Since the weather was fairly good yesterday we decided to take the ferry across the Mississippi River and do some sight-seeing in New Orleans. Riding the ferry across the river is free and a much better option than driving our truck over into downtown and then try to find parking. Although there is street parking in the ferry terminal area, we opted to pay $5 to park in a lot. Parallel parking a twenty-one foot pickup isn't my idea of having fun.
Our first order of business was to get some lunch. One of the places that has been on my bucket list for a long time is Willie Mae's Scotch House so that is where we went. This New Orleans landmark has been featured on several TV programs including Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservation's" and Go NOLA and has become "a go-to" place to get great southern fried chicken. Here is a video about saving Willie Mae's after Hurricane Katrina devastated the 7th Ward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uVUNpkvAiA
Willie Mae's
After waiting in a short line which is sometimes much longer) we were seated and placed our order. Both of us selected the 3-piece meal which comes with one side dish. Joyce got the mashed potatoes and peas and I decided on the butter beans and rice.
The chicken was done to perfection and very juicy, but we both thought a little greasy. Not that greasy chicken is all bad mind you. You have to remember that you are eating at a southern "fried" chicken joint. There was a hint of cayenne pepper in the background that gave the chicken a little kick that I really liked. Joyce thought it was hot for her taste.
We did think that Willie Mae's is a little pricey. A 3-piece meal with one side is $10. Our lunch along with turn cornbread muffins and drinks came to over $30.
Was this the best fried chicken I have ever had? No, I don't think so but it was darned good. Would we go back? You bet and we would order the same.
We caught a cab from the ferry terminal to get out to the restaurant but decided to walk down to the French Quarter to walk-off the very filling meal. It's about a mile or so walk through part of the 7th Ward where there are still numerous building boarded that remind you of Katrina.
What do you see in your mind when you think about visiting Bourbon Street in The Big Easy? Blues and Jazz Clubs, upscale hotels and great eating establishments? Yeah, there is a little of that but mostly this famous street is just one bar and gaudy souvenir shop after another. Just a tad tacky to say the least.
Bourbon Street
We did enjoy the old buildings in the French Quarter
It's always Christmas in The Big Easy
Yesterday we were up and out of the house early in order to catch the 8:30 ferry to downtown. I wanted to take a tour of the Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1, the oldest "City of the Dead" in New Orleans.
This tour is done by the Save Our Cemeteries, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the old New Orleans cemeteries.
1. The first recorded entombment:
2. The grave of Homer Plessy, plaintiff from the landmark 1896 Plessy v Ferguson Supreme Court decision on civil rights.
3. Bernard de Marigny, the French-Creole playboy who brought the game of craps to the U.S.
4. The actor Nicolas Cage has built a tomb here. Adam has no idea why Mr. Cage wanted to build a crypt in this cemetery. Since it is radically different than any other design in the cemetery, he had some trouble getting it approved buy the Archdiocese. Money talks!
A couple of ladies have kissed the name stone. The plaque is in Latin and means roughly, "All From One".
There are two Crocker's interred with Marie. I am still researching them but what I have learned is pretty interesting. More later.
Some of the crypt's are being preserved and some aren't.
After meeting Joyce in the French Quarter, we had lunch at Johnny's Po'Boy's. I had the Oyster Po'Boy, which I can say is the best I have ever eaten...ever! Joyce had the Seafood Muffaletta that had enough fish, shrimp and oysters on it to feed both of us for two days.
04/07/2013
Yesterday was just a "kick back day" for us. I hung around the trailer doing some chores that needed to get done and getting ready to travel to Beaumont, TX today. Joyce visited the Boomtown Casino over in Jefferson Parish where she deposited her donation to the local welfare fund.
So, today we're hooking up and heading west on I-10 to Beaumont where we'll spend one night at the Elk's Lodge and then on to San Marcos to visit our good friends Jim and Linda Holtz. "On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again….."
04/08/2013
We got an early (for us anyway) start yesterday, pulling out of the Aviation RV Park at 8:15, jumped onto I-10 and headed west.
Note to the cabbie the jumped in front of me and then slammed on his brakes. You have no idea how close you came to meeting your maker!
Our original plan was to stay at the Elks Lodge in Beaumont, TX but after finding out the lodge was closed on Sunday's and it being about ten miles of the interstate, we decided to stay at Hidden Lake RV Park. With our Passport America discount it only cost us $17.50, a real bargain for a very large pull-through, 50-amp, full hook-up site with free WiFi and cable included.
Today we are headed to San Marcos, a 240 mile run which is about what we like to drive in one day.
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