Walking around New Orleans is always fun

 because its quite diverse. You can always find someone

trying to get attention.

Whether they want it or not.

I almost missed the above shot (which I know the settings aren't right) - but

how many times you get to see a big wheel like 

this roll down the street. 

He shot by me and I was really not paying attention.

So I just point and shot.

Sometimes you just gotta go with it.

 As I happened to be meandering the square I happened

upon this aspiring artist sleeping on the job.

Artists and seers jam the square touting their wares

 and it was just too perfect I caught this.

Artistic shot of the day. 

Snort.

Carriage rides are everywhere. We took one many

years ago and it was very interesting and fun.

This one was sort of shot from the hip.

Because I'm creative like that.

On the way home we took a slight detour...

We happened to be going by the Battleship Memorial Park.

Right off Rte 10E

In Alabama.

And for $2 you get lots of old military things.

 There were memorials for the Korean and Viet Nam wars.

 And the USS Alabama that you can tour. 

We respectfully declined because it would've taken hours.

My knees weren't up to it. 

And I/we really wanted to get home.

 This B52 has quite the wingspan and had to breakout my

new wide angle attachable lens.

It works awesome.

 One last shot of the battleship as we crossed the bridge.

We made it home safe and sound.

And its great to be here.

The Cabildo museum and French Market

Touring the museum was on my list

and they had tons of art, artifacts and information

from the Indians in Louisianna and all the

history in between.

It was very fascinating.

The museum is located next to the St. Louis cathedral.

 So I couldn't resist a do-over of the cathedral which is

beautiful without all the stages and cables that were being erected for

Mardi Gras and Superbowl when I was here last.

And this is the view from Artillery Park without a bunch

of peeps and junk in the way.

Timing is everything.

 I decided I needed to cruise on over to the French Market 

and this golden statue of Joan of Arc greets you as you stroll 

down the thoroughfare. The 

statue was presented to the city by Charles de Gaulle in 1959.

The French Market is actually a flea market and I couldn't

resist this wine glass. 

bwahahahaha!!!

 Returning to our abode I was shocked when I found that the

street was basically people free

and the blue and white building just begging to 

be photographed.

I adore the rustic-ness.

And the architecture.

and the balconies - make you swoon.

Around the Vieux Carre

 and that means "old square" - I had to look it up.

So I happened upon Jackson Square again.

You really can't help it.

Since people actually managed to stay out of my

camera lens I love this shot from the fountain out

to Andrew Jackson statue. Because the horses front

legs are in the air, it means the rider died in battle.

 Cruising the streets shops have amusing items in front of their door.

 I love the ethereal look of these buildings and I don't know how

I achieved it. Something I did with the exposure or lack thereof but

it muted everything and its really how they look in real life.

This is a popular hotel and its because of the corn on the posts of the 

fencing, but not only that its a beautiful, well kept structure and

just happens to be next door to the hotel below.

When I was last here, I took the haunted history tour 

the Andrew Jackson Hotel was on the tour and has

noted experiences of hauntings. It was a boarding school

back in the 1700's when a fire broke out and

5 children lost their lives.  

 and this bar was also on the list.

 In its former life, it was the LaFit brothers blacksmith

shop and its reported that its haunted by a girlfriend of one of them.

Notice the spot there - that I didn't notice when I took the photo - I'm

going with the spooky.....

because I can.

Stalking dead people..........

So it appears riff-raff like me can stalk the old cemeteries

between the hours of 9-4.

And I was totally all over it. 

Because I love cemeteries because they have history

and can tell you so much about the people

who lived here and their lives.

 It was a cloudy, gloomy sort of day and that was perfect for 

prowling around in St. Louis Cemetery.

It's amazing.

It's old.

And sadly decaying. 

Unless the families pay for perpetual care, they are 

in charge of tending their families graves.

And for quite a few there appears to be no family remaining.

Katrina didn't help.

 And this gem just flat stood out amongst the crypts.

I'm thinking and its so obvious that its a modern version of the pyramid.

Family crypts are multi-generational and

sometimes its difficult to tell the roles they played.

Movers and shakers or behind the scenes.

 This is the infamous Marie LaVeau's grave.
The multi-racial voodoo priestess who was born free as a daughter of a white planter.

There's no name plate, tombstone but you know its hers.

X's are placed on there for luck. There is also offerings of 

all kinds of trinkets and cards left for her.

Very interesting as she kind of stands alone.

Sort of.

 There are rows and rows like this.

Some crumbling. Some new. Some pristine.

Some awkward rows.
I  also found offerings of shells and rocks left on graves or in their
vicinity but I don't know why.
No one was there to answer that question.

 And don't people leave the darndest things on crypts and graves. 

This was just one of many that I'm sure has a great story to go with.

I'd love to know it.

There are all kinds of statues, crosses and iron fences 

honoring and guarding loved ones.

I have a lot more pix.

I know you can't wait.

tearing up the backroads

 Along the Gulf Coast roads we got our first glimpse of

Mobile AL skyline.

 For some reason blogger does these photos out of order and

then makes it totally annoying to rearrange them.

So Biloxi and you know I love my shrimpers.

And how pretty are these.

 Also cruising down the highway - there were 3 lighthouses.

This was the best drive by shot.

Beautiful dock and park in Fair Hope AL.

There are also bird condos in the water.

Very fun!

Will be roaming about New Orleans today and hopefully do some 

different things this time around.

We hit 10K on the RV

 And here's the picture to prove it!!! 

Just rolled over on this trip.

 We went from Jax-Tallahassee down the the Gulf Coat Road.

 And found that Pensacola is gearing up for Spring Break.

Gonna be wild times.

 Lots of scenic views going on.

 Didn't have time to ride. Aww shucks.

Its been cold so how weird that we had a hotel room on the beach

while we have an RV..

Shots were made from Iphone sorry about dashboard stuff.