In the bayou

To get away from the negative temperatures, snow and wind, Jeff and I decided to take a trip to a place I have always wanted to visit - New Orleans. Having never been south my expectations were huge! And I have to say, the weather, food and people delivered! The people are honestly grateful for the tourists coming back to the area after the storm.

One of the best things we did was the tour of the swamp, just north-east of N.O., where we fed alligators some marshmallows.
This is just one of many houses on the bayou. "You're born into this lifestyle, you don't choose it" according to my tour guide. People there live from what they catch; trapping of coypu (rodent producing a flavorful meat called nutria), shrimping, craw-fishing. Saturday nights the river is hoppin' with dancing parties the cajun people throw. "They would give you a shirt off their backs, even if that's the last thing they have".
Remnants of the Hurricane Katrina. The bayou is still full of old boats, garbage and whole houses, even after years of cleanup. We saw a house that floated to the alligator breeding area and the owner had to be air lifted by helicopter to safety.
The beautiful bayou is full of wild animals and plant species.
One of the bayou's residents.