Day 17 - Tour of Lafayette, Louisiana

Submitted by:  Chuck & Nancy Stivers  #18

We are staying at a beautiful RV park called “Bayou Wilderness RV Resort.  It has its own pond with the interesting cypress trees and their knees.  

  

We started out at “Jean Lafitte Acadian Cultural Center” with a film about Acadia and what happened to the people here.  We were then able to explore the museum and learn more about the Louisiana Mississippi River Delta.

We then headed out to the Vermillionville Cajun/Creole Heritage & Folk Life Park.  We were able to explore the living history of the Acadian, Native American and Creole cultures.  It was very enjoyable walking around to all the homes and watching the people at their work.  

Then had a yummy lunch of bread, roast beef, gumbo, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, and bread pudding.  We found that some of our men are wimps when it comes to spicy foods.  

Back on the bus for a city tour – saw an incredible 500 year old oak tree which was next to a beautiful Historic Church called “the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist”.  There was also a wonderful above ground Cemetery. 

We were then on to McGee’s Landing for a Swamp boat tour of Atchafalaya National Heritage Basin.  Saw many birds and a couple of gators.  The captain was quite a character and very funny.  

Our last stop was the World Famous Accordion Workshop tour with Cajun Entertainment presented by the Martin Family.  It was truly entertaining and informative.  The Cajun Accordions are so different from the keyboard accordions I was used to growing up with.  I (Nancy) played an accordion for 7 years from when I was 6, and I would never be able to play these Cajun ones.  It was a really a good show.  

It was a great day!!!   
Oh, and we also became honorary Cajuns!   How’s that for one day.