Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River

There we are, aboard the America and cruising now on the Mississippi River...

It is 11:33 AM on July 8, 2017 and I'm taking pictures of our cabin.

With balcony and great view.

We did opt for the 4th deck, cabin 403 of the America.

Two settees and a TV.

Photo taken after lunch at 2:45 PM as Pieter finally manages to take his nap after having been 2 days with me in the car...

At 17:09 we were in Edgard on the Mississippi river and we both are on our balcony.
Pieter sure did enjoy those HUGE barges on the Mississippi river.
Both of us had never expected such heavy freight traffic is going on.
We also had no idea that this river isTwsome 800 yards wide and almost congested with transport. Two thirds of the entire U.S.A.'s grain production goes via the Mississippi to New Orleans, also for export.
It is much cheaper than via rail or by truck!
It is a slow streaming river. We did some 8 miles stream up and downwards we made 15 miles per hour.
One could easily keep up by bike with that speed...

Fascinating to see those barges, only problem was that they are too long for capturing in one photo!

Now you can see the end of it...

Pieter sure enjoyed studying these freighters with his binoculars and I enjoyed them too.
From our private balcony on the 4th deck.

An interesting study...

Still in Garyville...

Here I show you the full width of the Mississippi, at Garyville, Louisiana.

Now standing on the front of the 4th deck and we're at Mount Airy, Louisiana around 17:25.

Pieter looking very happy!

Mount Airy, Louisiana and a bridge is coming in sight now... (to the left).

Wallace, Louisiana at 17:38.

Still in Wallace, nearing the bridge.

Wallace, close to bridge and Pieter is looking up at the Pilot's House for the captain's maneuvering...

By 17:43 we ware almost under the bridge in Wallace, Louisiana.

Pieter is looking up to the Pilot House and admiring the captain's skill!

At 18:30 we enjoy our first delicious dinner and have a very peaceful and good night in our cabin.

What a perfect first day!

Travel next with us to Houmas House, the crown jewel of Louisiana's river road...

Thanks for your visit.

Related links:
Our Long Awaited Mississippi River Cruise | previous post by me
The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School | previous post by me
7th North American Mushroom Conference at The Roosevelt in New Orleans | previous post by me

Our Long Awaited Mississippi River Cruise

When I had posted on October 15, about my Bridal Gown, the one that I made myself, I was going to lead you into this very post.

But things happened and we had to take a detour...

My dear husband Pieter had severe heart issues but for now, he is stable again.

So let's go back to that post, where I also showed a photo of my late first husband Frans, see link below this post.

It was through him, that our Long Awaited Mississippi River Cruise became reality.

One never knows if from heaven there still are messages delivered... One surprise was that from the Graphic Sector I did receive a pension on behalf of my late husband, in a lump sum due to the limited time he'd worked there.

So we could start planning our long awaited Mississippi River Cruise with American Cruise Lines newest paddlewheeler America, launched in 2016. Click the link for actually seeing the America on the Mississippi.

Even if it was a dreary looking day when we started out, here I am looking happy.

This dream took only 29 years, from March 7, 1988 till July 8 of 2017!
Starting our short 5-day cruise: Highlights of the Mississippi...

This time I had to drive the approximately 950 km all by myself as Pieter is no longer driving long stretches. With one stop at a hotel in Alabama, we made it to the INTERCONTINENTAL New Orleans Hotel's Classic Room where we stayed the night of July 7, before embarking on our cruise.

InterContinental New Orleans Classic Room's Desk.

A perfect shower at this InterContinental New Orleans, Classic Room.

Convenient towel bar on sliding door...

Handlebar in shower.
One can easily pick up ideas from such great hotels.

While I just relaxed and checked my MacBook, husband Pieter walked around the block.
As you can see, the InterContinental is located close to Lafayette Square and right in the center of New Orleans.

Top right you see my MacBook and the lower part of the building at top left is where we parked our car. Just crossing the building and than crossing the street with our carry on.

What would we do without our iPhone?
Car parking left and to the right you see the InterContinental New Orleans.

The Tower makes you exit just across from the InterContinental Hotel, very convenient.

Always make sure to check your surroundings!

Weather on July 7, 2017 when we arrived in the afternoon. Every afternoon thunder...
High humidity too in New Orleans area!

After a good breakfast buffet we arrive at the cruise terminal by bus.

Husband Pieter hardly can stand still for a picture, he's ready to embark on our new adventure!

Happy Pieter in front of the America Paddlewheeler.
By the way, the paddlewheel is only added for nostalgia and it is in fact a very high tech, modern river boat!

The blue dot is where we embark on our America cruise ship...

