Marc, Bev and our Australian Kelpie: New Orleans

LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

(Fontainebleau State Park Gazebo)

Various kinds of oak trees grow in the area but these live oak with the spanish moss draping their branches, is one of the most beautiful. Approximately 150 yrs old.

These alligators are most likely thinking, "should we make a break for it?"

The most common question is "what is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?"

Closely related but crocodiles have more of a "V" shaped snout whereas alligators have a U-shaped snout.

Crocs tend to live in saltwater environments, alligators prefer freshwater marshes and lakes.

Crocs are more of a light tan or olive color, alligators usually are a dark blackish grey. Crocs can grow up to 19 feet long, alligators about 14 feet. This is one of them - the largest we saw. Alligators will generally try to escape from humans - crocodiles are much more bad-tempered and far more likely to attack, even unprovoked.

The south end of Fontaineblue State Park is another section of trails, a few cabins and day picnic areas. In the pull out is a mobile kayak and paddle board rental. The guy had a rental kayak (about 16 foot long) and his girlfriend/wife on a paddle board. They had just gone down the bayou and the resident 15 foot alligator came up by his kayak - it was as long as the kayak. How she managed to stay on the paddle board - I have no idea! She was freaked but she managed it!

BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Small heron - about 23-28" tall. During breeding season adults have two long white plumes on their heads (you can see one long plume from this angle).

BRIDGES OF LOUISIANA

Day trekking around the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

These twin bridges span an opening between Lake Pontchartrain and another lake, Lake Maurepas, surrounded by Wildlife Management Areas, canals and swamp lands.

Famous for their razor-thin fried, crisp, catfish, the restaurant goes through some major renovations after 82 years of flooding (the restaurant is just the other side of these bridges) on the edge of the flood plain and two lakes.

Worth the drive for the thinly battered and crisp catfish.

2016 renovations began.

The original dining room will be built up five feet off the ground, to join a second room that was built in 2011. The age and construction of the building cannot be jacked up but rebuilt piece by piece.

Middendorf's was built in 1934. It has made it through hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005) but badly flooded by Hurricanes Ike (2008) and Hurricane Isaac in 2012.

1-10 Causeway between Slidell (N Shore) and N Orleans. This is one causeway that crosses Lake Pontchartrain (along the east end). Only 18.2 miles long.

FLOOD PRONE LAND

IN A NUTSHELL:

Settlers who got the best land were able to build about 10 feet above sea level. The area has been fighting an uphill battle since the 18th century. By the 1930s, one-third of the city was below sea level. Municipal drainage systems were installed around 1900 allowing the city to spread onto former marshes but also starved the land of replenishing sediment and removed water from the soil.

Without sediment and water to stabilize the ground, the "former marshes sunk as much as 8-12 feet" (as reported by geographer Rich Campanella, a professor in Tulane Unsiervisty's School of Architecture).

A roadway just off the freeway, after a brief rain.

A roadway out to a point and turn around - canals popular for fishing and bird watching.

Much of the area around New Orleans is now 4.92 - 9.84 feet below sea level, according to a geological survey in 2003. It is sinking at a rate of 0.4 inches per year.

A screen shot of one of the areas we drove around - housing communities built along all these canals.

Houses are built on stilts. They get knocked down and slowly rebuilt.

August 29 is a bad date for New Orleans. Over 1,800 people died in Katrina and most of that was because of poor construction. The levees failed and housing construction was poor - the lower ninth ward was the worst hit as they has no foundations - just built on top of cinder blocks sitting not the ground.

A builder had just finished rebuilding a house (not this house) for a couple but on August 29, 2008 when completed, hurricane Gustav was on its way. 2012, hurricane Isaac.

Fragile and delicate piers and docks during any hurricane.

In place of what we would call a man cave, the men relax on their patio fishing docks or fishing on their boats along the many canals.

Someone has a sense of humor!

(or a sense of nature)

An entire church is built up on stilts.

Stopped at a gas station - I walked between two buildings to look at the canal.

These muscovy ducks came waddling over - running actually.

They must be used to being fed - and I fled!

Wasn't sure I would not get nipped as I had no food.

They have a 'coat of many colors.'

A large painted slider turtle (probably about two feet across)

Transport of equipment and machinery is done by barge along the canals in some neighborhoods.

Brown pelican - the official state bird of Louisiana since 1966.

