New Orleans!
These are some of the photos we took while visiting Martha's
cousin, Jerrie Wilson and her husband Cliff, in Houma, Louisiana
cousin, Jerrie Wilson and her husband Cliff, in Houma, Louisiana
Heavy rains in
Montgomery delayed
our departure, so it
took an extra night
to get to Houma.
Montgomery delayed
our departure, so it
took an extra night
to get to Houma.
It rained all night, and
we had mini-lakes all
over the place. There
was a tornado nearby,
but fortunately, we
only had rain.
we had mini-lakes all
over the place. There
was a tornado nearby,
but fortunately, we
only had rain.
The little lady in our
GPS unit had a fit when
Terry over-ruled her
and drove the camper
across the Huey P.
Long Bridge in New
Orleans.
GPS unit had a fit when
Terry over-ruled her
and drove the camper
across the Huey P.
Long Bridge in New
Orleans.
The southern Louisiana
area received a deluge
of 7 to 14 inches of rain.
This was a typical scene
as we arrived in Houma.
area received a deluge
of 7 to 14 inches of rain.
This was a typical scene
as we arrived in Houma.
Everything was high
and dry at Jerrie and
Cliff's house at an
elevation of 7 feet
above sea level!
and dry at Jerrie and
Cliff's house at an
elevation of 7 feet
above sea level!
The next day our first
stop was at the Louisiana
Crawfish Festival in the
Chalmette section of New
Orleans. This was one of
the hardest hit areas by
"The Storm," as the
locals refer to it, but the
folks there are rebuilding
fast and ready to party!
stop was at the Louisiana
Crawfish Festival in the
Chalmette section of New
Orleans. This was one of
the hardest hit areas by
"The Storm," as the
locals refer to it, but the
folks there are rebuilding
fast and ready to party!
Neither of us had eaten
crawfish before, so Cliff
gave us a quick lesson
in crawfish shucking.
We enjoyed the food
and the authentic Cajun
music.
crawfish before, so Cliff
gave us a quick lesson
in crawfish shucking.
We enjoyed the food
and the authentic Cajun
music.
Now, we will never be
mistaken for real Cajuns,
but we sure had a good
time eating crawfish. No,
we didn't suck the heads
like real Cajuns.
mistaken for real Cajuns,
but we sure had a good
time eating crawfish. No,
we didn't suck the heads
like real Cajuns.
After we got a belly full
of crawfish, we visited
the Battle of New
Orleans Memorial from
the War of 1812.
of crawfish, we visited
the Battle of New
Orleans Memorial from
the War of 1812.
This canal, which was
full of water from the
heavy rains, is where
Andrew Jackson's
troops set up their
cannons and awaited
the British. Anyone
remember the song,
"Battle of New Orleans?"
full of water from the
heavy rains, is where
Andrew Jackson's
troops set up their
cannons and awaited
the British. Anyone
remember the song,
"Battle of New Orleans?"
Martha and Jerrie are
strolling near the manor
house of the Chalmet
Plantation. The memorial
can be seen in the
background, and the
battle took place behind
the house.
strolling near the manor
house of the Chalmet
Plantation. The memorial
can be seen in the
background, and the
battle took place behind
the house.
This was a special
time for us to visit as
Cliff celebrated his
85th birthday! He
blew out 8 long
candles and one short
one to symbolize 85
years - and not create
a fire hazard.
time for us to visit as
Cliff celebrated his
85th birthday! He
blew out 8 long
candles and one short
one to symbolize 85
years - and not create
a fire hazard.
Jerrie and daughters,
Linda and Sandy, are
helping Cliff get to the
serious part of the
birthday cake ritual.
Linda and Sandy, are
helping Cliff get to the
serious part of the
birthday cake ritual.
Sandy, Jerrie, Linda,
Martha, Terry, and the
guest of honor, Cliff.
Martha, Terry, and the
guest of honor, Cliff.
Linda, Martha, and Sandy.
They had not seen each
other since the mid 1960's.
They were much younger
then.
They had not seen each
other since the mid 1960's.
They were much younger
then.
Despite all that has
happened, New
Orleans is growing
and thriving again.
happened, New
Orleans is growing
and thriving again.
We didn't take time for
a Super Dome tour,
but Martha snapped
this shot as we drove
by.
a Super Dome tour,
but Martha snapped
this shot as we drove
by.
We were able to get a
parking spot right on
the river front. The
Mississippi River is
indeed mighty at this
point. A large freighter
passes under the Huey
Long Bridge.
parking spot right on
the river front. The
Mississippi River is
indeed mighty at this
point. A large freighter
passes under the Huey
Long Bridge.
Jackson Square is
the center of the
historic French
Quarter.
the center of the
historic French
Quarter.
Does Terry look like
a tourist, or what?
a tourist, or what?
Carriages are lined
up and waiting in
front of Jackson
Square.
up and waiting in
front of Jackson
Square.
We try to do one of
these tours wherever
they are available. They
are fun, slow-paced,
and informative.
these tours wherever
they are available. They
are fun, slow-paced,
and informative.
Our driver's mule gave
a complimentary kiss at
the end of each tour,
but we had already had
our mule sugar for the
day.
a complimentary kiss at
the end of each tour,
but we had already had
our mule sugar for the
day.
No trip to New Orleans
is complete without a
stop at the famous
Café Du Monde.
is complete without a
stop at the famous
Café Du Monde.
Coffee and beignets
are the order of the
day here. Eating the
beignets, with all that
powdered sugar, is
like eating ribs; you
end up wearing as
much food as you eat.
are the order of the
day here. Eating the
beignets, with all that
powdered sugar, is
like eating ribs; you
end up wearing as
much food as you eat.
The entire French
Quarter is fascinating,
but Bourbon Street is
legendary in its own
right.
Quarter is fascinating,
but Bourbon Street is
legendary in its own
right.
Johnny White's Sports
Bar and Grill on Bourbon
Street never closes.
This bar remains open
during all hurricanes,
and even did so during
Katrina.
Bar and Grill on Bourbon
Street never closes.
This bar remains open
during all hurricanes,
and even did so during
Katrina.
The Court of Two
Sisters on Royale
Street is just one of
the many storied
restaurants in New
Orleans.
Sisters on Royale
Street is just one of
the many storied
restaurants in New
Orleans.
Street entertainers are
everywhere. This lady
in a bridal gown was just
one of many.
everywhere. This lady
in a bridal gown was just
one of many.
Martha enjoyed people
watching as much as the
other live entertainment.
watching as much as the
other live entertainment.
This was Terry's first
trip to New Orleans, so
he was taken back by
the above ground
cemeteries.
trip to New Orleans, so
he was taken back by
the above ground
cemeteries.
Grave sites varied from basic and
untended to prominent and
elaborate. The residents of New
Orleans entertain visitors even
after death.
untended to prominent and
elaborate. The residents of New
Orleans entertain visitors even
after death.
We quickly discovered that we had
planned much too little time to
spend in Houma and New Orleans.
The good part of that is that we can't
wait to go back again. We also want
to express our sincere appreciation
to Cliff and Jerrie Wilson for their
most gracious hospitality during our
visit to the area. They practice true
"Southern Hospitality" in its finest
tradition.
planned much too little time to
spend in Houma and New Orleans.
The good part of that is that we can't
wait to go back again. We also want
to express our sincere appreciation
to Cliff and Jerrie Wilson for their
most gracious hospitality during our
visit to the area. They practice true
"Southern Hospitality" in its finest
tradition.