Wed /Thur Oct 29 - 30 New Orleans to Austin

 Oct 29 - 30 New Orleans to Austin

Back again!!

I guess he bought the display model!

We were up and off quite early, threading our way through the morning highway just north of the main city routes. Made the location at Pontchartrain very worthwhile. A good RV park, especially with the shuttle downtown, just very dry and dusty while we were there. A pretty uneventful drive, through Baton Rouge and on through to Houston. We stayed the night at the Trader Village RV. It is GIANT flea market with a huge section for RV’s. Probably geared toward the flea market traders. Very tight quarters, but clean, economical overnight stop.

Wonder what the origin of this road name is!!!

Thursday : We got up and took off right at 9.30 as planned. (we hadn’t hooked up services) and had an easy drive through mid-Texas, arriving at La Hacienda at 1.00pm. As we drove down 620 toward Hudson Bend (a road we know quite well) we began to get quite excited. We have been a long way since we were here last and our parking skills are much better. (puttin up christmas trees and backing in to RV spots are a prime landscape for divorce). We backed in first time! Lisa was over to see us within an hour after we arrived, we are next to Dave and Ruth (Dave is the blues singer), Travis reacted as if we’d been to the moon and back (love that guy). 
We really felt as if we had arrived 'home'.  We soon set up and settled in.  Lisa and Mike came over after dinner and we sat outside and caught up on the events of the summer. Looking forward to being set for a few weeks and basically vegging.

Tuesday Oct 28th - Beignets-Bus tour-Po-boys

Tuesday Oct 28th - Beignets-Bus tour-Po-boys

Finally - Cafe Du Monde Beignets

Cafe Du Monde covered patio

It seems we have been going at a bit of a blistering pace since we left Fifty Point in Ontario. Today we were torn between exploring New Orleans once more alone, or taking an organized tour. As the weather is once again in the high 80’s F we decided to be kind to ourselves and take a 21/2 tour around the city in an air conditioned bus. We hopped the 10am shuttle into the city and then hightailed it to Grayline booth to pick up our tickets, then a race to Café du Monde for their ‘world famous’ café-au-lait and beignets. Well, compared to the ones we had on Sunday… these were remarkably better. And the coffee is deservedly described as excellent … memories of Europe but with a distinctly New Orleans flair!!  The beignets were so hot we had to let them cool before devouring an order each (3 beignets to an order) … with the large scoop of powdered icing sugar dolloped on top…. I am talking mounded on top. We called Derek’s cousin Gill in the UK from the café to make her jealous and it worked :-))  … (she recommended we go!!). 

After our diet snack we headed to Jackson Square across the road for a photo op, then wandered slowly to the tour bus, admiring the architecture and a bit of window shopping along the way.

The Natchez Steamboat leaving

The tour was great and took us to all the basic highlights of the city. The Cemetery, the Town Park (50% larger than New York's central Park) we had a quick glance at Halle Berry who happened to be filming in the park that day … and MORE beignets at the Morning Glory Café in the park.  The final result of our survey is that, for Beignets, the Morning Glory Cafe was better, for coffee the Café Du Monde was better and for both the Café Beignets was dead last!!

Your Carriage is waiting (bus instead)

Halle Berry (double?)

Beignets at The Morning Call!!

Above ground cemetery

We drove through the city and our guide pointed out all the areas of the city that were under water during the hurricane (about 80% of the city). He described the evacuation and how they got people out who had no means to leave and the plight of those who stayed. He also pointed out that the population of New Orleans is now only approximately 50% of the pre-Katrina levels, so unemployment here is low, but persuading people and business to return has been a long hard struggle.  Because much of New Orleans is below sea level it is unique that the roads go UP to the river and not down as with most cities on rivers. The cemetery was interesting as it is above ground, set out in rows (streets) of family vaults some looking like small houses. After a specific amount of time (about 2 years), what remains of a body is taken from the casket and put in a burlap bag and pushed to the end of the vault (often down into the ‘basement') and the space is cleared for the next new casket … He also described the history of the term ‘saved by the bell’ and ‘dead ringer’…. Look it up… yukkk!!! The above ground vaults are necessary as the conventional graves used to give up the dead during floods and 'Aunt Mable' would be floating buy for a visit long after she was dead!!

We drove past the famous Superdome stadium that housed thousands after Katrina.  All in all, it was a great ‘taster tour’ of the city on a hot day.

Decorated for Halloween

We had Oyster and Shrimp

Alligator heads for sale (real!!) YUK!!!

After the tour we tottered over to Johnny’s Po-boys joint for a shrimp and oyster po-boy…. Finally discovering what a po-boy is and why they call it that.   (feeding poor boys sandwiches during a transit strike in the late 1920’s). After our delicious po-boy we wandered around for a last look at the French Quarter and then hopped the 4pm shuttle back to the ‘condo’ to get it ready for a long journey to Texas.. The RV site is very dusty and the rig has become rather dirty during our trip down here. We are leaving early tomorrow morning.  What a great city this is… a ‘must do’  city  - if you are even thinking about going … GO! There is something for everyone, party-goers, history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, cultural tourist, sun worshippers, eco-tour lovers etc etc. Sad to leave but happy to be on our way as well .....

Texas .. here we come y'all !!!!! 

