ÀÏ»¢»úÎÈÓ®·½·¨

Sulphur, Louisiana, that's where. It's a sort of suburb of the metropolis of Lake Charles. Yesterday we walked on a trail (if a paved/wood plank walkway can be a trail) where alligator sightings were possible. After paying a blood fee, collected by skeeters the size of houseflies, toward the end, we saw a lone 'gator. It was around 8' long, lounging along the opposite side of the creek. It merely blinked at us, the sole hikers in the area.

We are deciding where to go next in a few minutes, as my allergies have been triggered here. Bummer. Later.

deb, glad to have all our kinfolk visits behind us!

We stopped along a highway in florida once to look at alligators. They were huge and I found myself wondering how strong the metal fence was!

:) So happy to hear from you deb. I love the thread ! Thank you for doing it.

Sorry to hear your allergies have been triggered. Be careful with those alligators. I hear there is some great food to be had in Louisiana. Enjoy !

I've never heard of Sulphur, Louisiana before. So I googled it.

Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wikipedia
Weather: 66°F (19°C), Wind SE at 0 mph (0 km/h), 97% Humidity
Local time: Tuesday 9:38 AM
Population: 20,157 (2012)

My youngest brother lives in New Orleans. That's pretty much all I know of Louisiana. I'm guessing they don't have many alligator sightings there. ;)

Enjoying being an armchair tourist on your travels, deb!

So, had you been to or heard of Sulphur before? It seems an interesting choice! As a non-driver (I have a license but haven't driven in about 15 years) and as more of a city gal, I don't venture off the beaten path very often. Fear of skeeters & 'gators, perhaps?

Do you have certain criteria for choosing the locations?

Alias Reader wrote: ":) Sorry to hear your allergies have been triggered. Be careful with those alligators. I hear there is some great food to be had in Louisiana. Enjoy !..."


....and but for you extolling caution, Alias, those gators might well have had some.


We have gators everywhere here. Oddly, though, I've only seen them mating once. Was that here in Florida, you ask?? Nope. The zoo -- in Ft Wayne Indiana!!!!!

Jennifer wrote:....and but for you extolling caution, Alias, those gators might well have had some"

LOL.

When my sister used to live in Fl. she had big gators that used to sun themselves on her dock. Scary.

Ya'll are making me smile with your gator stories. "Ours" was so docile I wondered if it was rubber until it blinked. Of course it still could have been, with all the robotic advances.

We chose Sulphur for the proximity to the Creole Nature Trail & to Lake Charles, which has some lovely architecture. We saw the nicest "painted ladies" since visiting San Francisco years ago. Lively colors and plenty of detailing.

Thus far we've only stayed a night or two in any one place. That will change this weekend when we arrive in Memphis. We'll be there 4 or 5 nights, taking day trips from there.

Yesterday we visited New Iberia, site of the original Tabasco sauce. There were samples after the "tour", including Tabasco ice cream & Tabasco Cola. None too hot. Did you know it takes 3 years & 28 days for the sauce to "brew"? We didn't!

Today & tomorrow our stops are at Civil War battle sites, although "seiges" might be a better description. Awful. Both Port Hudson & Vicksburg are along the Mississippi, making them strategic battles. Such suffering!

Madrano wrote: Yesterday we visited New Iberia, site of the original Tabasco sauce. There were samples after the "tour", including Tabasco ice cream & Tabasco Cola. None too hot. Did you know it takes 3 years & 28 days for the sauce to "brew"? We didn't!
."

I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years. I thought it was various spices quickly mixed together. Good Jeopardy question. :)

Okay, for us arm chair travelers, we have now moved on to:

Wikipedia
New Iberia is the tenth-largest city in the U.S state of Louisiana. Located 30 miles southeast of Lafayette, it is the parish seat of Iberia Parish. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747.
Weather: 66°F (19°C), Wind N at 0 mph (0 km/h), 94% Humidity
Population: 30,846 (2012)
Unemployment rate: 7.2% (Jul 2013)


Next stop will be !

