St. Louis Cemetery No.3, New Orleans, Louisiana

Well, we did opt for a New Orleans City Tour after disembarking from Highlights of the Mississippi Cruise.

Here we are walking a historical New Orleans above ground cemetery also called Cities of the Dead just click the link.
The tomb on this photo is a very expensive one... all Italian marble.

Every 2 years a person can be added to such an above ground tomb

The same tomb of Italian marble  to the right, where we stand with our tour guide, me in orange top.

A long alley... it really looks like a City of the Dead!

St. Louis Cemetery no. 3
For more info you can click: NOLA History: Exploring St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 as it explains a lot.

There was a statue of PADRE PIO near the entrance gate.
"THIS HUMBLE CAPUCHIN FRIAR SURPRISED THE
WORLD WITH HIS LIFE TOTALLY DEDICATED TO
PRAYER AND TO LISTENING TO HIS BROTHERS
AND SISTERS. HIS BODY, MARKED BY THE STIGMATA,
DEMONSTRATED THE INTIMATE CONNECTION
BETWEEN DEATH AND RESURRECTION

We toured this City of the Dead shortly after 9:00 AM and the bus did drive through areas with nice historical homes but most time was spent on the UNO and we got an ear full of sports information.
Sports is NOT the most important thing and certainly does not represent NOLAS history well.

Very disappointing that we did not enter more in depth into the true history of this beautiful city, the way I'd experienced it in 1988 when I was on a bus tour.
We only stopped at some café where coffee and beignets could be had and there was a gift shop.

Sure the bus did drive past those stately mansions and we also did visit history museum.

The tour bus did drive past the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral Basilica, where the statue of General Andrew Jackson is standing in the center of Jackson square.
This is from Southern Lady magazine March/April 2009...
Saved because we were dreaming of this!

As much as we enjoyed the cruise and its highlights, I might have to take my Pieter back one more time for walking 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
Then having Mass at the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States on Sunday at 11:00 AM with Organ and Choir.
And visit the Old Ursuline Convent Museum... as well as The National WWII Museum.

It sure was a pleasure!

Thanks for your vist.

Related links:
Mother River Statue in New Orleans, Louisiana | previous post by me
Pilot House and Upper Deck of the America | previous post by me
Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana | previous post by me
Baton Rouge and Rosedown Plantation, Louisiana | previous post by me

Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me

Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River | previous post by me
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

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Mother River Statue in New Orleans, Louisiana

After dinner on Tuesday, July 11, we did get off the boat to visit this magnificent and meaningful Mother River Statue, just next to where our boat was docked.

Me, touching the Mother River Statue in New Orleans, to give you an idea about its enormous size.

It was already 7:30 PM so probably not the best light...

This is the spot where the above photo is taken, the bridge is visible too.

Quite impressive to see this huge Mother River Statue, against our cruise ship America.
Our cabin is just right from that street lantern, the 2nd window with balcony on the 4th deck and below those red words America. You also can see the Pilot House on the 5th deck, in the front.
There was an exit door right outside of our cabin, from the center hallway, exiting to the outside deck in front of the boat where I've taken the previous videos shown.
One video I took also from the upper deck, all the way to the right (back of ship).

Such beautiful artwork this Mother River Statue!

Mother River Statue in NOLA = New Orleans, Louisiana
Americans LOVE abbreviations!

By sculptor Joseph Cleary

MOTHER RIVER
THIS SCULPTURE REPRESENTS THE POWER, BEAUTY AND
HISTORY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. HER OUTSTRETCHED HANDS
SYMBOLIZE THE SOURCE OF THIS GREAT WATERWAY WHICH
STRETCHES FROM PRACTICALLY THE CANADIAN BORDER TO THE
GULF OF MEXICO. HER ROBES AND DRAPES EXPRESS THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER'S CONSTANT FLOW THROUGH THE HEARTLAND
OF THE UNITED STATES UNTIL IT CONVERGES HERE, CREATING
THE GREAT PORT OF NEW ORLEANS. THE FIGURES AT HER FEET
REPRESENT THE NUMEROUS TRIBUTARIES WHICH FEED INTO
THE MISSISSIPPI. THE RELIEF SCULPTURE ON HER BASE DEPICTS
THE ACTIVITIES ALONG THE RIVER INCLUDING THE MEN, WOMEN
AND MACHINES OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY IN THE STATE
OF LOUISIANA.

