Our last day in New Orleans

We visited the Civil War museum, cost $7 per adult.
Great museum, has lots of artifacts from the Confederate
soldiers. They have a lot of things from Jefferson Davis,
Stonewall Jackson, and other Confederate generals. No
pictures were allowed, so I cannot share what I saw.
We had lunch in the French Quarter and then took a carriage
ride around the Quarter. Great ride. We even ate the
French pastry Beinger (sp). If you haven't tried them, if
you get to New Orleans, be sure to have one.


Statue of Joan of Arc


Statue of Andrew Jackson. Behind the statue is the
Cathedral of St. Louis King of France. Pope John Paul
visited this church when he was in Louisiana. You can
tour the church except during mass.


Ceiling of church.

Flat tire equals

Had a flat tire today and while Gary was busy changing
the flat, I took a couple of pictures.

Insta-Gator ranch and hatchery tour

Great educational tour. Cost was $12 per adult.


Our tour guide is showing us an alligator's throat.


Tour guide pointing to an alligator's ear.



This is the runt of the litter.


These are alligator eggs the way they are found in an
alligator's nest. The line on top is placed by
those who find the egg. It represents the top side of
the egg. When harvesting the eggs, it is very important
that the lined side stays up, otherwise the baby alligator will
drown if th egg is upside down.

Our campground at Abita Springs, La.

We are spending 2 weeks at this campground. Gary
has been fishing in the lake and ponds here.








Our home.

New Orleans, WWII Museum

Cost for the museum was $14 per adult. Lots of information
about the many d-days (landings on different islands) in
WWII. The museum also shows 2 films about WWII which
were very interesting. Lots to see and read.


Landing vehicles.


"Rupert" D-Day's smallest soldier. This dummy
was dressed up to appear like a soldier and dropped
over enemy lines.



This clicker was used by a 22 year old private when he
parachuted behind enemy lines.

Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours

Great tour. We were able to see alligators, a snake,
lizards, frogs, birds, turtles, and spiders. Cost was $23 per adult.
Tour lasted over 1 1/2 hours. Our guide was great, fountain
of information. Part of our tour also included a short trip
up the Pearl River.


After seeing this gater jump out of the water to eat a
hotdog, I know why one should not hang their arms our
of the boat.

This guy was huge!!!



Can you spot the frog?


Swamp. For more photos of alligators and the tour,
click on our travel photo link. Couple of birds there also.

New Orleans Aquarium

Great Aquarium. The aquarium is located next to the
IMAX. We purchased a combo ticket for one IMAX show
and the aquarium cost $22 per adult. Then we paid for another
IMAX show. We watched the films about the Hurricane and
one about sharks. The Aquarium is divided into sections,
Caribbean Reef, Gulf of Mexico, Amazon Rain Forest,
Seahorse Gallery, Sea Otters, Mississippi River, Penguins,
Stringrays, and Living Water. My favorites were the seahorses
and jelly fish.






White alligator.

Natchez Indian Village

Chief and her family lived on this mound.

Windsor Ruins

A short jaunt off the Natchez Trace Parkway off of 552 will
take you to the Windsor Ruins. This Greek Revival house
was built in 1961. It had 23 rooms. It was destroyed by
fire in 1890.

Natchez Trace Parkway mile marker 5.1-39.2

Our journey along Natchez Trace Parkway
has come to an end. We traveled all 440 miles.
We enjoyed our journey very much. I was amazed
at how many different types of mushroom, fungi,
we saw along the Trace. Different Fungi Along
the Natchez Trace Parkway might make a good coffee
table book


Mile marker 8.7 - original Trace

Mount Locust is a restored historic inn. It was built in 1780.
It was a corn farm and cotton plantation. It became a
place where travelers could stop for the night for a meal
of corn mush and milk. The price was 25 cents. at one time
the plantation had 51 slaves. You can go inside the inn where
you will see furniture of that era.


Those who live along the trace.



This mushroom was growing inside the gall of a tree.

Natchez Trace mile markers 39.2-122

Mile marker 122 Cyprus Swamp


Another mushroom along the Trace.


Mile Marker 73.5 Deans Stand Site


The original trace