Louisiana - Oak Alley Plantation (May 2, 2011)

Louisiana - Oak Alley Plantation - May 2, 2011


Our last plantation was Oak Alley. If you can think of a quintessential southern antebellum plantation, this should be it. The alley leading to the front door of the "big house" was lined with 28 300 year old live oak trees. Picture Twelve Oaks from Gone with the Wind and double it!!! Amazing setting and much more of what you expect of a southern mansion with beautiful marble and wide open central hallways. All three plantations offered a little different view into the life of the pre-civil war era in Louisiana's sugar cane plantations.

I include this photo just for a sheer size comparison of the beautiful 3+ story plantation home and the magnificent 300 year old live oak trees.  Did you know that live oaks are called that because they are green all year round?

Here is a panoramic image that Matt took of the plantation showing the wonderful tree lined entry.  Be sure to click on the image for a full size image as this smaller one does not do it justice.

Here is a view from the levee along the Mississippi River towards the front of the home that I took.  All 28 trees are pictured here.  What an amazing view and definitely what I think of when I think of a tree lined entry way.

For more information on this wonderful plantation, visit their website at http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/visiting/

New Orleans to Vicksburg

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Our last full day in The Cresent City.  We walked down into the French Quarter in the morning.  After sharing an order of beignets at Cafe du Monde, we met at the 1850 House for a walking tour of New Orleans with the Friends of the Cabildo.  We walked through the square and french market before heading out into other areas of the french quarter.  

We had lunch at a sidewalk cafe with a banjo player playing for us.  Some time for some photos of the St. Louis cathedral and Royal Street concluded the afternoon.  We walked back to the RV for a short rest before venturing out to gas the truck up and go to dinner.

 

Here are a few photos from the French Quarter:

This is Royal Street - Just a block off Bourbon Street and so much nicer (and not urine and vomit smelling) - Our favorite street to walk up and down.

The wrought iron work throughout the quarter was amazing.  Here is a gallery (not a balcony).  I had no idea of the difference between a gallery and a balcony until we took our guided walk through the city.  A gallery has the support posts extending to the street while a balcony will be unsupported.

Another example of the unique European style architecture that is prevalent throughout the Quarter.  These building surround the square behind the cathedral.

Annie had recommended a little restaurant over near the Universities called Jacqu'Imo's.  It was quite the unique little place and was packed wall to wall with people.  Very good food and a unique atmosphere made for a very good night.

We gassed up the truck for tomorrow's journey into Vicksburg, MS.

 

Thursday, May 5, 2011

We left the RV this morning for one last trip into the French Quarter for pastries at Crossaint D'Or.  They were so good that we had to get a few for the road (lunch that is).  

Since our Natchez, MS RV park was closed due to the Mississippi River flooding, we called ahead to Vicksburg (our next stop) to see if they could accommodate us for a few extra days.  We are planning on making the 1.5 hour drive back and forth to Natchez to still be able to view some of the beautiful antebellum homes there.  

We were hitched up and on the road by 10am and made the 228 mile drive all on interstates pretty easily (except the awful bumps and bouts of road construction) and had the RV parked and all unpacked by 2pm. 

A quiet evening and dinner at the RV made for some great relaxing and studying.  Sorry, no photos from today.

Louisiana - Laura Plantation (May 2, 2011)

May 2, 2011 - Laura Plantation - Promised Photos

Our second plantation was a Creole plantation named "Laura". Of course, I had to check out my sister's namesake!! I don't know about you, but I had no idea of the difference between a Creole plantation and an American (southern) plantation. As it turns out, the Creole's took a very different view of the plantation. The Creole's view of the main plantation home was an an office while their residences were normally in New Orleans town. As such, the home was much smaller and more focused on business meetings than lavish entertaining. As a matter of fact, the American Southern Gentlemen were scandalized when they viewed the Elizabeth's (the owner and president) bed while meeting with her for business purposes. This particular plantation had its last family owner write her memoirs in a book that I purchased. A great plantation to challenge your thoughts of how all plantations worked.

The Creole Plantation - You can tell from the beginning that this will be a different home.

