Lafayette Photos

Lafayette Nov.24-25th

Nov.24th

Ralph and I are both coughing and feeling sick. Ralph took the truck in for a oil change. We spent the day around the 5th wheel. Rain in the afternoon, warm and humid afterwards.

We had dinner at Fezzo's Restaurant with the Couvillions. We tried boudin (sausage balls),crawfish bisque(stew),deep fried crawfish,etoufee over rice,and pistolettes(deep fried french bun stuffed with crawfish). Delicious bread pudding and pecan pie topped the meal off. Woh! we were stuffed ourselves!

We said our sad goodbyes to John and Sherryl. Tomorrow they drive to Branson for the American Thanksgiving. We have really enjoyed spending the last week with them. They have shown us a exceptional time in Louisiana. Many thanks to our gracious hosts and friends.

Nov.25th

We are feeling a bit better today. We relaxed in the sunshine 75 Deg. F. I read and watched the ducks,turtles,snowy egrets and people fishing in the lake by our campsite. We did laundry too.

We picked up some Cajun fixin's at Don's meat shop. Ralph and I had dinner at Randol's Cajun Cuisine. We watched people dance to a Cajun band while eating shrimp and red snapper.

The Acadian culture,Cajun food,people,music,and the bayous of Louisiana are really unique. We plan to return some day.

Photos Nov.21-23

New Orleans & Lafayette Nov. 21-23rd

Nov.21st

John and Sherryl picked us up at our campsite at 8am to go to New Orleans. We drove on a 18 mile bridge across the Bayou (on the sides and between the divided highway there was swamplands).
We stopped at Oak Alley Plantation--toured the beautiful house and oak tree grounds,had lunch and a mint julep to drink.

We crossed over the Mississippi Bridge to New Orleans. We took a horse and carriage ride around the French Quarter--artists,musicians,puppeteers were performing. We shopped along Bourbon Street. We had a cafe au lait and beignets(French doughnuts) at the famous Cafe'du Monde.New Orleans is everything we imagined it to be and more.Beautiful city.

We stopped in Baton Rouge and ate at J.T. Changs China Bistro and had a excellent Chinese dinner. We arrived back in Lafayette at 10:30pm after a great day.

Nov. 22nd

Ralph and John watched collage football and relaxed at the Couvillions'. Sherryl,her sister Mickey(visiting from Vietnam)and I went shopping from 11am to 5pm. Beautiful shops! We enjoyed a tasty lunch at the "Zee"resturant .

We met two(2-5yrs old)of the Couvillions' six granddaughters. John grilled some great steaks for dinner.

Nov. 23rd

"Go Stamps Go" Grey Cup Champs! Woh!

We met the Couvillions' at Took's speciality meat shop and picked up some pre-packaged Cajun food for us to freeze. We had lunch at Dwyer's Cafe and had a "plate lunch".I picked Catfish, corn bread stuffing and eggplant casserole. Good food!We are enjoying Cajun!

Ralph and I are both battling a cold. We came back to the 5th wheel and rested. By accident Ralph turned to the channel with the Grey Cup.Great game!

Missouri to Louisiana Nov.17-20

Nov. 17th

After eight days of great shows and an enjoyable time we left Branson to head south to Louisiana. We drove through the Ozark Mountains passing small villages on very winding roads ,up and down the mountains to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Six hours later we were in Texarkana (a city on the state line of Arkansas and Texas). We had a pizza delivered to our KOA campsite. Warm,sunny day 24 Deg.C. Finally we are far enough south to get good weather.

Nov. 18th HAPPY 65th BIRTHDAY,GRAHAM

Sunshine-on the road to Lafayette Louisiana, straight through downtown Shreveport/LA and all the overpasses. We arrived at 2 P.M. at the Lafayette KOA. Our 5th wheel is under an old oak tree overlooking the lake.So nice!

We visited our friends John and Sherryl Couvillion-great to see them again. Sherryl cooked a delicious dinner of sausage and chicken gumbo and sweet potatoes. The pumpkin and apple cakes were yummy too. The Couvillions' made up a beautiful Christmas basket for us with all things Cajun. They are very generous.Thank you!

