Thurs 9/29/2011

This is our last day in New Orleans and my last blog of the trip. We have lots to see today, we took the trolley back to the French Quarter, again to the Cafe Beignet to meet up with our tour guide Gwen a 4th generation Creole. She showed us the different styles of architecture used by the Creoles and different areas built by Creoles and the “whites”, “nothing personal it’s part of history” she said. The French were the first to move in in 1718 and their legacy endures with the central square, the Church of St. Louis, the cities military style grid of 70 squares, street names such as Royal and Bourbon. In 1762 they sold out to Spain who brought wall plastered brick houses, walled courtyards and utility spaces with separate kitchens and servants quarters, olive oil cooking and graceful wrought iron balconies.
It was bought by the United States in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. Well, enough with the history, there’s plenty more to tell but for another day.

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The trees along St. Charles are covered with beads. They must have really wild parties around here.

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Waiting for the trolley.

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Gerry and Lisa

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Gerry, could have sworn his hands were elsewhere…

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Listening to our tour guide Gwen. She was very dramatic.

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She was explaining the difference between wrought iron and cast iron.

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The sharp points on this post were meant to keep young gentlemen from climbing onto the balconies.

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Another deterent.

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St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest Catholic Church in continual use in the US. Completed in 1794.

 

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The buggy line.

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General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans. Dedicated in 1856.

After a good lunch at Franks we walked to the WWII Museum just a short mile and a half away. Picture at the bottom.

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WWII Museum

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It’s first goal was to be a museum devoted to D Day.

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Higgins boats built for the Navy and used during the D Day invasion of Normandy and the landing on Omaha Beach.

 

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Higgins boats employed 30,000 people during the war, producing all types of small boats.

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Mary, Kathey and her sister Lori.
The museum was very interesting, it started out concentrating on D Day and as the Vets started coming they brought with them their stories and their helmets and other memorabilia until it grew to cover the war both in Europe and the Pacific. Anyway, it’s certainly worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.

Hopped on the trolley again to our dinner stop at Mandina’s, another local favorite. We were joined by a local couple for the evening Joe and Ann driving their cherry 1966 Corvette Stingray. We’re trying to get them to join our gang for the next trip.

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Heading into Mandina’s for dinner.

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Posing for the camera.

Below is Lisa, what the heck, Damsel in distress?

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Couldn’t leave New Orleans without a quick cemetery visit, Lafayette #1.

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Franks our lunch stop.

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One Response to Thurs 9/29/2011

  1. Brigitte Schafer says:

    Another successful trip with lots to see and learn.
    I wonder how long it took to put all of this together?
    Looking forward to next years trip.
    Brigitte

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