Signs of New Orleans

The French Quarter was extremely fun and a special treat. The music coming from virtually every door way, the crowds in the street and the cacaphony that accompanied these crowds. But also unique and fun to see were the different storefront signs, set to entice the visitor.

Every bit as much art work went into the creation of some of the signage as toward anything else in New Orleans.

Great fun. Want to go back sometime.

Carthage

The theater is just a shell of what it had been.

Could this be the house my father rented for

$10.00 a month?

After 50 plus years much had changed in the small town of Carthage, Mississippi. I lived there with my folks when I was 7 years old. After our stay in New Orleans, we traveled to Carthage by way of Baton Rouge, Natchez and Vicksburg. What an exciting, fun and eventful ride. The years had changed the area around Carthage to some extent but I found my memory of the town was somewhat intact.

The town, like a lot of small southern communities, is built around the court house. The streets surround the court house with businesses and buildings lining all sides. Driving into the center of town immediately brought back the memories of when my folks would take me into town

The movie theatre is now just a shell of a building; I can remember seeing a poster out in front of a cowboy movie of that time period which was being featured. The Ben Franklin 5 and dime is gone and the Piggly Wiggly grocery store has moved two blocks away.

The Carthaginian, the weekly newspaper, is still printed in the same building and next to it I remember the optometrist's office where I received my first pair of reading glasses when I was seven.

It was raining, and although it was a Saturday afternoon, we were the only people on the square. I remember the square as always busy with traffic and people.

The drive down North Pearl street allowed me to locate the site where my Uncle Bill and Aunt Lois McMillan lived. I know the house was destroyed by fire after their deaths, but I did find where it was located.

We found the site near where my father rented the house for $10.00 a month. A dilapidated structure could possibly have been that house.

I could not locate the house in the pasture behind the pond. The pond more than likely had been filled in and the house gone.

What I noticed was that where there were houses in isolated pastures and farms there were now homes built closer together, as they are almost everywhere.

I'm surprised the Piggly Wiggly survives. On the road into Carthage, we saw a Wal Mart. I can only believe that the stubborn resolve that is so prevalent in the South to maintain tradition is the very thing that maintains the grocery store.

I realize there is probably a need for the big box stores, it is a shame that these same stores have brought about such a dramatic change in our rich traditional past. Very sad.

We couldn't stay long and even if we had had the time to explore the rural areas, the roads that crisscross the farm land make travel so confusing, I don't know that I could even find the old farm stead or any of the places in which we lived.

The grammar school is moved and I'm sure the town has become a bedroom community for Jackson, 40 miles to the south, but is was a treat to be able to return there, if only for a very short time.

The Plantation That Wasn't There

Part of the charm of coming through Louisiana and Mississippi was to see the Plantations. We took a tour of Oak Alley Plantation and it was a lot of fun and very informative. A lot of history in these old places.
On the way to Natchez, we saw a sign that said there was a plantation off the road a ways. We thought we would like to go and at least see what was there. The sign at the gate said there were tours. We drove down the narrow dirt road and across a very old looking and charming narrow bridge and eventually found what appeared to be a large house but really no plantation.
As I turned the car around, we saw a sign that had an arrow for directions and said tours so we drove down that road. The road quickly turned into a very narrow rutted lane and after a bit we encountered a sign that said keep out. Fearing the road would end with no turn around, I decided we should back out the way we came in.
So, we never found the plantation: perhaps, if we had, we may still be there.
I wonder. Just inside the gate we crossed a set of railroad tracks that lead to nowhere, in either direction.

On The Natchez

We decided to take a ride on the steamboat, Natchez. The experience proved to be a lot of fun. The boat went downriver for several miles, and the personnel narrated quite a lot of history. We lunched on the boat; a lunch of fried chicken, red beans and rice, salad and bread pudding; all very tasty.

A group of students boarded the boat; these students appeared to be a group from a charter school for African American kids. Several of them sat on the top deck where we were. We sat up at the front of the deck so we could see all of the river from one vantage point. One of the students sat in the chair next to mine. He was a tallish, kind of awkward appearing 14 year old. After a minute or two, he turned to me and with a very expectant expression on his face he pointed out to the river and asked me, if he were to go out there would he drown?

I was somewhat dumbfounded and was a bit taken back, but told him yes that it was very deep and very swift.

He looked at me, seemed to be satisfied and walked away with the other kids.

Thursday Mornin in N'awlins

We located a nice place to have breakfast, we were able to sit outside on the sidewalk. The windows of the restraunt were tented with a reddish color. They were reflective and pretty. The breakfast was good. Eggs, grits and biscuit.

The tugboats were plying the river. I don't think one could ever tire of just standing on the edge of this mighty river and watch the activity. We rode the trolly to the river walk yesterday and had baked zitty for dinner. Very good.

Am looking forward to riding the Natchez this morning. Should be fun. The boat has a calliope on top. Fun to listen to.

We have a great many photos of the very different and unique signage here in the French Quarter. It will be fun putting these photos together.

When we came back from the river, we had to wait for a very long freight train and guess what, at the end was a caboose.

Bicycles are a major means of transportation. They are chained to posts all over the French Quarter. The land is so flat, riding bikes should be fun.

We had breakfast across from one of the Central Firestations this morning. They seem to have a Homeland Security division.

Yesterday, we toured a museum that featured the history of the Mardi Gras and the Zulu kings. Louis Armstrong was the Zulu king in 1949. This person seems to be the parade Marshall.

Darcy got to pet a very nice policeman's horse out on Bourbon Street the other night. The policeman was nice too.

Night Life On Bourbon Street

We went out on Bourbon Street at 8 pm to see what the night live was like on a Monday evening. It Seemed just as busy or even busier than on Sunday. Again, they closed off traffic on the street.
We walked down near Canal Street and a group of kids were playing brass instruments; 3 trumpets, 2 bass trombones, a sousaphone and a drummer. They sounded great. We did not have a camera with us so no photos.
On one of the balconies, a group of well inebriated men were tossing down strings of beads to the ladies.
The hotel is quiet; we don't hear the noise from the room. Fortunately we are inside on the courtyard so that probably is good. I'm sure the rooms on the street may be a problem.

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

We arrived in New Orleans, flying into Louis Armstrong National Airport. Very exciting. Obtaining the rental car was a trifle trying, a somewhat disorganized outfit. Got an upgrade from the car we requested.

What a unique experience it was for us to drive into the French Quarter for the first time. The streets are all one way so it took a bit of doing to get around and finally get to the hotel, which is very, very nice. The French Quarter, except for the traffic, is like stepping into another realm. So charming and so different from anything we have ever experienced. One could spend every day walking through the streets and never tire of the sights. The balconies, the entry doors that are right on the sidewalk, the smells and the music. Everyone is friendly.

The trolley ride up canal street to the city park turn around was great fun. People watching is very entertaining.

The Mississippi River is just four blocks south of our hotel, it is amazing that the river is big enough and deep enough to accommodate ships a large as the freighter I have shown.