CAJUN COUNTRY CARAVAN 2014...SUCCESS

Cajun Country Caravan 2014...Success...New Friends...Fun Times...Awesome Sites...Music...Food...For a old gal like me, I know when I see "happy."  And what I saw every day during this caravan was "happy people."  Rain or Shine, Cold or Hot (don't think it was ever really hot), everyone was happy.  Now, there were times that The Airstreamers ate too much, or walked too much, or didn't get enough sleep, or had to wear dirty clothes, or had to hook up in the rain, or had to step in water when they stepped out of their camper...but, guess what, they were all still happy!

Debbie (New York) and Irene (Georgia) gettin' in the groove.  Vannie had showed them out to fringe the bottoms of their t-shirts.  You know when the t-shirt is a little too tight around the bottom...just a little fringe will solve the problem.  I wonder if that would work for me...guess it's hopeless when you have a bottom like mine.  lol

 

First Stop on our last big day...Lafayette, LA...St. John Oak...The Cathedral St. John the Evangelist...St. John's Cemetery





 



St. John Oak...500 years old...diameter of trunk - 9feet 2 inches...circumference - 28 feet 9 inches...height - 126 feet with a spread of 210 feet

 



St. John The Evangelist Cathedral

Beautiful flambeau stained glass windows

Made in Munich, Germany

Portrayed the life of St. John the Evangelist

Casavant Freres, Limitee Organ

Canadian Company

Installed 1985

Designed by Jean-Louis Caignet of Paris

Over 3000 pipes

Caravan Leaders...Judy/Larry Boudreaux

Guide to the Cathedral and Museum...Jan McKneel

Vannie

In this part of the museum was the Hanley-Gueno Neapolitan Presepio.  Vannie said no photos were allowed.  So anyone reading about this will just have to go see it.  She said it was magnificent.  It is a collection of 18th century puppet-like characters made by Neapolitan craftsmen from Italy.  It recreates the Nativity and what transpired in Bethlehem at the time.

St. John Cemetery

Oldest in the city

Above ground burial because of high water table

 

Second Stop...a Walk to downtown Lafayette

 

One of the many murals painted by Lafayette native, Robert Dafford

V and D with friends, Rob and Janice from Georgia

Eating lunch at Poupart's Bakery...downtown location in the old Gordon Hotel

Dave said you can't go downtown Laffy without making a stop at Bordon's Ice Cream.

 

Third and Last Stop...Dinner at Don's Seafood and Steakhouse...

Choices for Dinner...Seafood Platter, Broiled Fish, Steak...of course, with the yummy sides!

 

 

OMG...look at me...everyone is gone.  We will be staying here for a few days just to get some rest.  Larry and Judy Boudreaux were awesome caravan leaders, but V and D were on the go from sunup to sundown.  And, hey, I was busy, too.  Airstreams have so much news to share when they get together...especially about their owners...the gossip never stops. And there were some juicy stories, let me tell you! 

 

CAJUN COUNTRY CARAVAN

AN AWESOME ADVENTURE

 



THE MUSIC JUST DOESN'T STOP

"Gypsy, Gypsy, Gypsy...You just would not believe the music.  It's every where you turn."  Vannie and Dave could not stop talking about the music.  They lived in Lafayette 40 years...they knew about these places, but somehow with work and kids never made it out into the country to see them.  This caravan has been such a learning experience.  And I have loved, loved, loved it.  Being around "my kind" for 2 weeks has been out-of-this-world.

Here they go...
Stop #1...Savoy Music Center...home of the Acadian Accordion...established 1960.  Located on Hwy 190 between Eunice and Lawtell.  Jam Session every Saturday morning from 9:00 till noon. No Admission.  Served boudin and cracklins and hot Community coffee.

Boudin, Cracklins, Community Coffee

Vannie said this was a heart attack waiting to happen, but, man, was it good! 

Check out these T-Shirts with Cajun Musicians...Sure wish one would fit me!

Guitars, Fiddles, Harmonicas, Triangles, Piano, Steel Guitar...and a bunch of Cajuns sitting around and having fun.

Marc Savoy...owner

Don't you just love this picture...wives of some of the musicians.

Dave thinks he is a Cajun!  Cher, he's got the rhythm!

 

 

Stop #2...Fred's Lounge...Mamou, LA. Only open on Saturday mornings. This is a downhome honky tonk.  World Famous.  After Fred passed away, his wife, Sue, has continued the tradition.  Everyone calls her Tante Sue.

Judy Boudreaux (our leader), V and D, and friend, Paul

 

Tante Sue, and Vannie...Friend, Sue, is looking on from the back.

 

 

Stop #3...Prairie Acadian Cultural Center...Great place to read about the history of the area.  There are wonderful photographs, and paintings depicting the culture.

This was the band playing at the culture center.  Vannie said the boy in the middle is only 13.

...and then there was the cooking/tasting demonstration...Can you see what is in the pot in the mirror?  Gumbo!  Dave said it was one of the best he had ever eaten.

 

 

Stop #4...Nutcracker Museum...Eunice...over 350 nutcrackers.  Free Admission.  Check out Captain Kurt and Spock

 

 

Stop #5...Liberty Theater...Eunice.  V and D said that if you like Cajun music and live theatre, this is the place to be on a Saturday night.  It doesn't matter that the entire "live broadcast" is done entirely in French.  It's just great music and a slice of French LA culture.  A historic must see!

 

Next Day...Moved to Carencro, LA...Bayou Wilderness Campground.  I love this place, too.  Out in the country next to a beautiful bayou.  Plenty of wide open space.  Feels good!  The Airstreamers rested and relaxed...visited among themselves... washed clothes.  Pizza, salad, and ice cream was served for dinner...and then, a hot game of bouray!

