Day 3 Mardi Gras New Orleans March 3, 2019

   Today, we did something a little different than parades and throw and catch beads. We rode a bus to our Cajun Swamp tour and rode a pontoon boat into the Manchac Swamp. It was a little different than our St. John’s air boat rides because of all of the trees. We saw lots of little alligators but the big ones weren’t out yet as it takes them too long for them to heat back up as it has been cold. Our guide was great.  At one spot we threw a bucket of corn for the raccoons, and they knew as soon as the boat came to run out and expect the food. That was different and on the way back, he threw each of them a marshmallow. He had lots of educational things to pass around and the last was a baby alligator. He explained how the government regulates how many babies the company can have and also witnesses their release at the end of the summer.

   Then we heard the story of Voodoo Priestess, Julia Brown. She healed many of the town’s folk in her logging town, Frenier, probably knew exactly which herbs would do what. Today we call that holistic medicine. The town’s folk eventually became greedy and she became mean. She used to sit on her porch and play her guitar singing, “One day I am going to die, and take the whole town with me.” She died Sept. 29, 1915 and as they were putting the last nail in her coffin, a hurricane struck killing most of the 700 town’s folk. Only 25 people survived. The grave site is where the town once stood. Most of the people’s names were unknown and many people were buried together. All I could think of is that caused a lot of dead ends in trying to find one’s ancestors.

    Next we went to Oak Alley Plantation. The old southern plantations always fascinate me. Their way of life was something before the Civil War.

   Last night we took a Pedi Cab to Brennan’s. Zig zagging through the people watching the ongoing parades, this was another Mardi Gras experience. He took us the long way around to avoid the craziness on Bourbon Street. However, as crazy as it was, all of the locals tell us wait until Tuesday. The waiter we had a Brennan’s was born and raised in New Orleans and told us how things have changed. Mardi Gras used to be family friendly for the most part and the crazies stayed in one location. Now the crazy is everywhere, and he is leaving today for Mexico to avoid it all. During Mardi Gras, cannot tour any of the museums, churches, or main public buildings as all are surrounded by National Rent a Fence. Actually, pretty sad how society is moving!

    Our Brennan’s dinner, however, did not disappoint. We started with Steak Tartare with a Cajun twist. It had Calabrian chile, wasabi and collard green chips. Boy was it fantastic. Tom had blackened red fish and I had grilled venison backstrap. Something I have never had before. The venison loin was wrapped with bacon, had chestnut beignets, creamed broccolini and dried cherry sauce. Oh my gosh it was delicious. We ended with banana foster flamed at the table.

More to follow

Tom & Holly