Monday, January 2, 2017

Along the River in New Orleans

December 26-29, 2016
New Orleans, Louisiana


I've been struggling keeping current on the blog since my California trip, and can't believe I failed to post about a wonderful event.

On Thanksgiving, Bill's son Travis and his delightful girlfriend became engaged! He planned the perfect "ask" at her home with both their families there "for pie". We love Emily and are excited to add this very special daughter to the family.




Back in New Orleans.....

We need a few things for the motorhome and there's a Camping World about an hour to the north in Hammond. Rain is expected off and on all day so we figure we'll make the drive and see more of the state.

Long sections of I-10 and I-55 are over the swamp. We love it! Tall Bald Cypress with Spanish Moss and other swampy trees and bushes live in the brackish water. We see almost no birds, just a few Blue Heron and Egret.

There's no place to stop for photos. Getting off the interstate takes you down to "water level" where you lose the view of the swamp. Speaking of levels, we've been between .5 foot and 35 feet below sea level since getting to the gulf coast. Thus the swamps, levees and cement dams. It is like nowhere else.

It's a good thing we enjoy the drive. When we arrive the store is closed. Because Monday is a holiday since Sunday was Christmas. Oops.

The sun is low in the sky on the return trip and the swamp is even more beautiful with the moss glowing in the gold light. Lake Pontchatrain sparkles. Life is good.

Tuesday the weather is awful. 80 degrees and 98% humidity. Tessa gets groomed, groceries are bought, and we hide out in the air conditioning.

We get a call to join the gang for dinner in Raceland, and off we go. More lively conversation, lots of laughter, just fun to get together with their families. Fog rolls in on our way home and we feel our way back to our space in the campground.

There is an elevated walkway past the new cabins at the park, with really great views of the bayou. I take a short walk Wednesday morning.







Around noon Lois and Bob and his wife Cookie come to see our house before we all head to the River Walk in New Orleans.

As locals they prefer the Walk over the Quarter, and with the cooler temps and scattered showers it is nice to be outside.

Too much mall for us, but we have to walk through the outlets to get to the outdoor space. With the holiday break, it is surprisingly busy for a week day. Still, it's fun to watch the big ships and paddle boats on the river, enjoy the art, play music on the bells, eat some gumbo and boudin balls, and spend more time with old friends. 









The Holocaust Memorial is "an artistic visual prayer" with nine panels that make different pieces visible from points on the plaza.


I thought there would be Beignets on every corner, but we haven't even seen them anywhere. Bob leads us down Decataur Street for the original Cafe de Monde, but when we get there the line is huge :-(( So we head back to the mall where there is another, smaller one, where we wait in a shorter line. And finally we have our Beignets!


Jackson Square at Decataur Street

More colorful vintage ladies.


Hot, fresh and yum!
We return home and visit some more before saying our goodbyes for now.

Thursday morning we take our time getting ready and pull out around 11:00. When Bill opens the door to get back in at the dump station the stairs don't come out. Hmmmmm. Something to deal with at our next stop in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.



20 comments:

  1. Boy your family is really growing quickly! Congrats to all. Such a fun area to be in. Loved the food in that area. Looking forward to passing through again later this year.

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    1. I look forward to seeing what weather you have then. The food is amazing but so rich, may need to live on salad while in Texas!!

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  2. Congratulations to Travis and Emily!!! So glad Bill's children are all sons:) It is saving him a ton!!

    We are on your tail...hope to be in new Orleans by Friday!!

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    1. Don't you know we think about that with each engagement!! Hope it will be cooler, but you'll have fun no matter what. Safe travels.

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  3. Congratulations to Travis and Emily.

    Joe doesn't want to go to New Orleans so we visited plantations (beautiful old plantations) in Baton Rouge instead. I think I need to "work" on him! New Orleans looks colorful and fun!

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    1. I might not visit after dark, our friends warned against it, but it was fun and safe and very interesting. Still, probably not for everyone.

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  4. Congratulations to Travis and Emily! How exciting. Totally understandable that you hadn't been able to post about it yet. Traveling and experiencing life there just doesn't seem to be enough time to 'do it all'... Isn't it cool though to have a local show you around a new town. Great photos!

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    1. It really is a treat to have our friends in these beautiful places - seeing it through their eyes is so unique.

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  5. Check the water in the house batteries. When our batteries get low, the steps are the first things to let us know. 😊

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    1. Wish it were that simple :D New motor on its way.

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  6. I like traveling those long sections of interstate over the swamp in Louisiana, too. But you're right, there's nowhere to stop and take photos. During the French Quarter Festival the Riverwalk is wall-to-wall people. But it's fun to hang out at the music venues overlooking the water with the sternwheelers cruising by. Congratulations to Travis and Emily! Another wedding in your future. :-)

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    1. Music is the one major fail we've had in LA. The holiday schedules and rain storms have made us miss every venue so far. Another reason to come back :-)))

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  7. How wonderful to be getting a DIL that you love. We don't pick our children's mates so it's great when they pick someone wonderful. Where were the big question letters? Looks so romantic! Congrats to them!! Bummer on Camping World being closed. Same thing happened to us. It's hard to remember which days are holidays when every day is a holiday in your life!!

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    1. Travis and her family did so much to make it perfect. While he was hugging her and then proposing, the letters were being put up behind her - when she turned around, bam! We do love that we can't tell the difference with holidays, except for closures of course :)

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  8. Yay thanks Jodee!! We love being featured in your famous blog :-) love you both!! Can't wait to see you! Give Tess a big squeeze for us!

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    1. Couldn't NOT include such a wonderful event - we are beyond excited to have you officially be in the family :D

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  9. Funny how retirement puts us off the "extra" holidays but nothing wrong with a pretty drive.

    Congrats to a new family addition.

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    1. Yep, it didn't even dawn on us although in hindsight, most of the campers didn't pack up and leave on Sunday....

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  10. Congratulations to your son and future DIL. I10 in that area is so interesting but was crazy when we went through in Nov. Let us know if you're heading down the TX Gulf Coast anywhere near Port Aransas.

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    1. We'll miss that area this route - turning north to see Dallas then back down to San Antonio where we continue west. Texas is SO big!

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