New Iberia

I needed a day off badly. And although the pressure of running a business certainly takes its toll, one of the positives is that I make my own schedule. Not wanting to think about work at all today, I decided I would set out to explore and take some photos. I consulted the list of potential topics for the blog and decided today would be a good day to drive out to New Iberia – a cute little Cajun town I had been through a couple years ago. As an added bonus, my wife was off work today, so she joined me on the expedition. So I guess this one wasn't “solo,” but I figure you'll forgive me.

New Iberia traces its history all the way back to 1779, when it was settled by a group of Malaguenian colonists. As I think we've touched on before in this blog, South Louisiana Cajun/Creole culture is largely a mix of French and Spanish influence. Malaguenian refers to the town of Malaga in Spain. New “Iberia” of course refers to the Iberian penninsula. My wife and I primarily just explored the downtown area. Let's take a look.





The home pictured below is Shadows on the Teche. The Malaguenians arrived in the area via Bayou Teche, which runs alongside Main Street. Shadows on the Teche was built in the 1830s for sugarcane planter David Weeks. It is a National Historic Landmark.



Shadows on the Teche has a number of very handsome homes as neighbors.





Some were decorated for Mardi Gras.







The St. Peter's College Grotto is a replica of the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto in France.











The Evangeline Theater was originally a wholesale grocery, but converted to a movie house in 1929. It is listed in the National Register of Historical Places.











The Essanee Theater dates to 1937.



I wouldn't recommend stepping out to the balcony.





Best I can tell, they really do race alligators.









This monument highlights the Spanish heritage of the area.





The Gouguenheim dates to 1894. This is apparently one of only a few buildings that survived a large fire that destroyed much of downtown New Iberia in 1899.



I bet this is the only sushi bar in the world named “Bojangles.”









Finally, we were hoping to find some good home cookin' while we were in New Iberia, but it didn't work out. Instead, we stopped at the famous Mulate's in Breaux Bridge (a.k.a. “the Crawfish Capitol of the World”). Suffice it to say we experienced it but probably won't go back.

Over in Iberville

Hello, friends. I had an appointment in White Castle today and had the opportunity to explore a little bit. As you may recall from a previous post about the White Castle Ferry, the area is not far from Baton Rouge as the crow flies. However, we have this big river that gets in the way. On my way to my appointment, I crossed the Horace Wilksinson Bridge (a.k.a, “the new bridge” over to West Baton Rouge Parish, and then took LA-1 south.

On the way down LA-1, you pass through Plaquemine, LA. I was once again reminded that I need to spend some time in Plaquemine with the camera. Today was not the day, though – Plaquemine will take the better part of a day to explore. Therefore, after my meeting, and in service to you, dear reader, I took the circuitous route back to the bridge via River Road. I had never taken this particular stretch. There were a few pleasant surprises.

On the way out of White Castle, it's impossible to miss Nottoway Plantation. I've seen just about all of the so-called River Road Plantations now, and in my opinion, Nottoway is the most impressive structure. Others, like Oak Alley Plantation, have the gorgeous, erm, oak alleys, but Nottoway is a far more impressive building, at least from the exterior.

Finished in 1859, the home is miraculously a Civil War survivor and measures a robust 53,000 square feet. You can find out more about the history of Nottoway on their website. Here are a few pictures I snapped on my way past.







Below is St. Paul Catholic Church in Bayou Goula. Apparently the church is over 150 years old and suffered damage during Hurricane Gustav. You can find more information, and see more pictures, here.



Cows having lunch on the levee.



Further down the road.



At one point, I was driving about 50 miles per hour, and very nearly missed this weathered road sign. I literally snapped my head to the left and slammed on the brakes, then threw it in reverse for about 500 feet. Luckily, traffic was light.



Apparently Madonna Chapel measures 8' by 8' and was built in 1902 by a poor sugar farmer after an answered prayer to the Blessed Mother for his son.



Finally, I blew a lot of time at this cemetery, St. Raphael Cemetery, just outside Plaquemine, before River Road rejoins LA-1. Some of the graves date to the mid-1800s.