The front door to the home that no one except cats, dogs & mosquitos used.  The side doors into the plantation offices were used instead of the front doors.

The dining room - Much simpler than the typical American Plantation of the time.

The store room for kitchen supplies just off the dining room - Notice the unique brick and wooden pillar construction of this home.

 For more information on the Plantation or the book, visit their website at http://www.lauraplantation.com/book.asp

Louisiana - San Francisco Plantation (May 2, 2011)

May 2, 2011 - San Francisco Plantation - Promised photos of the plantation:


We stopped first at the San Francisco Plantation. We were quite surprised as we were driving along the river road towards it at the huge oil processing plants and tanks everywhere. We found the gorgeous home nestled on a small but beautiful lot surrounded by huge oil tanks. The home was very nicely restored and the tour guide painted a great picture of what life was like during the plantations most prominent times. We also found out that the land was purchased by Marathon OIl and that the oil company had preserved the home and its small acreage right around it. I would highly recommend a visit to this plantation.

This is the rear of the home.  What beautiful colors!

The front doors of the home invite you in.

Matt enjoying the wonderful wide verandas on the front of the plantation.

This is a remaining example of a slave cabin that I photographed.  Can you imagine two families living in this structure?

 For more information on this wonderful place, please visit their website at http://www.sanfranciscoplantation.org/history.asp.

New Orleans - French Quarter

Wow, I can't even tell you how many miles we walked today.  We started out the day a little before 7 to get the truck in to be looked at.  Good news is that the dealership could not find anything wrong with it and it's not doing the shakie thing today.  Our guesses are that the 4 wheel drive got stuck on an axle or tire but came out as the technician was looking at it.

We toured around the French Quarter today.  We walked from our RV park into the French Quarter.  Our first stop was Cafe Du Monde for its coffee and beignets.  Just a word of caution, Beignets should not be eaten when it is windy outside.  The pound of powdered sugar on top seems to find a very nice little home in your lap - travel tip, don't wear dark colored clothing.  For those who do not know what a beignet is, it is a small square fried donut that is covered in powdered sugar (at least an inch of it).  The beignet was good, but the coffee was even better, a very nice European latte.

 

St. Louis Cathedral on Chartes St in the French Quarter.  This photo was taken from the levee overlooking the Mississippi river.

Matt enjoying his Cafe Du Monde coffee on a bench overlooking the Mississippi River while the St. Louis Cathedral peaks out from behind.

We then visited the 1850 house which was a very beautiful town home furnished in the luxurious 1850's style.  It was very neat to see how homes were built in New Orleans.  Picture long and narrow rooms that open into each other with no windows on each side and very large windows and french doors opening on either end with high ceilings to help the breezes cool them.  For more information on the home, visit the website at http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/1850ex.htm. 

 

The front parlor of the home - Not too bad for middle class.

The children's room  - How about that baby bed!!!  Beautiful!!!

I think I like my kitchen in the RV better than this one...

Our next stop was a stroll through the French Market along the Mississippi River.  The French Market area was the main source of trading for all of New Orleans and began in 1791.  Early residents could find all manners of food, spices, & wares from all over the world there as ships made their way into the Mississippi River.

Hermann-Grima House was the next historic home that we would tour.  Located just a half block from Bourbon Street, it was amazing how quiet its courtyards were.  This large two story home was built in 1831 and was set on 4 city lots.  It was very unique as it was very wide (2 city lots wide) and actually had windows on the sides instead of just having windows on the front and rear.  Beautiful crown moldings around the 14 foot ceilings and a wonderful courtyard.  Perhaps the most interesting of all was the kitchen located in the outbuildings behind the main home.  It is amazing how primitive the cooking was with a large portion of the cooking done in a very large open fireplace.  The home was unique as it did have an oven which was very uncommon at the time.  For some wonderful interior shots, visit their website http://www.hgghh.org/tour_grima.htm.

We then walked from the French Quarter over into the Warehouse District.  We walked along the St Charles street car line.  

Back to the RV for some much needed rest for our feet!!!