of my time. I arrived at my hotel late afternoon Wednesday, and had just 30 minutes to walk through the French Quarter to the New Orleans Jazz NHP to get a stamp in my passport before they closed. Then it was a leisurely stroll back in the rain, stopping off...
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| here |
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| for this!!! |
Thursday--Feb 21st--Oak Alley Plantation
An hour and a half bus ride out of the city took me to this beautiful plantation. It made me feel like I had stepped back in time.
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The grounds were covered with these amazing oak trees
with moss and leaves growing on them. |
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This was the main entrance into the mansion
in days gone by. The archway that the
trees make is where the plantation's name
came from. |
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During slavery time, there weren't out houses, the slaves just used
a tree. After emancipation, they built these for their use. The symbols
on the doors gave light and ventilation, but also designated
male or female use. |
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| Slaves quarters |
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| Slaves quarters on a neighboring plantation. |
Back in the city that afternoon, I took the trolley to the
Garden District.
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The night before, this 2.5 million dollar mansion burned down.
It was so sad to see the destruction of such beauty and history. |
La Fayette Cemetery
The trolley ride back was a kick...so crowded...and a car backed into us, so we all had to get out and walk back downtown while the trolley driver waited for the police!!
An hour bus ride in the opposite direction, and I arrived at a swamp for a tour...hopefully to see some wild life...like alligators!! Yep, I saw...
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| Snakes... |
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| alligators... |
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| alligators... |
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| racoons... |
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| wild boar... |
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| more wild bore... |
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| and did I mention alligators... |
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This was really cool. Those things sticking up are the
tree's roots. They shoot up out of the water!! |
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| People live along the river, having to use a boat to get to their homes. |
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| Hurricane Katrina damage! |
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| and more damage from Katrina. |
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I loved the moss hanging from all of the trees.
Quite spooky! |
That afternoon, I went back to the
French Quarter to experience Bourbon Street! Oh my!!
I thought I timed this trip to miss Mardi Grais, but evident'y I was there just in time for the beginning! Crazy people everywhere!!
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I didn't have time to ride on this paddle wheeler, but I've already
been on the Mississippi on one with Ann, so I didn't feel bad. |
The people of New Orleans really go all out for Mardi Gras...
I even caught a parade where I caught a stuffed alligator and some beads!!!
Saturday--Feb 23rd--Train ride home
Part of my week's adventure was a nice, relaxing train ride back home. The first day was kinda interesting with a varied view from the parlor car window...
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| All Aboard!!! |
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| ...rivers... |
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| In my sleeper car. |
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| ...lots of harvested sugar cane fields... |
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| ...a few cemeteries... |
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| ...more rivers... |
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| ...and finally the skyline of Houston... |
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...and a beautiful sunset.
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Sunday, the day was spent in Texas!!! And the view was not so varied or interesting!!!
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| This holding pen for cattle was kinda cool... |
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| ...and then lots of this... |
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| ...and this. |
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| Sunrise on Monday morning was beautiful... |
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| ...but the train didn't cooperate!!! |
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