New Orleans, Wednesday October 27th

New Orleans. A place of history, drama, jazz, pirates, culture, everything. There was so much to see and so little time (and energy) to see it. We decided to limit ourselves to the French Quarter, check when we get there for specifics and then just have a general walk around. Lunch for sure and possibly dinner. It's less than an hour's drive from the RV Park.

Our first stop was at the Visitor's Information Center at the state line where we obtained maps and suggestions, even a carefully marked map to a central parking place.




Once parked, the roof left open for the dogs we began our search for a place for lunch. At the end of the parking lot we came upon this building.


We're going to like this place! Click on the photo to see the detail.






To the right of the above photo we found a restaurant with a covered patio that would allow the dogs in the patio. Gillian went back to the car for the dogs and before we could even begin to peruse the menu the waiter had brought a bucket of water for the dogs.

We settled in with beer and menus when suddenly the sky went dark, clouds opened up and down came the rain! We had been sitting at the out edge and were getting wet so the waiter came over and sat us at another table. Then Art asked Gillian "Did you close the roof when you got the dogs out of the car?" "OH NO!" Leaving Gillian to care for the dogs Art sloshed back to the car to close it up.


Our food arrive and we tucked in. Art had the Ya Ya Gumbo (a thick soup with chicken, shrimp and sausage covered in rice) and Gillian with a cajun prawn salad.


Then the rain began to leak though the metal roof so we and other patrons were scrambling for dry or semi dry tables. We were able to escape the worst of it my moving aside a little. Then Gillian some how managed to spill a good portion of her water down her front.





After lunch we set off on our stroll around the French Quarter. We had discovered that one of the museums on Jackson Square had just opened a Hurricane Katrina display, entry free for the first week. We took turns touring the museum and sitting out with the dogs enjoying the street musicians and local colour.


The museum display was very well done, brought us understanding of the enormity of the event. Interestingly enough the cause of increasing amount of damage by recent hurricanes has been traced in part to the successful Mississippi River flood control projects. Over the decades these works have reduced the flow of fresh water into the wetlands surrounding the region. The loss of fresh water resulted in two things; first the ground level subsided, in many places to below sea level, requiring higher levees or dikes. The second result was the influx of salt water which has destroyed the wetland ecology. But the river floods are much reduced.




There were many displays of acts of heroism, hardship and struggle. The damage was enormous there are still many signs of this around the city and countryside. This piano belonging to Fats Domino was donated to the museum and is displayed in the state and position it was found, minus the mud and water of course.





Having worked off some of our lunch we carried on around Jackson Square to one of the early cafes to sample the famous beignets and coffee. The dogs weren't allowed in to the eating area but we were able to find a table alongside the fence.

Besides the beignets there was of course more jazz which we and other passers by of all ages enjoyed.

The beignets were excellent, so good in fact that they didn't last long enough for a photo opportunity! To work them off we continued our French Quarter stroll, up to and along Bourbon street and down again toward the river and the car park.


































Our square loop brought us back to the parking lot, the rain still holding off. We decided that we would return to the RV Park.


The rain caught up with us on the way home but we had driven through the worst of it by the time we were back at the rig.

We fed the dogs, thought about dinner, left the dogs to sleep off their supper and drove a few miles down the road to a casino to check out dining opportunities.

They had a reasonably good buffet going, a marginal selection of beer, but we did well enough. Our first opportunity to sample catfish, which was deep fried in a crispy batter and found it quite good. Soup (more gumbo, not as good as at lunch but enjoyable), salad bar, several trips to main buffet for beef, turkey, chicken, several types of fish, crayfish, assorted veggies. We left feeling loaded a little below the Plimsoll Line, wondering where and when we would get the opportunity to work it off!

Next day was a stay at home and recover day, work on the blog, so some cleaning, shopping and laundry.