New Orleans

Sat, Nov 7, Fairview-Riverside State Park, Madisonville, LA:  Returned from New Orleans this morning tired but content. Stayed at the Chateau Lemoyne in the French Quarter. We got there around noon on Thursday too early to check in, so we had a drink on the pool deck and then walked around the French Quarter for a while. A beautiful day—warm and sunny. Checked in around 4:00, unpacked, and had dinner at Desires on Bourbon St. Got an early start on Friday with breakfast at the hotel and then drove over to the WWII Museum on Magazine St. A long day (12 hours) but really interesting. We were able to see and explore a PT boat they’re completely restoring to full running condition which they’ll have in the water by December. We also toured the fourth floor where over 10,000 items are stored, such as American, British, German, and Japanese uniforms and weapons, medals, plane props, a piece of the Arizona that was sunk at Pearl Harbor, a treasure trove of taped interviews between Stephen Ambrose and WWII vets, and on and on. We got to go inside a Sherman tank (I did not). And we had dinner and a show at the Stage Door Canteen where a group of very talented singers and dancers put on a typical USO show the likes of which Bob Hope and his entourage did so many times. The museum keeps growing and is the #1 attraction in New Orleans these days. They opened a new building since we were there last—the Freedom Pavilion. Back to our hotel and had another drink on the pool deck (still 80 degrees!) before crashing. Out early this morning in a light drizzle. Back to our site, unpacked, had some lunch and then did the laundry. We’ve never done the laundry here before. It’s not a great laundry room (two washers and two dryers), but it’s free. So, that’s out of the way. Sat outside reading my new Grisham book and listening to the rain drops on the awning. Tomorrow we leave for the KOA at Milton, FL. We’ll be there for three days.

Jammin' on Jackson Square. These guys were good!

We tried to find a place with some Zydeco music. Nothing. Where's the Zydeco? It is New Orleans after all.

St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

View from our table at Desires. A guy walked by in a black leather vest and short shorts and fishnet stockings. He looked vaguely familiar...

The guys from our group checking out the machine gun on the Sherman tank.

Mike climbing out the turret hatch. He was brave. The only one to  go inside. This thing held five men. Can you say claustrophobic?

Mike still working on getting out of this thing.

Our guide set up a step ladder to climb up onto it.

The Freedom Pavilion is new. It houses some historic aircraft and exhibits from the European Theater. The exhibits from the Pacific Theater will be open next year. 

The talented band at the Stage Door Canteen.