Natchitoches and New Orleans

How does one pronounce Natchitoches? That is the question, it is the oldest non native settlement in Louisiana – yes, even older than New Orleans.

On our drive in, we stopped for lunch, I asked a woman how do I pronounce the name of that city – she happened to have grown up there. Naki-dish.

upon arriving at our hotel, a former bank btw, I used my new found knowledge. The receptionist was floored, no one has come in here knowing the correct pronunciation. Nailed it!

I didn’t take a lot of pictures, here is the covered walkway right next to the river – very reminiscent of New Orleans.

This is a fabulous store, part hardware, part general and a few gifts. Old time toys abounded. I found an old glass frog – the kind one used for floral arrangements back in the 50-60s’. Yes, I am using it now.

Love the fall colors. At our hotel, they offer wine in the afternoon. we met another couple, Nancy and Tom from Athens Georgia. We spent a lovely afternoon together and went out to dinner. There we met the mayor of Natchitoches. He was proudly wearing the sweatshirt of the local college. Northwestern (Louisiana). I kidded that I was born near the other Northwestern, but I’m sure it’s not a good as the one here.

You can see the Cane river right down below, I was thrilled by these massive hanging baskets. That is what humidity, rain and heat will get you.

One thing Natchitoches is famous for is this is the location where Steel Magnolias was filmed. So on the flight home, we found the movie and watched it. Quite enjoyable, a great cast. Also, they don’t make movies like that anymore and it’s more the pity. Yes, there were some very recognizable scenes in downtown and along the river front – guess what, in over 30 years, things haven’t changed.

Then it was on to New Orleans, our last stop. We stayed in the warehouse district. Here, adaptive reuse from some kind of office building to apartments. Well, I checked, they were either printers, makers of Asbestos or nowadays a trucking company. I do love the blade sign, lit up at night it must be beautiful.

We walked over to the French Quarter, had to visit good old general Jackson, before he became president.

with me in the foreground and the church behind.

From another angle.

These signs are all over the French Quarter. Oh and Natchitoches was settled in 1742 by French Fur Trappers who made their way south. It isn’t on the Mississippi, but close enough.