New Orleans, LA: Music

These artists were everywhere, and had a different style from other locals. 

While my party rested for the day, I walked around the city and explored.  That day I walked through the art exhibits, met artists, discussed New Orleans with them, and admired there work.  Then I made my to Cafe du Monde, grabbed some Café au Lait and Beignets, and listened to the band play.  I guess my expression showed my love for music, because the singer ended up dedicating a song to me, and finding me after to apologize if I was embarrassed.   I ended up talking to him and another street artist for awhile, although mostly the other artist.  I learned their background story, how they made it to New Orleans, military past, etc.  They shared with me their street experiences, and even Katrina.  Later on in the day, I saw all of these band players wandering the corners, playing their own instruments for money.   

When I came, I had hoped that I would find Grandpa Elliot.  I had heard him sing via Playing for Change, and I new that he was from New Orleans.  I remember walking down of the streets, telling my step-mom that he was one musician I really hoped to run into, and literally, right as I finished that sentence, we turned the corner, and there he was.  I saw him twice while there, this was my second, and he sang for me... after telling another man that listenin' to dis music, gonna give you an eargasm.  

New Orleans, LA: Cafe du Monde

Ahhh... Café du Monde.  This was my first taste of beignets and cafe au lait.  I loved this place.  It is right down the way from the Cathedral and Jackson Square, with the Mississippi River right behind it.  I would come here often on my lonely explorations, and would sit with a coffee and just listen to the music.  

http://www.cafedumonde.com/

Jean Lafitte, LA: Cajun Swamp Tour

So, we decided to go a swamp tour, and met an alligator wrestler... of sorts.  

Check it out:

New Orleans, LA: Plantations

Visiting the plantations was an awesome and memorable trip, not only because of the sheer beauty of the houses, but because of the history, the pain, and the struggles that took place within the grounds of the plantations.

The first we visited was the Laura Plantation.  The family that had owned it was a Creole family, and yet they owned slaves. Creole is a term used in reference to someone from French or Spanish descent.  Its application was very widespread though, and could be used in reference to someone of full descent, or racially mixed.  In this case, European, Native American, and West African were in the mix.  

Slave Quarters. 

Some of the few remaining. We were able to go inside, and see the conditions of the house. 

The second house we only got to see the outside of, but that was certainly enough.  It is called the Oak Alley Plantation, because of the Oaks that line the pathway to the house, and surround the house.