Linda&Russ: Thursday, January 20, 2012

We have just been too busy to post. I thought that Russ had this morning and he thought I had. Just not enough time during the day, so now that we are back to the campground for our last evening here, we can catch up on the past two days. Yesterday we got the laundry done, always a chore when you have to use the machines here at a campground. That done, with a couple of things hanging in the camper, we went on a rum distillery tour, that was just round the corner. How convenient. We were there a little too early for the next tour, but it was suggested that we could go around the corner for bite to eat at Sammy's.
This is a place that appeared on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. Good food. My first cup of what I thought was creole, but may have been gumbo. Sausage, beef, shrimp and rice in a spicy broth. Very good, and just enough in the cup. Russ really went out on a limb and had a Ground Beef Po boy- its just a sub! Had to be a good place to eat as there were several officers from the Sheriff's department!!
Then we went for the tour. Just a small place on a dead end road, next to a concrete plant. Four types of rum from the Old New Orleans rum company. And we had samples of all four. Didn't have to buy any this time though, because they do ship to Maine. We'll order some when we get back as we have a recipe for rum balls made with vanilla wafers which we will just have to try for our Christmas Gathering.
Lunch over, and drinks done, we rested up for an evening in the French Quarter. We really do like the shuttle into town, as we would never have been able to find a parking spot for the truck. We wandered up the streets and down the avenues for a while until we figured out where Pat OBriens was. Jeff, you had 4 Hurricanes!!!!! Well, we ordered one each and they were huge. Thought it was odd that depending on where you were sitting, courtyard, patio, and dining area, beverages were priced different. We have our souvenir Hurricane glass, but I wasn't able to finish mine. Just too much fruit juice, I think. Very touristy very loud, and lots of empty glasses on the tables. It was fun, but I needed a glass of wine and we both needed something to eat. Fortunately the restaurants all seem to have menus outside and we were able to find some beef for Russ. The restaurant had seats on their balcony which was great for people watching. Food was good also. Russ ventured out from his beef and had Jambalaya with chicken and I had Chicken creole. His meal was spicier than mine-very good. He also had another Hurricane which I liked better than he one from Pat O'Briens. Then more wandering and a stop at a bar we had been to the night before for a strawberry daiquiri, and back on the shuttle.
So today being our last full day in New Orleans were went on a tour of a Creole Plantation. The creoles had it right. We went to 'Laura' the name of the plantation. The Creoles have working plantations, made for work, and without the huge ballrooms that the Americans have. (Our's is the garage!) And the color of it was yellow with a red roof. They spent 9 months of the year, from April to December, tending to their sugar cane plantings and then come back into New Orleans for January through March for partying and the Mardi Gras. Sounds like a great way to live! Our tour guide was wonderful and it was a great tour. Another good idea from a neighbor in the park. Now we are sitting here in shorts at the picnic table writing the blog.
Russ & I have decided that New Orleans is a place that should be added to people's bucket list and we are already planning on coming here again. So, if anyone is interested, we may just be back here next year at this time. Anyone interested??????
Headed into Texas tomorrow. Not sure if we will get to the border yet, but we will be closer.