THIS STATUE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS MADE AND
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TO OUR NATION. MY THIS
SCULPTURE FOREVER EXPRESS THE POWER AND GRANDEUR OF
THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI; A SALUTE TO THE MARINERS AND
SHORE WORKERS MAKING OUR PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFE
AND PRODUCTIVE
MURPHY J. FOSTER, GOVERNOR
MARCH 8, 2001
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
JAMES M. BALDWIN, JR
WALTER J. BOASSO
DONALD T. BOLLINGER
BERNARD L. CHARBONNET. JR.
DAVID GUIDRY
FRANCIS E. LAURICELLA
DAVID P. SCHULINGKAMP
J. RON BRINSON, PRESIDENT & CEO
ARTHUR Q. DAVIS - ARCHITECT
JOSEPH CLEARY - SCULPTOR

It was nearly impossible for finding any information about this great sculptor Joseph Cleary and this from askART Joseph S Cleary was the best I could find!

Also in a September 2007 Orinda Historical Society Newsletter he got mentioned.

Thank you for your visit!

Related links:
Pilot House and Upper Deck of the America | previous post by me
Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana | previous post by me
Baton Rouge and Rosedown Plantation, Louisiana | previous post by me

Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me

Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River | previous post by me
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

Pilot House Tour and Upper Deck of the America

On Tuesday, July 11, 2017 we both walked back from Oak Alley, to the boat an hour before the 'deadline', because it was our final chance for getting the Pilot House tour! Here we are at 11:00 AM...

Husband Pieter loved listening to the Captain!

Behind Pieter you still can see the live oak trees from Oak Alley...

So we went to Oak Alley at 9:00 AM and back in time for the Pilot House Tour, right before lunch...

Both of us were very impressed about the high tech details of this brand-new river cruise ship: America.

Below are the names of the Captain: Capt. Scott Broussard

To the left of Pieter you see Navigation Mate: Brad Vandiver who formerly was with the United States Coast Guard.

FURUNO radar system

SIMRAD Navigation

Computerized high tech maneuvering.

High tech system
Through the window you can see where we walked down to cross the road to Oak Alley Plantation!

On the upper deck in the back of the ship.
It is 11:42 AM and you can see the clouds coming up again, almost every afternoon like that.

Around 11:45 AM on the Mississippi, Vacherie, Louisiana and you can see Oak Alley from the upper deck as I turn around.

At 11:45 AM the weather at Vacherie, Louisiana is a tropical 31ºC and later in the afternoon, as usual thunderstorms. We must say that American Cruise Lines has arranged all outings in a perfect timing. Never a problem for not having good weather while out and about.

Coming down the steps from the 6th deck, you find a Spacious Sun Deck on the America, just click the link for more photos.

Sitting for a few minutes under the canopy of the Sun Deck.

If only there were more hours in those sunny mornings...

Quite happy for a few relaxing minutes on the sun deck...

Now off to lunch...

By 2:00 PM we're in Luling, Louisiana and on our way back to New Orleans...

So you don't think we never ate... Here is the final Dinner Menu on the America... At 7:00 PM we also were already back in the cruise port of New Orleans

Shrimp and Crab Stuffed Baked Lobster Tail was my choice. The meals were really excellent and the service OUTSTANDING!

At 8:15 PM we enjoyed 3 of the famous VICTORY BELLES

Yes, 3 very talented singers and dancers kept us entertained. So ended another perfect and full day with American Cruise Lines aboard the America. Only one more breakfast in the morning and rather early disembarking. Stay tuned for more...
Thanks for your visit!

Related links:
Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana | previous post by me
Baton Rouge and Rosedown Plantation, Louisiana | previous post by me

Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me

Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River | previous post by me
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

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Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana

Slowly we are nearing the end of Highlights of the Mississippi Cruise...  

Tuesday, July 11, we did depart in Baton Rouge at 2:00 AM and after breakfast at 8:30 AM we could get off and walk just across the road to Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation had been such a long time dream!
Impressive Greek Revival antebellum home.
Also here, a 13-foot deep veranda encircles the entire house for providing shade for the entire day.
Much needed in the hot and humid Deep South.

As Southern Lady magazine wrote in March-April of 2009:
THE GRAND DAME OF THE Great River Road

These two pictures should be seen side by side of course!
Oh, that alley of majestic Live Oaks!
You can almost see the Mississippi river in the end...