Vicksburg Wikipedia

Vicksburg is the only city in Warren County, Mississippi. it is the sixteenth largest city in Mississippi. It is located 234 miles northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and 40 miles due west of Jackson, the state capital.Area: 35.3 sq miles (91.43 km²)
Weather: 66°F (19°C), Wind S at 5 mph (8 km/h), 99% Humidity
Population: 23,450 (2012)
Unemployment rate: 15.8% (Jul 2013)
Points of interest: Vicksburg National Military Park, USS Cairo, Pemberton's Headquarters

Vicksburg, 1863---Winston Groom

New Iberia is the setting of one of my all time favorite series-- James lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series. Stunningly good writing-- great dialogue and uses description mixed with exposition 'til you're so immersed in the place and the story simultaneously you can hardly extricate yourself even when the book ends.

Jennifer wrote: Stunningly good writing-- great dialogue and uses description mixed with exposition 'til you're so immersed in the place and the story simultaneously you can hardly extricate yourself even when the book ends.
."

Well, if that isn't the ultimate tribute to the author I don't know what is.

Jennifer, two travel brochures we read mentioned James Lee Burke and his authentic work. I haven't read him. Does he capture the dense humidity??? It was smothering us.

Alias, I appreciate the maps & notes you are sharing about our stops. This weekend I'll see if I can figure out how to do it on this iPad. It enhances the journey.

Yesterday we drove on part of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Even today it looks densely forested. Imagining tribes & other pioneers walking through there is an experience. This is particularly true on the heavy rain that was falling.

For us, a cool front has passed. The temps will be in the low 70s. This will make our hikes more pleasurable!

Yes but I have to say that since I live in dense humidity, that part of the descriptions tends to blow past me. Maybe I've been here so long I think humidity should be obvious!

At the start of each month Amazon has a list of 100 Kindle books that they put on sale for less than $4.

One that may interest is Vicksburg~Kent Conwell

Price $1.99

So do you have some sort of plan Deb, or are you just going wherever you go?

For some reason my connection is severed each time I try the Vicksburg book link, so I'll try another day. Thanks for hype title, as we were thinking a book about this might be interesting. The incredible numbers of dead &wounded are disturbing.

Julie, we do not really have a plan, other than to be in NYC Dec. 17, to meet our kids for Christmas. We left Texas with the plan to travel along the gulf coast. Because it was still so warm & sticky (unlike Jennifer, I can't seem to adjust my innards to high humidity), we decided to head to Civil War battlefield sites. When we lived in Maryland we began visiting such places & felt our understanding of US history was enhanced by such visits. Yes, we are just that nerdy. :-)

We also stop for beauty (the leaves are changing here with colors as lovely as New England, if not as prevalent), book sites (independent bookstores & author homes, although we mistimed Welty's) and plenty of other history. Presently we are planning a week in Chattanooga, TN, for "catch up" on laundry, supplies and communications, not to mention the obvious history & visiting opportunities. We thought we'd be there yesterday but now realize we underestimated how well preserved & presented these Civil War sites are.

Eudora Welty

Next stop ... Chattanooga, TN!

They have a nice website.

"Try taking a cruise on the river or check out the city on a guided tour (choose from duck tours, double decker bus or even ghost tours!). Then relax and enjoy a wine or whiskey tasting. "


Wiki-
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with a population of 167,674 as of the 2010 census and 171,279 as of May 2013.

Art Along the trails -- This looks like fun.

We will be here a week. Today is a rainy day, which i need in order to catch up on this board, as well as with my personal correspondence, including thank you notes to kinfolk we visited. However, the rest of our time will be full. We may even extend our time here, as we like the place and are finding more to do. I was unaware of the trails here, Alias, so thank you. As a reward for a downtown walk, i may reward myself at the Moon Pie Museum. Who knew there was one?!

Moon Pies were a favorite when i was a kid. We didn't get them often, though. Banana ones are not my cuppa but all my siblings liked them. Maybe i should mail them some...or a tee shirt.

The links I posted seemed to give a lot of fun things to do.

I think what people in the south called Moon Pies we in the north had scooter pies. Wiki also put Mallomars in this category. Though Mallomars have superior dark chocolate on the outside. I love them. However they are quite expensive. I saw them in the store, on sale, for $4 a box.

