This was not the best place we have stayed. There is quite a stale air conditioner smell throughout that the F’breeze didn’t get rid of, and there was a lot of hotel guest noise. We are glad to pack up after breakfast and get going. It rained last night and it is quite humid – we have not experienced much of that on this trip.
A wave of nostalgia at seeing a community college – after all our years at Monroe Community College (combined 77 years)!
It is overcast and very windy out here today.
The landscape is every changing and we see more swampland.
Honestly you never know what or who you are going to see. Good to see he is still working.
Curious signage through this part of Louisiana!
Some logging businesses here as well as more evidence of mobile home living.
We make it to Mississippi and lots of bridges to cross the Mighty Mississippi River.
We are here at the Visitor Center and this young lady just asks if we want our photo taken. Nice people here in Mississippi!
These photos are all from the outside area of the Visitor Center – this is quite the place – very large and so well kept. Just beautiful and we are having a hard time tearing ourselves away from the views to go inside.
This is a historical area depicting the defense of the River. There is a lot of Civil War signage and we wonder how the people here might react to people with New York license plates.
As we enter the Center a sweet older lady asks us to sign in and provide our zip code. She is noticing we are from New York! Now what? She gets even sweeter and invites us to spend some time in Vicksburg – there is so much to see! Now we are armed with pamphlets and flyers and coupons! There is also a Mardi Gras feeling here!
And as we are leaving the Visitor Center we notice that even a car can be decorated for Mardi Gras!
We are feeling like we better see some of Vicksburg because of the Visitor lady! So off we go!
This is funny! Our brother-in-law is from Utica, NY!
We are not sure how much of the Civil War we want to remember. It seems like such a painful and primitive time in our country’s history. Not too sure how much things have changed either – as our country is still trying to heal from hurt and hate.
As we ponder what to do – we realize we are only a few hours from Biloxi. The sea is calling! We will come back to Vicksburg another time.
The road is great and we see Spring is coming to this part of the state. More cattle too!
There is a lot to Mississippi and we realize we have not allotted enough time to see this State.
Mobile homes on the move and in communities – a lot of this type of housing!
Hattiesburg is another city we need to spend some time exploring! Gas prices have been all over the place on this trip but this is pretty good! Cheapest was in Texas – $1.85 per gallon. We have seen as high as $2.39/gallon.
Ah yes – the Gulf of Mexico! Beautiful!
A familiar skyline as we have travelled through Biloxi on the way westward. We feel we should find a place to stay as Mardi Gras celebrations start all over the country this weekend. We really don’t want to stay at a casino if we can help it – so we start making phone calls and lo and behold – the Hampton Inn has a room! We book that and then head for a late lunch.
Hard to argue with success so we head to the Marina and back to McElroy’s. Right on the water and great views!
Not sure if these helicopters are checking out the boat’s occupants because of the name?
Oyster special is still on: $8.00 for a dozen. Fantastic!
We ask our waitress: “If we only have one or two days here what should we see”? She is passionate about us attending the parade tomorrow – we just “have” to stay for that. And if we want to see waves take the shrimp boat and go out about 10 miles into the Gulf. Okay – we will think about those options. Right now our only plan is for tonight.
As we leave the marina we see these guys working at the casino next to the harbor, pressure washing the roof.
Not our idea of a dream job that’s for sure – way too high and it looks dangerous. Who is going to see if the roof is clean or not? Do you care?
WOW – where did the time go?
We check into the hotel and the young lady at the desk recommends we book tomorrow night as well, just in case we decide to stay for the parade. They only have a few rooms left at this point and we can cancel before 11am tomorrow. Sounds like a good idea so we take her advice, not knowing what we will be doing.
The view from our hotel room – pool right below us and the beach just across the street. Beautiful!
Another night – another cupcake!