"The serenity and quietness of this place is like nowhere else on earth."
Jacques Telesphore Roman and his wife, Celina, spared no expenses when they bult on this land in the late 1830s. The house took two years to complete and featured such details as 28 solid brick columns 8 feet in circumference, 16-inch-thick walls, and a 13 foot-deep veranda that kept the house shaded most of the day--a decided advantage in the Deep South heat.

12.5 foot-ceilings add to the grandeur and beauty.
All walls are of solid brick, approximately 16 inches thick.
All windows and doors face one another for cross ventilation!
For an interesting video of the tour click: Oak Alley Plantation Tour.

Again, for doing the tour and wanting to see the rest, this time frame was not quite enough!
Oh, we did have to leave ONCE a person behind that stayed in the gift shop at one of the plantations and the captain announced that we had to depart without him.
Sad... He got transport by taxi and was put up in a hotel and met with us at the next port.
Scary too! Especially if the person would have medications on the boat for the evening and morning...

When we arrived at the House I took this photo of the Oak Alley and in the far distance there are two ladies in period costumes.

Once more in a wider view...
Every person should have a chance to BE here; if only ONCE!
If only those majestic 300 year old live oak trees could talk.

This photo shows you the THICK inside walls!
Yes, they are made of approx. 16" of solid brick!
That keeps the building cool too.

Antique and ORIGINAL Rosewood Cradle of Oak Alley Plantation!
One really does step back in time...

One only can be in awe by such a Ceiling Medallion...

The same bedroom and you see here a fainting couch next to the rosewood cradle.

Oak Alley as seen from the veranda down...

Oak Alley from the veranda in a wider view.

Husband Pieter admiring the view of the gardens, from this 13-foot wide veranda.

Oak Alley has this 13-foot wide veranda encircling the entire house!
Taking care of shade for the entire day...

Admiring those lush Crepe Myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia) in the garden...
Our most expensive trees that we have came from a Louisiana nursery and we learned this day WHY this probably is the best state for growing anything!

White blooming Crepe Myrtle tree to the left and in the center a lush Southern Magnolia.

What a lush garden!
More white blooming Crepe Myrtle trees.

There was so much more to explore, like this Confederate Commanding Officer's tent...
A little insight into the Civil War (1861 to 1865) and its impact on Louisiana and Oak Alley.

Headquarters of Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, Commanding.
Lieutenant General Richard Taylor was a son of President Zachary Taylor and the brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis. He owned a large sugar plantation and was a Louisiana senator.
Husband Pieter, having served himself in the Dutch army found this quite interesting to peak into army life back then.

Simple life back then...

This cast iron sugar kettle we saw at the Sugarcane Theater of Oak Alley.
It was used to heat, clarify and evaporate the cane juice over a wood burning furnace.

Walking the grounds, to the left you see again blooming Crepe Myrtles.

Vertical photo of entrance to Oak Alley, the other I used as opening photo above.

Walking back now to our boat, one more time turning around for this majestic live oak alley!
A quarter of a mile alley of 300 year old Quercus virginiana 'Live Oaks'.

Now turning around and you can see the America on the Mississippi river behind the dike.
She is being supplied by a fresh produce truck, right here at Oak Alley.
Those that couldn't walk are being transported on golf carts, but both of us manage the walk up to the boat.

Returning back in time; from the old era and also in time for a tour of the Pilot House Tour on our cruise ship.

Back on the dike, for getting to our cruise ship and returning from a visit back in time.
Such a memorable sugar cane plantation!
Oak Alley is really the Grande Dame of the Great River Road!

Would have loved to linger longer here at Oak Alley!

Climbing up higher on the dike...

Behind this tall dike, awaits our America cruise ship, on the Mississippi river.

Here you can see on a Google map where Oak Alley Plantation is at and where the ship was docked.

Oak Alley overview

Oak Alley Plantation - Vacherie, Louisiana

Oak Alley Plantation Highlights

Oak Alley Plantation Highlights

Visitor Guide & Map of Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation Productions

Hope you enjoyed this Grande Dame!

Here is a good video for a visit: Oak Alley: See Historic Grounds and Big House! - YouTube

Thank you for your visit and stay tuned for Pilot House Tour and Upper Deck

Related links:

Baton Rouge and Rosedown Plantation, Louisiana | previous post by me
Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me

Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River | previous post by me
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