New Orleans Catch-up

Wed 1 March

Today we took a trip on the SS Natchez. This is a rear wheel paddle steamer doing tourist trips up and down the Mississippi River. We explored all over the boat including the engine room to view the oil fueled boilers - very hot. The 2 hour trip up and down the river was very informative and entertaining and included and on-board jazz band.

Steph near the Natchez paddle ...

... and in the engine room

Back on land, Peter still wanted to find Bywater. We were successful after a long bus trip and walk through an area of nicely renovated houses and many more that needed renovation. Found "The Joint" that did delicious ribs of various flavours. Out the back they have a huge wood fired barbecue giving it a unique smokey flavour.

Ribs in "The Joint"

Later walked along Frenchman and Bourbon Streets glancing in and listening to jazz and blues bands.

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Thursday 2 Mar

Took trolley to Canal St to book our tour to the plantations for tomorrow. Bizarre trip involving an elderly woman in a wheelchair who needed loading into the trolley car accompanied by her son whose main interest was the next liquor store along the way. As she said, "You can dress 'em up but you can't take 'em out". Made our way to Jackson Square to join a walking history tour of the French Quarter.

The 2 hour tour was extremely interesting and the guide, Karen, was very knowledgeable and informative telling us about the history of the buildings and people of the French Quarter.

Images from the French Quarter

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Fri 3 Mar

Took the bus into Canal Street to get picked up for our plantation tour. Unfortunately, the wait was just outside a shoe store so Stephanie just had to have a look inside. A woman standing nearby told me, "You don't leave no woman outside no shoe store!". I'll know better next time.

The 1 hr bus trip took us first to Oak Alley. This tour mainly centred on the restoration and preservation of a lovely mansion built in the Greek revival style. The second plantation, "Laura", was centred more on the 4 generations of Creole women who ran this profitable sugar cane plantation up to the American Civil War.

"Oak Alley" exterior and interior

 "Laura" exterior and slave buildings exhibit