Nov. 19th

We drove over to John and Sherryl's in the morning. We stopped at John's new Shelter Insurance building and met their son Bryan.

The four of us drove to Avery Island and toured the McIlhenny Company Tabasco factory-the only place where the famous pepper sauce is made and bottled for the world.Quite a process!

We drove through the Jungle Garden with marshland,swamps, and bayou--giant oaks hanging with Spanish moss,bamboo,palm and cypress trees--alligators,snowy egerts,blue herron,turtles etc. Beautiful serene setting!

In the evening we enjoyed Cajun food and music at Prejean's Restaurant.

Nov. 20th

Hot day 26 Deg. C. We went with John and Sherryl to Vermillionville Historical State Park-the history of the Nova Scotia Acadians deportation to Louisiana. John is of Acadian ancestry.

We then had lunch at Pat's Restaurant. Good Cajun food. We went to see a 600 year old live oak tree. It was massive! Next to the Oak was a Roman Catholic Cathedral and Cemetery--all above ground burial plots because Lafayette is only 2-4 feet above sea level.

We came back to our campsite for a rest. We are going to the Couvillion's for dinner--crawfish Etouffee(like a little lobster). We know it will be tasty as Sherryl is a great cook.

BRANSON Nov.15-16

Nov-15th

A cold one 35 Deg. F/2Deg.C . The production and stage sets for "Noah The Musical" at the new Sight and Sound Theatre were inspiring and spectacular at 1 P.M. The 300 foot long stage wrapped around the audience (we were actually in the 40 foot high Ark). Three hundred live and animatronic animals were used. One of the best theatre productions I have ever seen.

In the evening we went to the Presleys' Country Jubilee--Branson's original show on the strip,with 4 generations of Presleys performing. It was down home country music with banjos,fiddles,harmonicas and hillbilly comedians. Good show.

Nov.16th

Today was sunny 60 Deg. F/17 Deg. C. Extreme weather changes!! We had brunch at The Waffle House and then went shopping for groceries. Stopped in at" Dressin' Gaudy "show --Definitely gaudy,Genie!!

After doing laundry we walked over to the Titanic Museum. We finally toured it after passing it all week. Very interesting.

Branson Nov. 13-14th

Nov.13th

Finally good weather--warm and sunny 19 Deg. C./65 Deg. F. We drove around historic downtown Branson and did some shopping at the Branson Factory Merchant Stores (50 outlet stores with good bargains). Hope we have time to go back.

At 8 P.M. we went to The Baldknobbers Jamboree-good Ozark country music and Christmas show. The comedians were hilarious.

Nov.14th

Raining and at times windy 14 Deg. C or 54 Deg. F. After stopping at Stone Hill Winery we went to the Tony Roi Elvis Experience at 3 P.M. --- 2 hours with one of the best Elvis impersonators around. He looked,moved and sang like Elvis (gave me goose bumps!!!).

In the evening we did the drive - thru The Shephard of the Hills ``The Trail of Lights``

The 2.5 miles had animation and millions of Christmas lights. We went to the top of the 230 foot Inspriation Tower (great view of Branson). The lights and tower were definitely worthwhile.

We walked from our campsite to Montana Mikes Steak House for supper.

Branson Nov. 11-12th

Nov. 11th

Cloudy 52 Deg. F but not raining. We walked along Country Music Blvd. At 7 P.M. we went to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Show. A beautiful,massive building with a 3500sq ft arena inside. The pre show featured a very talented illusionist/juggler. The musical extravaganza had 32 horses,trick riders,figure skaters,ostrich and pig races. The nativity pageant was awesome with the wisemen on real camels. It was a fun evening with a delicious meal--soup,cornish hen,pork loin,corn,dessert etc--all eaten with fingers.

Nov. 12th

Cloudy 56 Deg. F. After breakfast at the Belgian Waffle House we spent a interesting 2 hours at the Ripely's Believe It or Not Museum. We drove out to Table Rock Lake and the Showboat Branson Bell--stern wheel paddle riverboat holding 720 people for the dinner show. We cruised around the lake as we dined on steak and Mahi Mahi fish. We were entertained by Russian acrobats,ventrilogist with real dogs, singers and dancers. Very enjoyable with an excellent meal.