Catching up in The Big Easy

The drive from Baton Rouge to New Orleans was again, beautiful and totally foreign to us.  More long spans of elevated highway and lots of water.  I was a little nervous about finding our campground.  I'm always apprehensive in big cities about finding campgrounds and safety, but I have to say - we have never had a problem!  Ponchartrain Landing RV Park turned out to be great!  As I've said over and over, the hardest part about our lifestyle is being away from friends and family, so we were excited to see Jeff & Kathy on their visit to New Orleans. 

Jeff & I on the river walkway across from Jackson Square.

Kathy too!

We spent four days exploring the French Quarter, drinking too much and having a great time!  There is no place like New Orleans!

Love the lady on the veranda!

My favorite is the buildings in the French Quarter!

We wandered through Café Du Monde & the French Market.

Had a couple of beers at Jax Brewery

Did some people watching in Jackson Square

I didn't realize this statue of Joan of Arc was a gift to the city from France!

Of course, we had to take a Ghost Tour.  Our guide, Alan, was great. He told many stories mixed with the history of the French Quarter.

The convent (below) is one of two buildings that did not burn down in either of the two fires that destroyed New Orleans.  It is said to be haunted by women who were sent to New Orleans because there was a shortage of women.  Their belongings arrived in  pine boxes, they were secreted into the convent to learn to be godly women, and only allowed out after dark so they wouldn't be seen.  Is there maybe a connection to the vampire rumors?

 This is the second building that survived the fires - Pierre Lafitte's Bar.  Heand his pirate band helped General Jackson defeat a British ambush attempt.  Casualties were 2,000 Brits, 200 of Jackson's men and 0 pirates!

 If you look really closely, the horse pulling the cart has Pegasus wings & a unicorn horn!

Fans of American Horror Story, this is the LaLaurie house!  Kathy Bates played Delphine LaLaurie in Coven.  The true story of the LaLauries is even more horrible than was portrayed on the show!  Her husband, Dr. Leonard LaLaurie, was even worse than Delphine.  She just tortured & killed the slaves, he performed medical experiments - awful ones - on them. 

This is called the Sultan's house because an imposter of a Sultan rented it.  They think he was a distant relative of a Sultan on the run.  He was brutally murdered in the house.

 The morning Jeff & Kathy were leaving, we met on the banks of the Mississippi and watched the river traffic enjoying the great spring weather.

We had a great time with Jeff & Kathy!  They told us that they are going to join us on the road in about a year - we can't wait!  We all said we need to meet again in New Orleans.