New Orleans Part 2

We made the most of our two days in New Orleans. We did a city tour that was a huge help in getting the big picture and history of New Orleans. I loved the architecture especially in the garden district where the average house price is 3 million dollars and the French Quarter. Part of that tour was Katrina destruction. Seeing the 9th ward in person was pretty humbling. Even 13 years later there are houses and buildings like schools and hospitals still not rebuilt. Approximately, 100,000 people have not returned to the city after Katrina.

We also did a Swap Tour. The captain actually called the alligators out. Louisiana alligators only understand French. Alligators can only see in black and white so they use Marshmallows to lure them close to the boat. We were able to hold a baby alligator on the boat and see 11 in the water plus a skinny raccoon.

We also visited Oak Alley Plantation. It was as a sugar plantation prior to the Civil War. It was as very educational and did an excellent job of showing respectfully lives of everyone who lived and worked on that plantation. Sugar cane is very hard to grow, so you must already be wealthy to start before even attempting to grow sugar. After the Civi War, the plantation went through a series of owners and finally ceased to be a sugar plantation. Sugar takes a whole year to grow.  It seemed as though sugar is only profitable with free labor. I was especially fascinated by the sugar harvesting and processing.

Wildlife
12 alligators (1held & pet) 🐊
1 raccoon 🦝
25 white ibis (bird)

1 Roadkill