Again the blue dot where we embark.
You clearly see the mighty Mississippi river weave like a snake through the land...

Here you see the Planned Cruise Itinerary
We got on board before lunch and departed at 1:30 PM

There we go...

In the front you can see the walk bridge for disembarking at the various stops.

Our Ports of Call
New Orleans, LA
Houmas House, LA
Baton Rouge, LA
Oak Alley, LA

Every meal was a joy and the service was of the highest standards!

Welcome Aboard Your Mississippi River Cruise
Highlights of the Mississippi
Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly

Stay tuned for our first stop...

Related links:
My Sewing Creation - My Bridal Gown with Damsel Sleeves | previous post by me
The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School | previous post by me
7th North American Mushroom Conference at The Roosevelt in New Orleans | previous post by me

The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School

Okay, in my previous post I did write about the reason for ending up at The Roosevelt in New Orleans. So let's look around a bit in this remarkable city.

We did stay for one night at the Howard Johnson, Downtown New Orleans.

Next day after Mass, at the Moorish Jesuit Church across the hotel, we did walk with a Dutch business friend and a Chilean business man to French Quarter.
We moved to The Roosevelt in the afternoon.

On the wall to the left are the letters The Fairmont, as The Roosevelt was still called on March 6, 1988.
But our view was spectacular!
The mighty Mississippi river...

This photo is a bit more zoomed in.
We viewed actually the New Orleans Cruise Terminal!

Right from the back of our hotel.
2nd from right is the Sheraton hotel.

To the left is the Marriott and to the right the Sheraton, as we walk on Canal St. near Carondelet St.

French Quarter with its typical balconies and lots of wrought iron.

Husband Pieter took this photo as we stand here on 500 Bourbon St, New Orleans.
The Chilean gent to the left and Dutch business friend Anton van Overveld, from ALCOA in the center.

Yep the exact same sign from Chris Owens, 500 Bourbon St is still hanging there!
From Google Street View, click on link.

From the same link here above, you get a perfect view of what I was looking at in the above photo.
A bit scared for those protruding balconies with tables and chairs of Bayou Burger Balcony Dining!
The sign from 1988 with Takee Outee is gone...

La Louisiane Restaurant at 725 Iberville Street, built in 1837... It was open from 1881 till 2005.
You do have the feeling that you're back in the Old World, in France!

Crossing of Iberville and N Peters Street.

Yep, this Google 401 Iberville St New Orleans Street View shows it still is there!
Click on link to be shown the exact wall in photo.

A bit around the corner shows you this Google 199 N Peters St New Orleans Street View, just click it.
We're walking towards the Mississippi River...

Near the cruise terminal at the mighty Mississippi river...
The Chilean gent to the left of me.
That day I had a perfect Spanish speaking adventure; good practice!

Pieter is now showing the other side, with the Mississippi river and the bridge in the back.

While Pieter took the above photo, Dutch business friend Anton van Overveld took this one with Pieter in it, to the right of me.

Happy together on the mighty Mississippi river...
Such a perfect sunny Sunday in March!

Dreaming of one day being able to make a cruise with such a boat...
On Monday, March 7, both of us had early breakfast with the conference participants and while Pieter did prepare for his lecture in the afternoon, I joined the Grand Tour bus at 10:00 AM and got to see beautiful New Orleans, together with Peter and Els Janssen, from my hometown area.

Card bought: Jackson Square with its famous General Andrew Jackson on his bronze horse statue set against the
beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis King of France
This is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States.
Daily Mass is at 12:05 and I wish we could have had time for that.
By 12:30 we had all lunch at the Roosevelt hotel with all conference guests.
Also would love to visit the Old Ursuline Convent Museum...

Card bought: Creole Queen on the Mississippi river against Chalmette Battlefield monument.

Card bought: Steamboat Natchez a Harbor Jazz Cruise would have been fun!
That afternoon, Pieter did present his lecture and I also was successful selling my own design, brass mushrooms for window decorations, see link below post: My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms.
On Tuesday, March 8, we did have the exhibition opening after a lunch buffet and in the evening Grand Ball with Dinner.
On Wednesday, March 9, after breakfast I went by bus at 10:00 AM to the New Orleans Cooking School where we learned to make Gumbo and Jambalaya and ate that for lunch...

Still have this great apron that was included for wearing while preparing our food!
Just click on above link, you can have this HANDS-ON CLASS still today, ever since 1980.

By 15:30 we were in our car and drove the 590 miles or 950 km home to Dublin, Georgia and arrived on Thursday at 2:30 in the morning.

Thanks for your visit!

7th North American Mushroom Conference at The Roosevelt in New Orleans | previous post by me

{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | my previous post by me