I like to keep them in the refrigerator. I like how it makes the marshmallow a bit harder.




Do let us know how the ones you get taste.

Love hearing about your travels Deb! Jennifer's right, it also put me in mind of Robicheaux, who I discovered this year. If you eat anything delicious and regional do tell as food travel stories are great, and it am obsessed with American food!

It's like having our own Bill Bryson travelogue in the group! :)

I think Moon Pies are overpriced, too. Or maybe i'm just not willing to invest the calories & money for them. Indeed, they are more about childhood memories. The store was more a merchandising opportunity but the memories were there.

I haven't tasted much worth writing about, other than the above-mentioned Tabasco ice cream. The Creole food was only so-so, although i must mention i am not a fan of that cuisine. Here in Chattanooga we are staying in an extended-stay motel, so we are cooking for ourselves, for the most part. BUT i will tell you when we get tasty goods. I will warn you away from Krystal burgers, though. They are along the lines of White Castle, so if you like small, tasteless burgers, go for them!

Yesterday we visited the highest Civil War battlesite we've seen...and the prettiest, overlooking the city & Tennessee River. It was a long drive up but rewarding. Additionally, for decades the local wealthy people have been building lovely summer homes up there (Lookout Mountain).

It hasn't seemed to endangered that Civil War site, however, across the valley is Missionary Ridge. It, too, has been slowly developed. In this case, it is a mess of a "battlefield site". First of all, it's a narrow road. Secondly, some monuments are in an owner's front yard! And there are few spots to pull aside to read the markers, which usually list which brigade was camped there & their losses in the battles. It's a prime example of why Civil War sites need preserving. The idea of any battle there is lost. Many of the homes are gorgeous, i hasten to add, with commanding views of the valley & river.

I thank you for your kind words about my posts. One is never sure if folks want to read such material or not. In this case, those who do not, can just skip the thread. We can't do THAT in real life, eh?

Madrano wrote:
First of all, it's a narrow road. Secondly, some monuments are in an owner's front yard! And there are few spots to pull aside to read the markers, which usually list which brigade was camped there & their losses in the battles. It's a prime example of why Civil War sites need preserving. The idea of any battle there is lost. Many of the homes are gorgeous, i hasten to add, with commanding views of the valley & river.

I thank you for your kind words about my posts. One is never sure if folks want to read such material or not.
------------------

That's sad that the area isn't preserved. I wonder if that is just in some states or all.

I sure am enjoying being an armchair traveler with you and your DH. I know I will never in a million years ever get to do what you are doing. I am also learning a lot of new things. Thank you for sharing with us !

Me too! Thanks for posting, Deb. I'm taking a vicarious vacation.

I'm tickled our armchairs are traveling! I know i've felt that in the past myself. Vicarious retirement-- that is the life!

Alias, you asked if the lack of preservation is local or wider spread. Sadly, this is not the worst case we've experienced. That distinction is held by Tupelo, Mississippi. We passed the Tupelo Battlefield site three times before we realized it was just the 2 cannons & monument on a small patch of land. Indeed, we never found a place to park, as it's located on one of the main, busy streets!

I took from those files I purged before moving two articles about Civil War site preservation. In some states it's been quite a battle in itself. However tourist dollars are helping cities understand the potential benefits. For me, the sites have been the best education tools about those years.

Madrano wrote: For me, the sites have been the best education tools about those years. ..."

Do you notice any difference between the South and North when it comes to preservation ?

I can totally see how visiting the various sites helps your understanding of the Civil War.

I know the two presidential homes (TR & FDR)I've visited have greatly enhanced my enjoyment and understanding. I would love to visit them all. That would make an awesome road trip.

We've been to few northern battlefields, so it's tough to see a difference. Gettysburg was well preserved, IMO, but I understand there are many who feel it's been compromised quite a bit as well. My understanding is that until the late 1950s most of them were surrounded by little but that has changed as urban sprawl & the desire for rural life has grown in appeal.

