A Trip to Cajun Country- Suggestions

[Musicman408]

Hey All,

I know you all know about my love of the South, but lately I've been wanting to take a trip to Cajun Bayou Country in Southern Louisiana. I was wondering if any of you all had taken a trip like this, and if so, where you stayed and whatnot.

Much Love,
Ethan

[LukeA]

Ethan, God invented Paul Prudhomme and recorded Zydeco music so we wouldn't have to go to Southern Louisiana. Its not a particularly scenic area, and the conversations with the locals wouldn't be all that different than what could be experienced at any random Bojangles' after 10pm.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Ethan, God invented spicy food and recorded Zydeco music so we wouldn't have to go to Southern Louisiana. Its not a particularly scenic area, and the conversations with the locals wouldn't be all that different than what could be experienced at any random Bojangles' after 10pm.

Hmm, I couldn't disagree with you more about all of this... though I suspect you're baiting people by being purposefully inflammatory. I've never met friendlier people in my life than the people I met in New Orleans. Folks going out of their way in an extreme fashion just to be helpful. For instance, when my friend's fuel pump went on his DeLorean, we had a guy stop and hold a flashlight so we could try and change it out. When we realized we didn't have a specific tool we needed, the guy drove us across town to my friend's house to retrieve the tool, brought us back, and STILL helped us with the car. This was just a random stranger on the street.

Southern Louisiana is quite beautiful as well... except the heavily developed industrial sections, which are indeed prolific. But the bayous, cypress trees, live oaks, spanish moss, and architecture are all incredible. Even though Southern Louisiana is gritty, it's at least thoroughly genuine... unlike it's sister cities Charleston and Savannah, which are Disneyfied posers in comparison (I love all three cities, by the way).

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Hmm, I couldn't disagree with you more about all of this... though I suspect you're baiting people by being purposefully inflammatory.

Nah, I was just being snarky. If anything, I was just surprised personally that, while as much as I love the food & music associated with the culture (and I really do), its never once occurred to me that I need or want to go down there.

[HejiraNYC]

I have a $150 United Airlines voucher I have to use before the end of the year, so I was actually mulling this over last night. My criteria? 1. Warm. 2. Cheap. 3. Can be done in a weekend (i.e., leave NYC on Friday night, return Sunday night). New Orleans seems to fit the bill! I've been there a couple of times already, but not post-Katrina. More than anything I am interested in seeing the ongoing recovery effort, in particular, Brad Pitt's cheap modern houses! There's an Iron and Wine show at the House of Blues that I was interested in seeing but it appears to be sold out! Anyway, I'd also be interested to hear what anyone else comes up with...

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I have a $150 United Airlines voucher I have to use before the end of the year, so I was actually mulling this over last night. My criteria? 1. Warm. 2. Cheap. 3. Can be done in a weekend (i.e., leave NYC on Friday night, return Sunday night). New Orleans seems to fit the bill! I've been there a couple of times already, but not post-Katrina. More than anything I am interested in seeing the ongoing recovery effort, in particular, Brad Pitt's cheap modern houses! There's an Iron and Wine show at the House of Blues that I was interested in seeing but it appears to be sold out! Anyway, I'd also be interested to hear what anyone else comes up with...

Honestly, I think post-Katrina New Orleans is something every American really should experience. I was last there a few months ago... 5 full years after Katrina. I was there for about a week and was shown around by one of my DeLorean friends who lives in Metairie. The city is still in such a state of disarray it's alarming and highly sobering. So many roads are still impassable. Even outside the highly publicized 9th Ward, there are enormous areas which have been razed and left for dead. Nice, middle class suburban sections. Mansions in high end established areas which are damaged, boarded up, whose yards have gone to seed. Countless numbers of homes left abandoned, with the water line and number of dead still visible on the exterior walls. You have to leave the touristy parts of New Orleans and drive north towards Lake Pontchartrain to see it, but once you do, you realize how staggering the scale of the destruction still is. And the amount of people who STILL haven't come back after all this time, and probably never will. I can't even imagine how bad it looked the first year or two after the storm.

But the most amazing part of all is the spirit of the New Orleans people. I've never met friendlier, more optimistic, upbeat people in my entire life. They all seem to thoughtlessly take care of one another. You'd think after all the horrendous BS they've been through, they'd be bitter, guarded, and resentful. Nothing could be further from the truth. I could tell you several stories of the generosity I encountered from complete strangers, but I'm already rambling uncontrollably . Seeing New Orleans earlier this year was just so humbling and enlightening. It is one of the most memorable, meaningful trips I've ever taken.

If you have the time and feel the desire to go to New Orleans, I can't encourage you enough to go. If you have any local contacts down there, that's the best way to really see the true state of the city. If you don't, there are Ledgies on here from New Orleans who I am sure would be more than happy to show you their city.

[louielouie2000]

I've been to Southern Louisiana a couple of times this year alone. If you're going into New Orleans specifically, just make sure not to spend all your time in the French Quarter. It's fabulous, don't get me wrong, but there's a LOT more to New Orleans than just that one section. I personally love the Garden District. St Charles Ave is fabulous, as is Magazine St. Both have amazing architecture, delicious restaurants, and great unique shopping (especially Magazine St). I also just love wandering around the residential streets in the Garden District... some of the best architecture in the nation! And when you are in the French Quarter, keep in mind there is SO much more to it than Bourbon St.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by Musicman408

I know you all know about my love of the South, but lately I've been wanting to take a trip to Cajun Bayou Country in Southern Louisiana.

Just watch Swamp People, my new favorite show.