Inside Oak Alley

 The guide inside Oak Alley was quite entertaining. Just don't bring in your mint julep even though they tell you that you can. She can be right prickly about things like that.

Inside the parlour where guests would be received. Notice the lone candle on the table. 

That was held by the owner of the house whenever suitors came a calling. 

If he did not like the boy, he would twirl the candle shorter.

In the dining room. Everything is short and small because the average Creole stood at only 5 feet tall.

The flatware was big though--the larger your silverware, the wealthier you were deemed to be.

 The nursery. Creepy.

 Note the baby doll in front of the guide. Super creepy.

Stairway to the attic. Triple creepy.

 Ladies guest bedroom. Guests would stay for a great length of time due to the travelling time it took to visit.

 The main bedroom. Note the baby's cot.

 View from the terrace ala every Tennessee William's play you can think of set on a plantation.

The bell would be the alarm for everything that went on in the house including signalling work and rest times for the slaves. 

Master's study. 

Original brickwork showcased in the master's study

Oak Alley Part 2

What a gorgeous plantation. Of course, one mustn't forget that slavery was an unfortunate part of making a place like this possible. We didn't get to see the slave quarters in this plantation but there were plenty at Laura Plantation where we went next:--

 Imagine trotting up to the oak-lined path riding your steed or carriage. 

Of course, if you were a slave, you'd be dragged to the back.

 On the grounds

 The levee separating the plantation from the Mississippi River.

 Coming up close. In the distance, the guides waiting for us in the same way 

the ladies of the mansion would.

A mint julep at 9.30 in the morning? Best believe it! 

It's a shame they didn't serve it in a proper glass.

View from the doorway.

H'ain't it taime t' see de plantashun? Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana

You want an awesome picture? I'll give you an awesome picture:

Here, how about two? 

Got to the plantation at 8.30 a.m. thanks to the guide and walked out to the front of the grounds to get this picture before the tour started. Pretty amazing pictures, if I don't say so myself. 

Beignets and Étouffées. Food, New Orleans

I normally never take pictures of food or myself for this blog. I don't take good food pictures and I've been refusing to succumb to the Asian fixation of photographing one's food before one eats. But seeing as I was a total tourist in N'awlins, I thought what the heck. Still, half of what I ate I forgot to photograph which makes me wonder how people are able to stall their appetites for the sake of some lousy snaps. 

What can I say about the food there that hasn't already been said? So many cultures have come together in the creation of New Orleans cuisine today. You can even taste the many nuances. First up, though, a beignet and chicory coffee at Cafe Du Monde:

 Open 24 hours a day, y'all. What did I have for breakfast, at 4pm, after midnight? A ten minute walk to Cafe Du Monde at all those times and I was sated.

It was a total beignet addiction! 

The cafe is interesting, to say the least. 

Almost three quarters of its staff are made up of Vietnamese ladies, all speaking with a N'awlins drawl!

 Served with a cup of icing sugar.

Trying to maneuver the camera, take a photo of the food and camwhore at the same time.

It's hard work. I wouldn't recommend it.

Half eaten Étouffée. I forgot to take a picture. It was that good.

 The French market. No pictures of actual stalls allowed, so this is what I came up with.

Outside Acme Oyster House. Shepard Fairey was here.

There's a line every time for lunch and dinner.

Black beans and rice with grilled homemade chorizo