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Another new-for-us state!
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Lots of wisteria blooming . . .
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At the alligator ranch, we saw many gators of all sizes
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It's that how Capt Hook met his demise?
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His name is "Bob" - a gator born without a tail. Named because of the way he swims . . .
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We all got to pet a gator. The underside is much softer . . .
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The baby burro at Global Wildlife Center was just 3 weeks old. Lots of "Awwww"
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What? You've never seen an emu relaxing?
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Bactrian camel with a really great haircut
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Our guide chose to kiss the camel. Maybe they pay her extra . . .
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Zebras have such fascinating patterns, and such foul temperaments
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Nilgai were among the most agressive moochers
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The nilgai would steal your food cups given the chance
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Great horns
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Greater horns
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These guys were very purposeful as they came for food
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This is a very kid-friendly place
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It wasn't difficult to attract several hundred animals
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The turtles didn't beg for food
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Nor did the African crane
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The kangaroos were kept in their own enclosure - they had a habit of jumping the fence in the larger one
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Outside Slidell, we visited the swamp
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Their little boats held about 20 people
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Cypress knees help the trees breathe
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A Tri-colored heron
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It seems very peaceful in the swamp
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The only gator we saw, and he was hiding his head
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There are lots of fishing camps along the West Pearl River
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A snake, posing as a stick
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Ummmm . . . no thanks
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Wild Iris bloomed profusely
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A shallow-water shrimp boat, used near the mouth of the river 10 miles downstream
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A small group of Ibis took wing as we passed
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We noticed this repurposed stump in our RV park
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On a day-trip to Mississippi, that's a lunar lander trainer
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Hometown boy Fred Haise is a local hero, both for being an astronaut and for surviving Apollo 13
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At the Stennis Space Center, tanks for liquid hydrogen and oxygen
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This stand was built to test the Space Shuttle engines
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This stand could test five Saturn 5 engines at once
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A full-size weather buoy, usually anchored in the ocean. The buoys are serviced here
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The American Needlepoint Guild has reproduced the flight patches of every US space flight . . .
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Every patch was hand-stitched
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The museum displays the usual space stuff
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Having crashed every other flight simulator he's tried, crashing the Space Shuttle came easy for Al
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One of the solid rocket boosters used on the Space Shuttle
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Great name for a restaurant. Food wasn't so hot, though . .
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That's us - hot spots and all . . .
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One of the main engines from a Space Shuttle.
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Judy was impressed with how high the wisteria climbed
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The azaleas were in full bloom around the RV park
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In Baton Rouge, the Magnolia Mound Plantation - a working plantation house, not necessarily a showplace . . .
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In the dining room, a slave would work the wooden "fan" with a rope
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The garden produce is used for cooking demonstrations at the plantation
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The Overseer's Cabin is one of the original buiildings
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One unfortunate fact of life in the antebellum South
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Now that's a showplace - Nottaway Plantation along the Mississippi River
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With 64 rooms, it was built to show off the wealth of the builder
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Today it's a B&B and rentable wedding venue
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Inside, hand-painted porcelain knobs and keyhole covers are a mark of wealth
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Nottaway was gas-lit when built. This "Gasolier" was electrified in about 1960
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All of the crown moldings and flowers are hand-made from plaster
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Our excellent tour guide was named Elmer Thomas
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Inside the music room, several keyboards - and harp, of course
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The dining room could seat 18, although here it's set for 12
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Bridal photography was happening in advance of a wedding the next day
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Outside Baton Rouge, the home and studio of Henry Neubig, the Louisiana Mud Painter. Neat guy
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Where we found out how spicy "not very" is in Louisiana. It's "too" for us.
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Our first stop in New Orleans, across the street from our RV Park
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A quilt highlighting the New Orleans inductees . . .
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The carriages await at Jackson Square
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It's always fun to encounter public art
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St Louis Cathedral dominates Jackson Square, and is best seen from the top of the levee
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It's fun to sit on the Moonwalk and watch the river . . .
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When a freight train comes through, it's good to be on the proper side of the tracks. We weren't
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In the French Market area
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More public art
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Even though the musicians are often scruffy, the music is always fun
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We like the little guy checking out the jester
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Outside the Aquarium, stylized sea creatures
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We like the moonwalk along the river
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Great sculpture
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And it was warm!
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The public art helps make New Orleans one of our favorite cities
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There were lots of people in the quarter because of the Ironman Competition
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Everybody who finished got a big cheer
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This guy finished with a can of beer and a cigar . . .
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One of our favorite treats is Cafe Du Monde and beignets. All that powdered sugar . . .
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There's no place quite like Bourbon Street. That's both good and bad . . .
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We toured Mardi Gras World, where most of the Mardi Gras floats are created
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Today, they use a lot of styrofoam
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The foam is carved, then covered in paper mache and painted.
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That's the design for next year's Rex float
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Parts are often recycled, including Arnold's fingertips . . .
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It takes about 18 months to build for each Mardi Gras. The floats are spectacular
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Judy says that's the sexiest she's ever been . . .
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Just hangin' with the King, who has a better beard but really wimpy legs
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We have no desire to attend Mardi Gras, but the accessories are fun to see
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The Zulu Krew is the oldest African American group with a parade . . .
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Part of Harry Connick Jr's parade float
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Harp sighting (sort of)
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It's Mater!
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Heads used over the years. That's Harry Connick Jr second from right
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He's going to work
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You can rent some of these balconies for parties
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Joan of Arc outside the French Market
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Inside St Louis Cemetary No 1 - the original City of the Dead - across the street from our RV park
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Reputed to be the tomb of Marie LaVeau, the legendary Voodoo Queen. She still gets lots of business
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Meanwhile, the statue of the Virgin overlooks all
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We toured the French Quarter in this buggy . . .
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Bella is the attractive one in the middle
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The Jean LaFitte house, reputed to have been the pirate's hangout
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We just love the streetscapes in the French Quarter
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The most unusual RV in the French Quarter RV Resort - "Mog Heaven"
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Any pun on Star Wars is fine with us . . .
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Tour the Big Easy in the Lil' Easy . . that's cool
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Isn't that great?
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Music with lunch - and some of the best PoBoys we've had
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We thought it was a trash can - but it's a crawfish cooker!
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We like the street "statues" . . . this guy was very good
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We toured the 1850 House, one of the many historical buildings in New Orleans
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This was an elegant townhouse, with several rental apartments
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Several of the rooms - including this nursery - have been furnished appropriate to the period
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We watch Antique Roadshow - we know this is valuable.
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There are always street artists around Jackson Square
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We'll end on this Dixieland band, serenading us at the Cafe Du Monde. Sweet!