New Orleans

We rode into the French Quarter on the shuttle from the KOA this morning. Several of the photos I took from the van window. We had a knowledgeable van driver that took us on a tour of several specific sites along the way, so our very own guided tour in and back. Once in the city our first stop was Cafe Du Monde for beignets. There was a 45 minute wait for a table so we took ours to go and found a bench along the river to eat them. We had powdered sugar everywhere. They are a deep fried pastry, like a doughnut but square and without a hole in the center.

We walked down several streets enjoying the architecture as well as the people. Bourbon street was quite a scene even in the day time. Gary commented that it wasn't a place for women and children. It is one of those places I wanted to see but now I have been there I can check it off the list and don't need to go back. For lunch we went to a buffet that served local food. We enjoyed the meal but it is the same as the environment. I have tried those things and now I can move on.

The van driver took us thru a cemetary and explained how the above ground vaults work as well as pointing out some beautiful structures and stained glass windows in the vaults.

He drove thru a different devastated neighborhood with many boarded up, abandoned homes as well as some vacant lots and rebuilt homes.

We took a ride on a steam powered paddlewheeler, the Natchez. The Mississippi river is at flood stage so high and fast. Got to see the city from a different perspective.