I just realized i have visited homes of the first 8 US presidents. Additionally, we've been to one for TR ( the NYC childhood), FDR's, Wilson's D.C. home and on this trip LBJ & Polk. We are going to Jackson's this week but I was there when I was a teen, too. The only other is the place where Grant died, also in New York. Oh! we also intend to go to Plains, GA., this week or next. There is much history to be learn, as well as bits about diplomacy, manners of the era, as well as styles. It's been great.

Madrano wrote:
I just realized i have visited homes of the first 8 US presidents.
---------------

Alias<<<<< simply green with envy !

Hee. Maybe we can make a "book - movie - visit" strategy for the group if we read about a president?

That would be fun, Susan. I wish I was in a financial position to travel. Oh, well. That is why we have deb and her DH !

Big Smile! Got a book & movie for Jimmy Carter? We are in Americus, Georgia today. Plains & it's museum are on today's agenda. I have read An Hour Before Daylightmemories Of A Rural Boyhood, as well as one he wrote with Rosalyn Carter, Everything to Gain. I liked them both, for different reasons.

I've read a few by Carter and enjoyed them all. Unfortunately, I gave them away. :( I wish I hadn't done that now that I want to read book by and about the various presidents.

I think I still have his Christmas book. Christmas in Plains: Memories

It's a slender simple feel good book. I liked it.

I have come to appreciate the Carter's more now that we've visited their museums. I was unaware that the first election in which he ran was rigged, which partly explains the Carter Center's Election Monitoring efforts overseas. It was odd to realize he is still alive, though, looking at the review of his (& her) lives.

The silence around his childhood home was impressive--i'd forgotten how profoundly silent the country can be. Acorns were falling from trees across the road & we could hear them land on the ground! To be fair, they were falling in large numbers, so much so it almost sounded like popcorn.

Madrano wrote: "I have come to appreciate the Carter's more now that we've visited their museums. I was unaware that the first election in which he ran was rigged, which partly explains the Carter Center's Electio..."

So you are in Plains Georgia now ? How is the weather. I just saw on TV there is a cold spell in the south. We are cold here in NYC, too. It's 35 this morning.

What else do you plan on seeing in Georgia ?

I am a fan of Jimmy Carter, too. Not so much his presidency because I was too young to pay attention at the time and I haven't read much about his time in office. But definitely of what he's accomplished in his humanitarian efforts with the Carter Center since then.

He had the unfortunate luck to be President when the Iranian students took US citizens hostage. Yes, there were other problems but that was the one many citizens recall, due to our sense of impotency in the situation. What he & his wife have accomplished since is nothing short of a remarkable tale of what former Presidents can do.

I forgot to reply to Alias. The day we were in Plains it was downright warm, mid 80s! Indeed, our trip has been one of yo-yo weather. From Plains we drove to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to spend some time on the coast. Our first evening was balmy, just right, actually. That night a coldfront came in, leaving us with mid 40 afternoons. For me, that is fine. We've already collected seashells (tiny ones) on our long walks by the ocean. R&R from the war.;-)

While in GA we saw two more battlefields. We took an arduous hike on one. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if not for the fallen leaves, covering all the 2-3" tree roots along the 2 mile walk. It's awful imagining the carnage there (Kennessaw Mountain, Lee's progress toward Atlanta).

Additionally we went to Andersonville, the Civil War prison site. Again, very sad. There were some other small battle sites. We spent less than a day in Atlanta, stopping at the Carter Museum & Martin Luther King museum/childhood home. Atlanta is a mess to drive through, let me tell ya!

Time to stroll the shore...

Sounds lovely, Deb. Thanks for the recap.

I see that Hilton Head Island was named one of Conde Nast Traveler's top 10 islands in the U.S.

The beach here is beautiful--wide, rock-free and long. In the community's efforts to be discreet, however, we've been unable to find restaurants, shops & other places we've been seeking. Too subtle!

Deb, I am enjoying hearing all your travels -- so exciting! We are still saving $$ for our 2014 Spring Trip to Ireland, Scotland (his choices), and to London, & take the chunnel to Paris (my choices). Our 30th wedding anniversary is December 10th -- it is amazing how fast time flies by?! We never take vacations -- I am a "golf-widow" and my husband goes on trips with his brother and brother-in-laws. I used to golf, but when I was diagnosed with Lupus I had to give it up (can't be in the sun.)

