Cajun swamp tour, Lake Martin, LA

January 20, 2016

We spent a few hours on a slow moving shallow draft boat, observing nature and learning about the ecology of the area.  The trees are mostly swamp cypress and tupelos. 

The beauty of the area is spectacular. 

 

The weather was perfect for sunning.

 ...and warm enough for the alligators, a youngster on a log, and a mama in the water,  to enjoy.

 Our guide, Bob, was personable and very knowledgeable, and the bird life varied.

 Cormorants, egrets, several types of heron: great blue, black-crowned night, tricolour (no photo), little blue and several ibis.

Louisiana cajun

January 18-21, 2016

A  reminder that, if you would like to see the photos in full size, you can click on them for enlargement.
 
We were lucky enough that Robert-Yves, a Nova Scotia Acadian friend, gave us the names  of a few of his many contacts in Louisiane.  Although one of the friends was not home, she graciously gave us permission to camp on  her property in Lafayette, LA!  Thank you so much Janine!

We toured the Acadian Cultural Centre in Lafayette. 

The Centre is part of a National Park and Museum and chronicles the 1760s deportation of Acadians from Nova Scotia to the US.  Called in French "Le grand derangement" (the big upheaval), the statistics below speak to the reception the Acadian people were given when arriving in various US areas.

The museum also explores many aspects of acadian/cajun culture and lifestyle.

 

 We were intrigued by cajun cooking and were given the name and address of a butcher, who, not only sold us delicious sausages, chicken and smoked turkey necks (?) to make a gumbo but gave us samples of traditional boudin and cracklin' and a jar of his own cajun spice mix and had one of his staff explain the gumbo making process. The resulting gumbo was excellent!  Thanks Kirk!

Our Nova Scotia friend, Robert-Yves, also put us in touch with Francois Boissard, a good friend who lives in Breaux Bridge, not far from Lafayette. We are indebted to Francois for allowing us to park in his driveway.  Francois is from France but has adopted Louisiana as his home away from home several months a year.  He introduced us to cajun friends who had us all over for a copious and delicious lunch.  Thank you Wesley and Mary Lou. Francois and I made Crepes Bretonnes together another evening, with another young friend of his Lauren (Lolo) who made me a unique Mardi Gras necklace using the many bead strands people collect during this time of year. 

 During our visit, we were glad of the sheltered parking spot as the weather deteriorated and we had a downpour, thunderstorms and tornado warnings. 





Our time in Louisiana concluded with a stop in Lake Charles where I visited a Mardi Gras museum where dozens of elaborate costumes spanning decades are displayed.  Even the mascots are decked out in carnival colours!

 Dave and I spent the better part of an afternoon doing a swamp tour in Lake Martin, LA which you can see on my second Louisiana post. 

New Orleans, part 4. NOLA at night

We were in the city only one evening, Saturday night, but our impression is certainly that things let loose!  Music and buskers in the streets, people carrying their drinks (legally!) walking about, bars, clubs and open shops all contributing to a party atmosphere.  Oh, but to be young again!