Tuesday (5/5) Still in Baton Rouge, LA.  We went back to the capitol building grounds to tour the Arsenal Museum.  It was built in 1810 and was used to store munitions for the US Government 1810 to 1885.  It is one of the most historic buildings in the state.

Next to it is the Louisiana State Museum.  The museum does a good job of presenting information about the various regions of the state, its people, and the major events leading to the creation Louisiana as a state (see picture.)  A very interesting state museum that focuses on the lives of the people of the state (see picture.)

As we were leaving Baton Rouge for Lafayette, LA, we passed the old State Capitol.  Although we thought is was a very interesting building, Mark Twain said it was it ugliest building he had ever seen.  We stopped and took many pictures which were inadvertently deleted - bummer!!!

Arrived at the campground just south of Lafayette and spent the rest of the day setting up and doing laundry.   For dinner, we went to a cafe in downtown Lafayette and had boudin balls. They are a fried ball made of rice and meat - much like falafel.  When we asked the waitress what they were she said "well they are like boudin balls" - that told us a lot!!!

Monday (5/6) Left New Orleans for Baton Rouge.  We had to breakdown our camping set up in a very big hurry as we woke up to thunder and lightening.  Took everything down and packed it up in record time AND we beat the rain.

Arrived at Baton Rouge and visited the State Capitol building.  It is a non-traditional capitol building in that it has no dome and looks  like the Empire State Building.  It is the tallest State Capitol in the USA - coming in at 450 ft (see picture.)  It was the brain child of Huey P. Long, a Governor of LA and a US Senator.  It was completed in 1932 and he was assassinated in that building in 1935.   The reason for his assassination is unknown. 

Our next stop was the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum.  This depicted rural southern life in the mid 1800s - showing how primitive living structures were and how little people had.   It was an un-glamorized view of southern life far from the wealthy plantations. The Church has painted windows because the community was too poor to have stained glass (see picture.)

The last stop of the day was the Hollywood Casino on the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge.  The casino is a riverboat that must be fully functional according to State law.  It was no where as big as the casinos that are in the Northeast.  We did gamble just a little bit and did not come out winners.  We spent the night in the parking lot of the casino.

Saturday (5/2)   We went to the French Quarter in New Orleans.  There were a number of street performers on Royal Street which was only open to pedestrian traffic.  It was a very festive atmosphere.  I don't think I have ever seen so many bars!!!!! (see pictures)

We also went to the Riverwalk.  It is a nice new shopping center with food right along the Mississippi River.  Given the number of empty stores and food places, it would seem that they are not doing well.  Today being Saturday, you would expect it to be busy and it was not.   

In the early evening we "Skyped" the folks at the Blue Ridge Rally.  That is a rally of 24 T@B trailers in the Blue Ridge Mountains, an event we attended last year.   It was great to be able to see and say hello to everyone over the internet.  Thanks Susan for making the "Skype visit" possible.

We did go to a casino for a bit of gambling today.  Once again, we were up just a little bit - which is great!  We had free tickets for the casino buffet and we ate crab legs until they came out of our ears!!!!

Friday (5/1) Left Mobile for New Orleans.  Went to a shed for lunch - yes, a shed (see picture.)  This is a barbeque place that we saw featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives that is located in Ocean Springs, MS.  It is nothing more than whatever the owner could find, nailed together.  There is more stuff, well actually junk, around this place that you can imagine.  The barbeque was excellent and the atmosphere was fun.  All I kept saying was "you could never duplicate this place."

Our next stop was at Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis, located in Biloxi, MS.  It had sustained damage (see picture) from Katrina but a $20 million restoration has just been completed (see picture.) This beautiful water front home is built on stilts and this is what helped to save the structure.  It served for an extended period of time as a home for Confederate veterans, their wives and their personal servant (i.e. African Americans.)  When the last of the veterans died, it was turned into a museum.   On the property approximately 800 of the home's residents are buried.