The bird was put on the endangered species list staring in the mid-1900s and in 1970 because of widespread use of DDT to eradicate mosquitoes.

They incubate their eggs by standing on them, their shells of the eggs were too thin due to the DDT and the eggs would crack.

They have rebounded, despite a couple of hurricanes and a huge challenge with an oil spill in 2010.

They are admired for the way they nurture their young and so they became a symbol of triumph over some of the greatest adversities and are now the state bird.

Anhinga

Anhingas have a straight, long bill (unlike the cormorant which has a curved beak) and they have white markings on their backs.

When they swim, they swim mostly underwater, with their necks and head above water, so they look like snakes at first glance.

A shrimp boat docked in the canal.

NEW ORLEANS

44 minutes (34.8 miles) across Lake Pontchartrain to New Orleans.

We park at nearby Walmart Supercentre and take the city bus to historic downtown.

In order to transfer to the downtown bus, we have a short walk. First building of note was the Hard Rock Hotel, at the edge of the city's historic French Quarter.

Oct 12, 2019 the upper floors of the Hard Rock hotel unexpectedly collapsed, sending dust and debris raining down into the streets below. The cause is still under investigation in February and there are still two of three bodies trapped in the rubble.

Two cranes collapsed but were removed Oct 20 with strategically placed explosives. The hotel is slated to be imploded in March and then recovering the remains will take place.

FRENCH QUARTER

The oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. Often called the Crown Jewel of New Orleans (founded in 1718). The French commanded commerce coming up and down the Mississippi River. Must of the historical architecture is Spanish in origin and New Orleans has been administered by French, Spanish and the USA.

Gearing up for Halloween parties at the Hustler Club

(the windows are covered with old covers of the magazine).

Mardi Gras attire for sale.

Music is a large part of what New Orleans is known for.

Outdoor music is everywhere, on every corner and in every bar and all hours. This open lounge/restaurant has statues of some of the never forgotten musicians: "Fats" Domino, (singer/pianist, born in New Orleans, 1928),, Al "Jumbo" Hirt (trumpeter and bandleader, born in New Orleans, 1922), and Pete Fountain (Jazz clarinetist - born in New Orleans, 1930).

Besides your own two legs, there are various ways to get around the city.

Like these pedicabs.

Texting and driving! Hmmmm!

Mules are used exclusively for the carriages.

The young musicians

And, the super young musicians!

(A young, inspiring drummer)

And, of course, there are always those that suffer from the fabulous 'last night' times!

We are heading past all the musical sections and going down to the square and arts section.

Workin' it!

"You kidding?" Now that's a six pack!

Lastly,

I post this one of the city of New Orleans (not because of the curvature but note the guy on the right! ... what ???

A witches hat and a total white cloth mask. (This is long before the coronavirus scare!)

CITY OF THE DEAD

Fewer cities comes with a reputation for decadence than New Orleans. Rich, extravagant foods, alcohol flowing freely - you can hardly do better than the Crescent City.

But, the city has a past littered with pirates, devastating fires, horrific murders and hurricane. Alot of death and destruction.

The city has numerous creepy-looking above ground tombs.

GREENWOOD CEMETERY

Most people ask "why aren't the dead in New Orleans buried underground like most of the rest of the country?"

The main reason is because New Orleans is situated slightly below sea level. The water table is high. When early European settlers put coffins under six feet below, they found the water level would often rise above them, especially during floods. Since the coffins were filled with air, the water sometimes pushed them up through the earth.

To keep the coffins below the surface, holes were drilled in the coffin lid, to let air escape, the coffins weighted down with rocks and sand. This only partially succeeded and the corpses did not decompose properly. Then, the solution was to bury the dead above ground.

In New Orleans, bodies are placed inside the walls of the tombs. Because of the hot, subtropical climate, the tomb effectively becomes an oven, and the high heat causes a slow cremation. Within about a year, only bones are left. These tombs hold many members of family or soldiers or whoever wants to purchase a tomb.

It is common practice to bury all the members of a family - or multiple families - in the same tomb, with names and dates added to a plaque or headstone as necessary.

There are about 15 aboveground cemeteries in and around New Orleans. Jim Morrison's grave attracts visitors, Marie Laveau (Voodoo Queen of New Orleans), and many other famous people. The cemeteries are organized with streets and street signs and tour guides with inform you of many people who have not left our memories.

CULINARY NEW ORLEANS