It was a late start to the day due to a bit of a sleep in, then we drove Mary car out to the Jean Lafitte National Park and took a tourist boat out onto the bayou in the hope of seeing some cute little alligators. We were not disappointed as the little fellas ended up almost climbing into the boat with us. It seems the tourism industry here is not as regulated as it is in Australia, the guide was throwing marshmallows (for goodness sake) to attract the little reptiles! And the ‘gators were actually eating them! Marshmallows!
Eventually he stopped the boat in a place where about five of the animals gathered around the vessel and he started feeding them chicken legs, which we must say was an improvement over giving them lollies! As alligators are not a threat to humans, it seems there is not such a problem with teaching them to associate people with food, something you don’t want to do with the larger crocodilians.
The swamps were beautiful, the trees impressive and the Spanish Moss (not actually a moss) was stunning. Plus we finally got to see the wild alligators. They are mild mannered and entertaining little beasts, nothing like our more single-minded prehistoric crocodiles.
Another trip into the city to do a live music venue crawl was our evening treat. Once again we wandered down Frenchman Street popping into establishments where jazz was playing and enjoying the sounds and the ambience. The crowds had thinned out from what we’d experienced the night before, which made things a little easier to move around and to get a seat where we could see the bands. The people-watching was just as entertaining.
A big grid-iron game was on so everyone was keen to watch the TVs where the invading Dallas team was being beaten by the local New Orleans mob. “Who dat!” the audience would all blurt: which is a kind of Nyorlins war cry.
Click pics to enlarge
Beautiful picture of the golden orb. And the scenery, and the gators and then the jazz clubs add to the mix of an extraordinary day you have curated for yourselves. Wow!!