NOLA

We loved New Orleans. It was a lot of fun and the French Quarter was really neat.  I love the balconies. Plus, being so close to Halloween, every thing was decorated. I am not sure what I was expecting but it was more than I could imagine. Mardi Gras must be a blast but way to crowded for me to want to go. Our campground was about 10 miles from the French. We drove in and parked at Harrah's. It gave Guy an excuse to gamble since we got free or cheap parking.

headed east on the I 10 there are lots of bridges passing over
Rivers, swamps lakes and basins

the Holocaust Memorial in New Orleans along the river

let the good times roll and they did

checking out the shops

the infamous French Market, smells delicious

food, shops and entertainment

our second Margaritaville on the trip, Guy liked the Gumbo

you can sit at the bar, or take your drink outside and walk down the street

many of the balconies were decked out in cool Halloween decorations

but they still had their hanging baskets out

a Spanish style with cast iron balconies is prominent in the French Quarter
The Spanish were occupying it when the fires destroyed many of the buildings (late 1700s)

on the corners, the name of the street is in the sidewalk with blue and white tile

an eclectic style of decorating

there was street signs on every corner too, but I had a hard
Time finding any numbers on the buildings

the jazz street band, a New Orleans tradition

how do they recycle these? A company in NJ does it

so meant interesting buildings in the French Quarter

recognize these musicians? Guy did, Fats Domino, Al Hirt, Peter Fountain

an above ground cemetery, since it is hard to dig 6 feet down

in the Garden District, we found the skeletons out, this was great
I bet over 30 skeletons, in various activities all labeled

try reading some, there was bone fish on the fish skeletons, two skeletons on a bench
With a kiss of death sign, a skeleton walking on the fence with dare devil sign...

a skeleton dressed as Annie holding a sign reading tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow
Very imaginative

beads were all over the trees

we got a seat on Johnny's balcony

a festival was going on at Jackson Square

a truck had taken out a balcony of one of the buildings, we assume this was it
The road was closed, scaffolding in place and debris in the street

associated with NOLA, Haiti and West Africa

somebody's watching you

partying day and night

our bartender "Sushi" we liked him so much, we went back the next day

the cast iron balcony and the beads, only in America

but drag queens are every where

A Couple Southern States

We stayed in Rogers, Arkansas so that we could go to Eureka Springs. A cute town built on a cliff. They were some beautiful homes and quaint shops. The road through town was very narrow and windy not a great combination, for driving. We lucked into a craft show weekend. I bought a couple things but I didn't but the painted trash can for a hundred bucks. We left Rogers then went to Hot Springs (that's the town's name). While there, we went to Hot Springs National Park. This is not your normal national park.  Then it was on to Jackson, Mississippi.

headed southeast

 

Thorncrown Chapel in the Ozarks, designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright

over 425 windows in the chapel

 

one of the many Victorian homes in Eureka Springs

 

love the turret room, Guy always brings them to my attention when we drive anywhere

War Eagle Mill was having a large craft show, many vendors were there

the water wheel behind near the red building was turning the belts for the mill

the start of Walmart, this store, a museum, and café right here

the bridge over Lake Hamilton

the leaves had just started to change

the rough road to the lake from our campsite, Ripley and I walked to the lake

the first time I didn't have the camera, amazing color

Ripley was confused on where to stand, there was no sign

different campsite in Arkansas, small stream this time

the visitors center at Hot Springs National Park was a renovated bathhouse

this stain glass was in the Men's bath area

on the third floor was the gymnasium

the rest of the hot springs had been covered, but this one was left open, it was hot

third cardinal I saw that day, one bluejay

the promenade where people socialized while waiting for their next treatment

so many people came an filled up gallon containers with the hot mineral water

the Classy Dog where we had lunch

the Hot Springs Mountain Tower over 1200 feet high, nice views

 

our Mississippi campground was already for Halloween, I thought our hostess
Looked and sounded like Dolly Parton

the lake was beautiful and inhabited by fishing cranes, duck, geese, catfish and more

it was a pretty campground

we went into Jackson for some sightseeing, Cathedral of St Peter the Apostle

the capitol was having major renovations done

the capital building of Mississippi, much to Guy's dismay we were just in time
To join the tour

 

the stain glass was suburb (library)

there are three domes, this is the center one in the lobby area

stain glass in the dome of the senate

there were windows in the elevator so you could view the stain glass

Guy knocked at the Governor's gate but no one answered

early morning on the lake

gothic revival architect (yes, I looked that up)

next door to the clock, is St Andrew's Episcopal Church