Thank you, Carol. I hope your anniversary trip is wonderful. I joined (well, I drove the golf cart) my husband once when he golfed on holiday. I was rewarded with sterling views of the waters around Kauai, Hawaii.

We leave Hilton Head today for a few nights in Charleston...

Madrano wrote: "Thank you, Carol. I hope your anniversary trip is wonderful. I joined (well, I drove the golf cart) my husband once when he golfed on holiday. I was rewarded with sterling views of the waters aroun..."

I'm jealous!! Never been to Hawaii -- would love to visit. Once we were driving to Georgia to see my brother but took a side trip to Charlestown. Took a little tour ride on a bus but the roads were flooded deep, and we were stuck, sitting on a bus until another came to bring us back to our vehicles. So I have yet to see Charleston . . .

Have fun in Charleston, Deb. What sites are you planning on seeing there ?

Carol, you may appreciate our predicament, then. If the rain ceases ( it's been two days now!) we hope to go to the Slave Museum, one of the few indoor slave market sites still standing. We'd also like to visit a preserved antebellum mansion, one not recreated but rather saved as it was. And there is a bridge we'd like to walk across which offers a good view of the city but we need a decent weathered day for that.

It's nice that your time is your own and you don't have a strict timetable to adhere to.

Relax and enjoy your downtime.

Madrano wrote: "Carol, you may appreciate our predicament, then. If the rain ceases ( it's been two days now!) we hope to go to the Slave Museum, one of the few indoor slave market sites still standing. We'd also ..."

It sounds great -- enjoy!!

Thanks for the good tidings, friends. We walked the old downtown area yesterday, but decided to not visit museums, after all. There is fascinating architecture here, so we looked at that, ducking into spots for warmth. Nice & relaxed.

Where did the last month go? After we arrived in NYC we were busy with family & a few friends there. Upon exiting, we caught colds, so have been suffering & now recouperating in Yorktown, VA. At last we are feeling human & have resumed haunting sites.

Meanwhile, i hope everyone had a good holiday season. I haven't read the message boards yet & from the length of them, it appears it will take longer than a day to do so. We have no idea where we want to head next, besides knowing it'll be south & some time will be spent in North Carolina.

Our Yorktown visit was nice and informative but i fell in love with the old part of town. The colonial styled homes facing the swift York River were beautiful. Since our last visit in 1970 they've constructed a riverwalk, a bridge, a great visitor's center and even "changed" history. Ok, not changed, but corrected. Last time we were here there was a "cave" which was believed to be where Cornwallis hid after the seige was ended. Turns out that was untrue but the cave is still there.

Impressed upon us this visit was how integral the French were in the conclusion of our Revolutionary War. Frankly, without them we'd probably still be subjects of the crown or speaking German, as the Hessians were a large support for the British. At one important point, the naval blockade of the Chesapeake Bay, no colonists took part--it was strictly a British vs. French naval event. And that was what precluded Cornwallis from getting away, more than a sudden storm that stranded him on this part of the state.

I could go on & on, including a major theme of our travels, the way African American history is now mentioned at most sites, Revolutionary, as well as Civil, War sites. But i'll spare you our details, at least until i've finished reading the board posts.

So you missed the snow storm in NYC. Lucky you. It's a mess here. And even where it is shoveled it is an icy mess. The corners are huge puddles of slush/ice. Walking is really hard. It's hard to see the ice. I fell, but thankfully didn't get hurt.

Tuesday the high temp for the day will be only 10 degrees. Thankfully after that the temps moderate again. I am getting cabin fever being stuck in the house!

I've never been to Virginia. It sounds lovely.

Thanks for the update on your travels ! :)

I was looking at the hourly forecasts for here. Tuesday at 1am it is supposed to be -11 degrees and -36 windchill.

Cabin fever is right, Alias Reader. I was in Wed. - my husband was involved in fixing his computer all day. Then Thursday we waited all day for snow which didn't start till dinner time. Friday we didn't feel like venturing out although we went to the movies and dinner. Today the roads were slick and very cold and tomorrow.........