NEW ORLEANS, LOUSIANNA

Driving on I-10 over Lake Pontchartrain to New Orleans.

Hurricane Katrina damage still evident after a number of years since the hurricane hit.

Most all neighbors we saw as we approached the heart of New Orleans were still damaged and neighborhoods appear to have many houses that are not safe to live in.

Beautiful Southern flowers on the route from the parking lot to main tourist areas.
A lush walkway to the city streets.

A paddle wheeler with the backdrop of the city.
The train depot in the heart of the city along the shore of the Mississippi River

Cafe Du Monde where the famous Beignets were born.
Beignets and Cafe Au Lait are the main menu items here and the lines are long all day to find a table for this powdered sugar light and airy deep fried Beignet.
The staff of servers are all from Viet Nam

The Marketplace of crafts
Waiting to show the tourist the town

Typical New Orleans architecture and so lovely.

Joan of Arch statue - a gift from France.

Ofter there are apartments above the shops and restaurants.

One of many courtyards in the city.
Unique New Orleans style.

This line that winds its way out the store is waiting to buy the famous Muffuletta Italian sandwich.
Paying for the enormous sandwich at the Central Grocery.

Typical streets in the downtown area.
Waiting at Jackson Park for tourist.

A large cruise ship docking on the Mississippi.

Walter by a Mississippi Paddle Wheeler.
Cargo ships travel the Mississippi in great numbers.

Cargo ships from other countries abound in the area.

BATON ROUGE, MISSISSIPPI

Crossing over the mighty Mississippi River as we enter Baton Rouge.

One of numerous refineries we passed in Texas and this one in Louisiana.
Close up of a refinery in Baton Rouge. Even with the refinery in town, gas prices were not cheaper.

Aerial view of a refinery.
The Mississippi River is amazing!

The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class

This post is off-topic, but Elizabeth Warren talks here about such a crucial mater that I have made an exception. We want all our friends and family to have a chance to hear her. She teaches contract law, bankruptcy, and commercial law at Harvard Law School. Please watch her talk.

VISITS WITH WARNER AND PHOEBE

Lunch at the Hunt Store. Phoebe is taking this picture as Warner looks on. We met Warner and Phoebe on the Mexican Caravan. They live about 20 minutes from where we were staying in Kerrville, and they were wonderful in making us feel welcome in Texas The Hunt store is groceries, restaurant, and bank--rather unusual, but lunch was wonderful.
We were surprised to discover a mini Stonehenge right here in Texas.

Warner and Phoebe visiting at our Kerrville home.

The day before our departure to Raleigh, they stopped by with their chuck wagon which had a complete Texas meal prepared--even an old family recipe for excellent oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
They made our visit to Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country so special.

LBJ RANCH - BIRTHPLACE OF LBJ

Driveway leading to the house that LBJ was born in.
This is the home that LBJ lived with his parents and two sisters until he was 5 years old when they moved to Johnson City.

The famous Blue Bonnets of the Hill Country.

This is the view from their home.
A modest home for a president-to-be where he learned a love and respect for nature.

The well that supplied their water.
The church adjacent to the ranch that the family attended.