As we drove along the Gulf Coast, there were many places where the land was vacant and many vacant lots had foundations still visible.  The closer we got to New Orleans, the more damaged and abandoned structures we saw.  Clearly, there is still evidence of Katrina to be seen.

At the camp ground we met a very nice couple, Linda and Tony, who have traveled all over the world.  They spent 9+ years living on a boat.  They had a great little motor home that actually gets 22 to 23 miles per gallon.  That is better than we are getting and it looked pretty inviting with all that additional room.

In the evening, we went to see downtown New Orleans.  We went to Harrah's Casino and actually came home with a little more than we went in with.  I have to note this, as it almost never happens to us!

Thursday (4/30)  We went to see the largest antebellum home in Mobile built in 1855 called the Bragg-Mitchell House (see picture.)  Unlike most of the historical homes, this one is used for weddings and special events about 30 weekends a year.  Therefore, you could touch and sit on the furnishing.  It  has a grand staircase that is just perfect for a bride to make her entrance.   We had the most wonderful gentleman as our guide.  In the evening, we went to a local bar to try their legendary burgers.  Who comes in with his wife and sits at the table right next to us, but the guide.   We chatted with them for a while and had a lovely dinner.

On to Oakleigh Mansion.  This T shaped Greek Revival mansion was built in 1833 and features a cantilevered stair case leading to the front door as the home was built on stilts.  Although, it is called a mansion, by today's standards the home is of average size.  

The rest of the afternoon was spent at Bellingrath Gardens and Home (see picture.)  What started as a fishing cabin was turned into a 10,500 sq. ft. home featuring three dining rooms and exquisite furnishings.  It was Mrs. Bellingrath's wish to have the gardens and the result is one of our nation's preeminent gardens. There are 65+ acres of gardens with an outstanding rose garden. The Bellingrath's money came from the 1903 purchase of a Coca-Cola franchise that Mr. Bellingrath ran expertly.  He and his wife came from humble beginning but both developed excellent taste and became pillars of society.  It was their wish to share the gardens so shortly after completion they were open to the public.

Wednesday (4/29) Mobile, AL   Went to Forte Conde which serves as the Visitor's Center for Mobile.   We walked around the old section of Mobile which is now a tourist attraction.  

Mobile is where Mardi Gras was started in 1703.  There is a wonderful museum that show cases a side of the Mardi Gras that is not usually shown in media coverage.   There is a great deal of pageantry to the Mardi Gras with a King and Queen being selected every year.  This is done a year in advance because it takes that long for their bejeweled costumes and robes (see picture) that are approximately 15 ft. long to be made.

The first official jail of Mobile was remodeled into a home in 1854.  This antebellum home called Conde Charlotte is now a museum showing furnishings of the five different periods of government in Mobile. Included on the property is a delightful Spanish court yard.

We then took a ride to Fairhope, AL.   This a very quaint town on the east side of Mobile Bay that is loaded with expensive tourist shops.  The town is decked out in flowers everywhere (see picture.)  There are two restaurants there that were show cased on Dinners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  We at one, the Gumbo Shack, and it was very good although hard to find. 

Tuesday (4/28)  Birmingham, AL.  Tried to go to the Golden Flake potato chip factory tour but it was booked until the end of MAY!!!  So we went to the Arlington House (see picture,) which is the only remaining antebellum house in Birmingham.  It was saved from being burned by the Union soldiers because its owner was a Judge who talked them out of burning it.  

On to Montevallo, AL to visit the American Village.   The village has a full-size reproduction of Mount Vernon, Washington's home in Virginia; a full- size reproduction of the Oval Office in the White House; and traveling miniature museum (see picture of poster) of the history of the United States from the early 1600 to the 1960's.  The exhibit also includes a set of 1/10 scale figures of each president and the first ladies.  It was a way for people who could not travel to see such things as where the Declaration of Independence was signed  to see miniature versions right in their home towns.  It cost $250,000 in the 1960's to make and it was not a success.  It now has a great home in the American Village.

In the evening, we checked into a campground in Mobile, AL.   We will be staying there for three nights.