It had to happen some day. We woke up in sleepy and charming Eunice, Louisiana, and three hours later we had entered Texas, heading for a Houston freeway. Continue reading “We cross the line”
A vacation from our vacation
I try to keep all the backstage stuff from you faithful readers, but the reality is that, every once in a while, we need the equivalent of a sick day. This month, that day came in good old Eunice.Continue reading “A vacation from our vacation”
La Joie de Vivre
Boy, do those Cajuns have it. We are staying in Eunice, Louisiana, right in the heart of Cajun country. This is the most intact, rich and impressive culture we have been exposed to yet. Take last night…Continue reading “La Joie de Vivre”
La Vie Acadienne
Yesterday was all about Cajun country and Cajun history, We have been to Nova Scotia, home of the embarkation of the French Catholics to New Orleans, pushed out by the English in 1765. It was a major national trauma, and this part of the world is where the rest of the story took place.Continue reading “La Vie Acadienne”
Louisiana Taste Sensations
Some people just don’t know how good they have it. Every single guidebook we own told us to eat at Brenda’s in New Iberia, as we made our way west from New Orleans. It is an acknowledged food sensation, and they were all right. Continue reading “Louisiana Taste Sensations”
House Lust in New Orleans
Venturing out on a streetcar named St. Charles, we spent most of the day touring the Garden District of New Orleans, which is enough to make you drool all over yourself. The homes are gorgeous, and they go on for block after block. Lots of celebrities live in some of these beauties, but we promised Anne Rice, John Goodman, Sandra Bullock, and Archie Manning (plus Eli and Peyton) that we would respect their privacy and not make a big point of identifying their homes. Since the friend’s house where Jefferson Davis died has a big plaque and a stone monument in front of it anyway, we did not have any hesitation in calling it out, All I can say is that they each have nice taste. Continue reading “House Lust in New Orleans”
Walking the Big Easy
What can you say about New Orleans that hasn’t already been said? It’s loose, lively and lovely, and we arrived in mid-morning on a beautiful cool-ish day for this town. Continue reading “Walking the Big Easy”
Along the Great River Road
In Louisiana, the Great River Road means plantations, and plantations are what we saw today. There are still lots of private and working plantations, as well as those that are open to public view. We saw three today, and while I will save the distinctions between Creole and American in general for another time, we did see one Creole and two American homes.Continue reading “Along the Great River Road”
Louisiana, here we come
Before we take you to Louisiana, just a word about the Great Mississippi Balloon Race. As we were leaving Natchez this morning, the winds were suddenly propitious for the ballooners. We were able to see them wafting away, but have no idea how on earth one races those things. Continue reading “Louisiana, here we come”
Antebellum Natchez
Natchez was the first civilized settlement on the Mississippi – and when they say that, this time they are actually counting the Indians. It’s been around for a long time, and before the War (you should already know to which war I am referring), eleven of the nation’s twenty richest men lived here. Cotton was king, and those who prospered with it did exceedingly well. Continue reading “Antebellum Natchez”