Monday Oct 27 – Swamp tour

Monday Oct 27 – Swamp Tour

First Alligator we saw-followed by many

Well hello there tasty person

Tranquil fresh water river

Well - it seemed tranquil!!!

A quiet morning. Another day the high 20’s C. We drifted around the campsite and then booked for the Cajun Encounters swamp tour at noon in Slidell. We decided to drive there ourselves which was perfect. Boarding a flat bottomed boat with a guide and some other passengers, off we went up the river for an unforgettable adventure which started off with the first of many encounters with Alligators.  The guide coaxed them close to the boat with marshmallows and hotdogs on a long stick. During the two hour adventure we spotted alligators, turtles, snakes, wild pigs, Egrets, and Blue Herons. The highlight of the tour was floating up a bayou, listening to the insects and trees hardly rustling in the peaceful tranquility of such a remote and seemingly uninhabitable area. The swamps up the bayou were eerie and beautiful, and that was in early afternoon…. couldn’t even begin to imagine this location at night. The pictures will be memorable. We also couldn’t help but think of the remote wildlife hunts and safaris we have been able to enjoy this year, from the Grasslands in South Africa, to the deserts of West Africa, to the swamps of Louisiana. 

All for a marshmallow... Yikes

Main river

Wild hogs

Type of boat we were on!

Egret

Blue Heron

Family meeting!!!

Sunning herself

Entering the Bayou

Drifting into the bayou

So still and eerie in many way

Derek the alligator hunter!

Leaving the bayou

Patiently waiting for someone to fall in!

Watch out behind you!!

Love the balconies here

The colours are just great!!

We made our way back into downtown New Orleans in time to see some of the filming for an upcoming NCIS New Orleans TV show. We then wandered around the French market again and went Coops restaurant for a creole meal….Gumbo, Jambalaya, Red Beans, Shrimp Creole and fried Chicken. Suitably satiated we came back to the RV park had a wander around before sunset and then settled into the blog.

The Scene of the crime NCIS (dead dummy!)

Set for NCIS New Orleans TV show

Great place for New Orleans cuisine

Checking out the Halloween decs

Sun 26th – New Orleans

Sun 26^th – New Orleans

Cafe Du Monde.. line up too long

Jackson Sq from the Mississippi River

Couple of goofy looking tourists

On the Natchez paddle steamer with Cafe Beignet

A jam packed day. We got up early and headed to the main building in the RV Park to watch a 40 minute video on Hurricane Katrina -  the build up and the aftermath and the reasons why there was so much damage. It was scary in many ways to see how much human activity on this earth has, is, and will continue to affect the weather, wildlife and our very existence on this planet.  So much devastation and hardship for the people in this beautiful city only 9 short years ago. The re-build continues but they are a long way from completing it.. if they ever really do. At 10 am we hopped the shuttle provided by the RV park for the trip into New Orleans proper, dropping us off in the French Quarter, we walked over to the famous ‘Café Du Monde for beignets, but were disappointed to see the line up that extended for blocks… so we opted to do that another time. We picked up some beignets from the ‘café Beignet’ and will look forward to comparing them with the ‘real deal’ another day!! We boarded on the Natchez paddle steam boat for a 2 hour cruise up and down the Mississippi river. It was a beautiful day, 27 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and we totally enjoyed the cruise, visiting the engine room to see the amazing way the whole paddle boat system works. There was a Jazz band playing for the last hour, so we felt rather immersed in the whole experience.

Steam driven paddle wheel

Cruising the Mississippi on the Natchez

New Orleans skyline

Katrina debris

Paddle mechanics

After the cruise, we wandered along the waterfront, chatted with some other people (one guy from Liverpool) and found out some information from some locals, that helped us in our explorations. We headed up Bourbon Street for the obligatory New Orleans experience. There is a Saints/packers game on later tonight and the street was filled with tourists, many of whom where wearing Green Bay Packers green … what an eclectic crowd… many of whom were well on their way to a massive hangover. Generally a huge long street party all along Bourbon street.  Loud and actually lots of fun… but just a bit too much noise and wild party people for us. Janice bought the obligatory t-shirt, we stopped for one ‘huge ass’ beer and hightailed it out to a quieter area of town… Frenchmen Street. This a less known area of New Orleans right next to the French Quarter and seems to be a more authentic New Orleans experience. Jazz clubs and restaurants abounding and filled with music lovers. locals and those wanting some good Cajun food.  We popped in to a restaurant / bar (The Marigny Brasserie)and tried the fried oysters (not bad) and awesome crawfish linguine… Oh my…. A taste sensation!!! We followed that with a stop at a Jazz bar that was an absolute dive from the outside with amazing talented Jazz inside… The Spotted Cat! Go there if you get the chance… very cool!!! Tired to the bone we took the last shuttle back to the RV park for an early night. 

Those tourists again!!

Steam calliope(top of steamboat) can play 32 notes

Bourbon Street

Statues on Bourbon street (Fats D. on left)

Thirst quencher on a hot day.. grateful for shuttle

Party atmosphere on Bourbon st

Love the Spanish style buildings

Spotted Cat on Frenchmen St

Inside the Spotted Cat. Great Jazz

Play a tune and relieve yourself - washroom in the Spotted Cat

Frenchmen St at night