On the road, 7/22

Causeway over Lake Pontchartrain, it was 5 miles long.  Right, Pascagoula River/ Gulf of Mississippi. 

Skyline of Mobile, Alabama.  Huge traffic slowdown heading into the George C Wallace tunnel under the Mobile River.

Another long causeway, 8 miles long over Mobile Bay.
Right, the office of our campground for the night.

It was a nice little campground for adults only.  It did have WiFi but for some reason we couldn't connect.  Never thought to turn off the fire wall. 




We drove through teeming rain when leaving Louisiana and then again in Mississippi.  Woke to rain tapping on the roof of the camper during the night.  The push is on to get home before Edward makes his appearance.  

Swamp tour, 7/21

Spent the morning taking a swamp tour.  This particular one is now part of the National Park system.  I was extremely hot and humid but  not too bad when we were moving.

 Our path through the duck weed. This is actually a man made canal, the bayou was further ahead. She was the largest alligator we saw.  Our guide estimated she weighed over 400 pounds and told us not to fall in, a real comic.

Another view.  She was just one of many that we saw on our tour.  The little shack on the right was a movie prop.  Burt Reynolds had it built to shoot two scenes in the movie, Tempted.

Owen and one of his new pets and a smiling close up.

This pretty little plant, a water hyacinth, is an invasive species.  It is over taking the bayou and destroying the natural habitat, they do spray to get rid of it but it still chokes the waterway.  Owen holding the real gator.

Most of the locals we came in contact with were very opinionated about life after Katrina both good and bad.  There is still a great deal of empty store fronts and boarded up houses.  Many people left and just never came back.  New Orleans was once the most populated city in Louisiana but since Katrina it is now Baton Rouge.

New Orleans, shuttle bus, 7/21

 We took the shuttle in town again today.  Greg, our driver, took us to the Greenwood Cemetery on the way.  He was wonderful and very knowledgeable.  We took a different route on both days and he pointed out many points of interest.  We got a better tour with him than the one we paid for.  A definite asset to the campground. 

 Some pics from the cemetery.  Top right, note the little dog.  He was one of many that decorated the tombs.  Left is just a representation of some of the tombs.  This lady statue is found throughout the cemetery but always in a different pose.

This tomb was opened and Greg was familiar with it so we stopped to look inside.  There is a statue of a man at the top.  Right, a surprise, the grave of Jefferson Davis.

The one on the left really shows the stain glass.  Many of the older ones are adorned with stained glass. 
Right, taken later in the day.  You can tour the French Quarter by horse and buggy for $15 a person.  We didn't do that, way too hot.

 One of the horses (mules).  The green roof behind him is the original Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter.  Right is a gold plated statue of Joan of Arc, a gift from France if my memory is correct.


We also took a swamp tour, the next post will be about that.  In the afternoon we wandered the French Quarter for a bit and had lunch.  Owen discovered roast beef Po'boys and I had a muffuletta:  a sesame-seed Italian bread slathered with tangy olive salad spread and packed with Italian cold cuts and provolone cheese.  After lunch we went to another IMAX movie, this one in 3-D.  Didn't have time for our coffee and beignets.  We did buy a can of coffee to bring home.  Mixes are available but I'm not willing to fry the dough.  I somehow doubt they would taste as good if I had to cook them.

AGAIN!

Another campground advertising WiFi when it is a hot spot that doesn't work.  Have spent the last half hour trying to get this to work.  This is the best I can do.  Will try again tomorrow.

WTH

I had planned on two posts tonight.  I had one all done and ready to go but it wouldn't save or post and then just disappeared into cyberspace.  I then tried to redo it but the pictures wouldn't load.  I restarted the computer.  First pic gave me a server error, four loader then I got a security error and then another server error.  I give up, it is now after 10 and I am going to bed.

Tours

Another busy day.  Took the shuttle bus in town today.  Our driver took us on a mini tour.  We took a two hour steamboat cruise on the Natchez.  It is a paddle boat powered by steam.  On the left is St Peter's Church in the French Quarter.  There can be no buildings higher than the  church.  The streets in the French Quarter are only 39 feet wide.  Makes for some pretty tight traffic patterns. 

View of New Orleans from the Natchez.  Domino Sugar factory, not sure if it is still operational.

View of the River Walk from the Mississippi.  A new cruise ship dock is being added to access the shops.
We did a Super City Tour in the afternoon.  The highlight for me was the stop at the cemetery.  The sign at the entrance.

 A few shots of the above ground tombs.  These were all under a couple feet of water during the Katrina aftermath.  Would have loved to spend more time poking around.  There are actual walking tours but it is so hot and humid that we just can't take it.

 A couple of tombs from the early 1800's. 
Lake Pontchartrain, it is huge with a causeway that crosses over it.  If I remember correctly the guide said it was like 18 (or 24) miles long.

We went down the parade route.  The tree on the left is a myrtle tree with beads hanging and on the  right is a live oak, again with many beads hanging.



Our driver this morning took us through the Garden District and pointed out celebrity houses.  He showed us Sandra Bullock's, John Goodman's and a couple that Nicholas Cage bought but lost due to unpaid taxes.  Also saw Anne Rice home she bought but never lived in and the one she grew up in.  There is a great deal of re building going on.  Thousands of people have never returned to New Orleans (making Baton Rouge the largest populated city in Louisiana) and many businesses have failed or not rebuilt.  One notable one is a Borders that stands empty.  Didn't walk as far today but did manage to get to Cafe du Monde for coffee and beignets.  Swamp and bayou tour tomorrow.

New Orleans River Walk

 We braved the insane traffic and went downtown today. 
Walkway to the River Walk.
View of the Mississippi from walkway.

Another view of the River.
Went to the Aquarium and an IMAX movie.

 Walkway along the River.
Jean Lafitte National Historic Park in the French Quarter, had to get a stamp for my passport.

Views of Bourbon Street.  Pretty quiet during the day.

 Jazz Park.
Lunch, Owen had a beef po' boy and fries and I had red beans and rice soup and sausage.

Coffee and biegnets before heading back to the kampground.







Long day today but lots of fun.  It was still pretty warm and humid.  When we get back to 70's we are going to freeze.  We walked just shy of 6 miles.  There is just so much to see and do I'm pretty sure we will leave and not have seen a fraction.  Did some laundry tonight and booked tours for the next couple of days.  We will take the shuttle bus into town for those.  Another long day so to bed early.