New Orleans, Day 4

OnSaturday, 5/30/2015

Belle Chase, LA

Today we planned to tour one of the local plantation homes.  Well, it is sort of local, about 60 miles away from us.  Since it was a bit of a drive we decided that we should have breakfast out on our way.  We chose the Waffle House since Janie has never eaten in one.  There was one about 25 miles away from the base and directly on our route to the plantation.  We couldn't get a booth for 6 so we sat at the counter, just in front of the grill.  Yes, they cook everything where you can see.  Each cook has their particular item to cook.  One does only the meats, one does the eggs and one does the waffles and hash browns.  They yell the orders out and the cooks put what they need to complete that order on their cooktops.  The food was good and so was the service.

We were soon back in the car and on our way to Oak Alley Plantation.  It is one of several restored plantations in the area.  When Bill and I were here in 2008 we didn't your this plantation, we just stopped and looked at the outside.  This time we went in and took the guided tour of the big house.  They let us take pictures inside.  Most of the furnishings are not original to the house but are of the period of the 1830's.  There are a few original pieces.  The family that lived in the house at that time were very wealthy but the fortune was lost in later generations.  The Stewart family bought the house around 1925 and restored it mostly to its original state.  They did make a few upgrades like indoor bathrooms.

This house has been featured in many movies and TV shows.  Interview with a Vampire was filmed here.  The oaks are around 300 years old.  It was a sugar cane plantation and had slaves at that time.



Lydia has been having problems with her foot for the last couple of days so they stopped at the hospital on our way home and had it looked at.  They say it isn't broken but she needs to wear some compression stockings for a few days. 

Terry and Lydia called after they were done at the hospital and we all decided to eat out. We went to Adam's Catfish House which is just up the street from the base. All the food was good and we would return to this place. That is all for today. Tomorrow we head out on our own and the others start their loop home.