Views from the Big Country: October 2014

Correction to my last blog ~ the Poche Plantation where we stayed was formerly a tobacco plantation, not a sugar cane plantation as I stated. The plantation was run without the use of slaves.

Friday, October 17 ~ Thursday October 23, 2014

While staying at the Poche Plantation we made day trips into New Orleans...

The Big Easy, NOLA, the City of New Orleans, Nawlins. Whichever name you call it, New Orleans is a great city. Well-known for its cuisine, music (the birthplace of Jazz), French and Spanish Creole architecture, cross-cultural and multilingual heritage, New Orleans is often referred to as the the most unique city in the United States. New Orleans is also a major port and the largest city in Louisiana.

love these bridges on stilts

Lake Pontchartrain

power line towers on stilts

Parking is at a premium in the city. Each day we would head to the Visitors Center. There is a very large public parking lot around the corner from the Visitors Center. Very reasonable ~ $3.00 charge for 10 hours. We used that lot each day we came into the city.

The Visitors Center is housed in a former railroad terminal; there is a nice museum within the visitors center.

The Visitor Center is also where we would pick up our transportation each day. We each purchased a three-day pass on the "Hop-On, Hop-Off" double decker bus. A tour guide pointed out history and some local sites as we drove through the city. Some of the stops include the French Quarter, the National World War II Museum, the Garden District, Mardi Gras World, the casino and more. We made great use of our "hop-on, hop-off". It's a great way to see the city.

Next door to the Visitors Center is St. Louis Cemetery 1...

This cemetery was founded in 1789 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the oldest existing cemetery in New Orleans.

The cemeteries of New Orleans are often called the Cities of the Dead. Not only do the tombs look like buildings (in the French and Spanish tradition; also in consideration of the high water table in New Orleans), they are organized with streets and street names.

the old and the new are mixed in with each other

The photo below shows the tomb for Nicholas Cage. Nicholas Cage, who is a part-time resident of the City, has demonstrated his fascination with New Orleans. He is especially fascinated with the local burial practices and ghost legends. He intends for this tomb to be his final resting place. Parallels have been drawn with the pyramid images in the movie "National Treasure." However the pyramid has always been one of the styles used in New Orleans cemeteries.

tomb of Nicholas Cage

The two photos below show the Glapion Family Tomb, which is the resting place of the most famous Voodoo Priestess, Marie Laveau (1794-1881). Notice the XXX's on the tomb? They indicate favors granted or requested. When favors are granted, the recipients leave gifts for Marie...

Wall Vaults were the tombs of the lowest ranking tier of "society" and were the lowest in cost to the owners. Due to the climate in New Orleans, decomposition of the remains is rapid. One year and one day following an "oven" wall vault burial, the vault could be opened by the undertaker and using a ten-foot pole, the remains of the previously buried body would be pushed to the back of the slab, falling into a six-foot opening called the "caveau." Legend has it this is one of the explanations for the expression "I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole".

wall vaults

The majority of our time was spent in the French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood in the city. It was founded in 1718. Most of the present-day historic buildings were constructed during the late 18th century, during the city's period of Spanish rule and reflect Spanish colonial architecture. The district as a whole has been designated a National Historic Landmark...

fun way to get around town

one of the many street musicians

love all the balconies

we just loved the street musicians

Supreme Court of Louisiana

love all the colors of the buildings

Of course we had to walk down Bourbon Street...

One of our favorite areas within the Quarter is the French Market...great food, great coffee and of course beignets!

First stop ~ lunch at The Gazebo Cafe...

great place to eat while listening to some jazz!

Ron's lunch ~ alligator po'boy. Yum!

Following lunch, it was time for lattes and beignets. Where else to go but Cafe du Monde. This is the best place to find the best latte and beignets...

Lattes and beignets in hand, we walked down to Jackson Square. Jackson Square was one of our favorite areas...

Due to her importance to the French in providing relief efforts during the Siege of 'Orleans (1428-1429), the city has erected a beautiful statue of Joan of Arc in the Square. The locals fondly refer to her as "Joanie on the Pony".

Joan of Arc

Spiritual Advisor...

St. Louis Cathedral is simply beautiful; it is one of oldest cathedrals in the U.S. Pope John Paul II visited here in September, 1987...

St. Louis Cathedral

We were delighted to find the cathedral open...

more street musicians in the square

one of the mimes...

We drove the the Garden District. The area was originally laid out in 1832 (after the Louisiana Purchase) and was developed between 1832 and 1900. Originally developed for the new American residents of New Orleans who were not eager to mingle with those of European descent (primarily in the French Quarter), the Garden District is considered one of the best preserved collections of historic southern mansions in the United States. The Garden District is also a National Historic Landmark. The area has been featured in many movies and is home to several celebrities, among them, Sandra Bullock, Ann Rice, Nicholas Cage, Archie Manning and others. Streetcars are still used as a mode of transportation...

one of the original streetcars. streetcars from here were used in the
film, "A Street Car Named Desire"

this road through the Garden District is part of the Mardi Gras Parade
Route...notice the beads on the wires? they're still there from
previous years parades

one of the homes in the Garden District

We toured other areas of the city, including the Musicians Village, which was started by Harry Connick, Jr. after hurricane Katrina. Other sights we saw...