Vannie's doing pretty good...Spades happens to be tromps!

 

Only one more big day.  It has been a blast.  Everyone has gotten along so well and enjoyed each other.  New Friends for a lifetime!

 

ALLONS A EUNICE

Eunice...Louisiana's Prairie Cajun Capital...LA-70510 out of Abbeville, LA-14 towards Kaplan, right onto LA-13, left onto US-90 by the crawfish pond, right onto SR-13 next to the rice field, Left onto East Maple Ave, Left onto W Laurel St, Right onto Eisenhower St, by the Winn Dixie, left onto Magnolia Ave...Arrive at the Campground

 

I'm following right behind...we are rollin' into Eunice.

This big mural welcomes us into to town.

 

Don't you love this campsite!!!  a cover...WOW!

 

DI's Restaurant...V and D had to drive way out in the middle of nowhere to get this meal.  As you can see, I think it must of have been worth it. This was the crawfish platter.

This is the Airstream bunch...a very special group...V and D loves them all, and I love their trailers.

Another Cajun Band,,,Vannie said the dancing was just as good.

 

"Faits de beaux reves"

 

(Sweet Dreams)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADORABLE ABBEVILLE

The good people of Abbeville know how to do it up right.  When Vannie and Dave left me this morning, they were ready to hit the streets of downtown Abbeville.  

Stop #1...Reception at City Hall just for the Airstreamers.  A small treat would be served.  Dave said he wonders what a large treat would be.  Pain perdu (French Toast) and boudin with Steen's syrup and, of course, good ole Louisiana coffee. 

Stop #2...Walking tour of downtown Abbeville...It was a beautiful day...perfect for walking!

St. Mary  Magdalen Church

Built in 1910 on the site of the old church

 

Vermilion Parish Courthouse

Built around 1950

Designed by famous Louisiana architect, Hays Town

All sides were done in a different style...one was a Greek Temple, another was an antebellum home, one side the main entrance, and one was windowless and contained an historical plaque. 

Check out this old safe...just sitting out on the sidewalk

Abbey Player's Theater

V and D have been to many plays here in the past.  Dave has even acted in several of the plays...Rumors and Boys Next Door

Sam Guarino's Blacksmith Shop...1913

Sam immigrated from Italy

"If you can't find it anywhere, we can make it for you."

Working blacksmith shop in the downtown area until 2004.  Now a museum.

Old Depot...got a bunch of cute stuff in here.  Lot of shopping going on!

 

Stop #3...Lunch at Shuck's Restaurant...Another delicious meal!

 

Stop #4...Naptime

 

Stop #5...Sounds on the Square...This was in Magdalen Square, downtown Abbevilee.  V and D said they were surrounded by beautiful large oak trees, a fountain, and a gazebo.  Cajun music was wafting through the breeze.  People were eating jambalaya.  Gosh, it doesn't get much better than this!

 

 

The Band

Two teenage girls were the band leaders.  Great Job!

This is the couple that manages our campground. Sweet!

Abbeville RV Park

Arlene  and Luc Colle

The story goes that this tree was split in half during Hurricane Rita.  People tied it back together and waited...and, guess what, it lived. 

Children playing Hide and Go Seek around the gazebo.  Bet if you listen closely you can hear the laughter.

Another new friend, Sue.  She is playing a scrub board tie.  Vannie said that these ties are so cool.  They are made out of metal and have ridges like a scrub board.  The player puts thimbles on his/her fingers and scrubs away...of course, with that good ole Cajun beat!

 

 

Stop #6...Bed...Nighty Night.....

 

 

 

CATCHIN'...EATIN'...STOMPIN' TO THE MUSIC

"Au revoir, Gypsy, we are heading out to catch some crawfish."  That's what I heard this morning as Vannie and Dave were off to the nearest crawfish pond.  

Stop #1...Crawfish Pond between Abbeville and Kaplan...Two guys (one old and one young) making a living catching crawfish.  Vannie said that they each had their own boat (one old and one new) and each had their own style of catchin' crawfish (one old and one new).  Both styles did the job.  V and D said they would not choose this job, but they were sure glad that these guys did.  Crawfish is some mighty good eatin'.

Do you see that red dot in the middle of the picture?  That's one of the crawfish traps.

This pond is only about 2 feet deep.

 

Stop #2...Vannie forgot to take pictures during this stop.  Reason...she was too busy eatin' crawfish fettuccini, cold slaw, French bread, German chocolate cake.  The cooks for this lunch were from V and D's Louisiana Acadiana Airstream Unit...Lena and Kerney Saltsman, their daughter and grandson, and John and Yvette Landry.  Vannie said it was like old home week...so glad to see their  friends.

Stop #3...Nap back in me.  I heard V and D sawing logs.  They were worn to a nubbin'!

Stop #4...Richard's Restaurant...3 pounds boiled crawfish, boudin balls, boiled potatoes and onions, salad.  My goodness...does it ever stop!

I wonder if these are the ones they caught this morning...Could be!

Dat's some big pots to cook dem crawfish in, Cher!

Stop #5...Le Bayou Legendaire ( Old Richard Sale Barn) Dave said that this place was once a thriving auction house for livestock.  It is now a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the French rural culture of Acadiana.  The Airstreamers were treated to music played on the fiddle, accordion, and guitar.  They sat on wooden bleachers in the old barn and did some stompin' to the music.

Le Bayou Legendaire...just right down the road from Richard's

Some good music going on here!

The moon was shining brightly when V and D arrived back to me.  They were still humming some of the tunes.  Another day of "firsts"!