This post continues along the Mississippi River to the literal end of the road, ALMOST to where the Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Our need to see things thru to the end was cast aside when we discovered if we walked out a little further, it was posted that we would be shot. If we survived, we would be shot again!

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit So Long Snow 2022.

We said goodbye to my cousin with some extra time before we could check into our five-night accommodations at The Marquee in NOLA. We decided to head for Venice, LA and get as close as we could to the Gulf of Mexico via the River Road. Since I set you up for a big ending, I’ll put that at the end of this post, where an ending should be.

A Great Walkabout

Our Iowa friends were also staying at the Marquee, and we decided to walk today rather than navigate the trolley system. It was just over a mile anyway, so we could see the sights and take our time. And by take our time, I mean stop for a beverage!

We walked right by Fogo de Chão – a beautiful Brazilian Steakhouse offering Happy Hour all day with $4 Brazilian beers. How convenient! We took our time on the way back too at the Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar for another Happy Hour with $3 beers and oysters, and their menu was filled with delicious choices for dinner.

In and Around Jackson Square

We had a marvelous day checking out Jackson Square and all it had to offer. The weather was iffy but warm, and we stayed dry!

“Known as one of New Orleans’ most recognizable landmarks, Jackson Square is a National Historic Landmark nestled in the center of the French Quarter. The 2.5-acre space welcomes over 2 million visitors and locals each year and hosts a number of city events and celebrations… The landmark earns its name for the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson located in the center of the square.” ~ READ MORE

St. Louis Cathedral

It’s hard to miss the St. Louis Cathedral in the center of the photos above but there are only a few photos of the interior below since a renovation was underway. Hopefully by our next trip we’ll be able to see it scaffold-free.

“Since 1727 New Orleanians have worshipped in churches on this site… During the six centuries that the church stood, there worshipped within its walls French Governors Perier, Bienville, Vaudreuil and Kerlerec and Spanish Governors Unzaga, Galvez and Miro. In this first little church were baptized the children of the colonists and the children of the slaves. Here were married the lowly and the highborn, and through its doors were borne the mortal remains of the faithful for the burial rites of Holy Mother Church on the last journey to the little cemetery on St. Peter Street.” ~ READ MORE

So Much to See

We browsed the Shops at JAX Brewery and spotted an open-air artist section with artwork for sale and an artist at work. Cafe du Monde is the original French Market coffee stand (since 1862), and has delicious coffee and tasty Beignets for sale – the perfect snack for people-watching in the park.

The beautiful red building below is one of two Pontalba Buildings which flank the square. They are matching red-brick, one-block-long, four‑story buildings built in the late 1840s by the Baroness Micaela Pontalba. The lower levels contain shops and restaurants, and the uppers are apartments.

The Riverfront

The riverfront near Jackson Square is one of the prettiest we’ve seen so far, with a big bridge (or two) always in our peripheral. A riverboat was docked nearby for our trip a little later, and the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas placed iron-fish sculptures high on pillars to keep an eye on the east bank of the Mississippi. Beautiful artwork and historic statues add to the interest, and benches offer a place to relax and take in all of our beautiful surroundings.

A Little Dixieland Jazz

Click for some background music – I turned down the playback speed to .5 or at the very least .75 for a more laid back vibe like on our boat. We boarded the Riverboat City of New Orleans for our lunch cruise. Since it was already 2:00, we decided to get lunch right away then head up to the roof top deck for better views as we cruised. It’s a beautiful riverboat and we loved tapping our feet to the live Dixieland trio while we passed by the banks of the Mississippi.

The Dark Side

Obviously not all of this waterway is picturesque. We have to remember that it’s a vital transportation artery to ship agricultural and industrial goods. The very military-looking Cape Kennedy from Norfolk, VA was moored and other huge container ships share this waterway. The Domino Sugar Refinery is shown below, and since 1901 Domino Sugar has “maintained a dedication to sweetening the lives of countless bakers.”

Not being picturesque is one thing, but another discovery takes things to a whole nother level. Once the site of cornfields and sugar cane plantations, the 85-mile stretch of land along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, in the River Parishes of Louisiana, contains over 150 petrochemical plants and refineries. Once called the “Chemical Corridor”, its name has recently been downgraded to “Cancer Alley.”

Open Your Eyes!

We loved seeing the New Orleans skyline from the river along with lots of riverboats, a cruise ship and historic sites. Jackson Barracks (first photo below) is a military base established in 1834. Once called New Orleans Barracks, it was renamed in 1866 to honor Andrew Jackson. The Barracks now offers lodging to Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Retirees.

The last picture in this grouping really caught my eye. Although the eyes on the top right on the front of the building were what attracted me to it, when I googled “eyes”, it talked of the enormous “OPEN YOUR EYES” tag that is located on the right side of the building (a little hard to read from this angle). This is the unoccupied Naval Station building in the Bywater and looks pretty cool.

Heading South

There will be plenty more photos of New Orleans (that aren’t along the river) in my next post, but now we have to get back on track and head on down the road!

Since we had time to kill and thoughts of driving the rest of the Great River Road in the near future, we just had to go to the end. I’m not sure what I was expecting. I had to have known there would be levees due to the flooding, hurricanes, etc. I couldn’t even see the river in most places, unless I climbed up on top of the levee to look over the top.

Along with the earthen levees that parallel the river there were also floodgates that would hold back water if the need arises. The Army Corps of Engineers has their hands full trying to “control” this river!

To Stilt or Not to Stilt

Along the way we noticed a few horses and long-horns, a few houses – most on stilts, but some were not. These folks certainly have elbow room down here near the delta.

Crossing at Pointe a la Hache

We had been following the east bank of the river, but at Point a la Hache (the southernmost town on the east bank), we boarded a car ferry to take us over the river so we could finish our journey to Venice. It was quite a wait for a quick ride across, but it was an experience. And also free because we’re just that old! Once we let them pass, it was pretty cool to see a couple of big cargo ships from the middle of the river.

The (not so exciting) End of the Road

Once we got to the town of Venice, I was expecting some kind of sign that said, “You Did It!” or at the very least, “You’ve Reached the End of the Great River Road!” If I had been on a month long journey to travel the entire river, I would have been very disappointed by the end’s lack of pomp and circumstance. A sense of satisfaction was not achieved when we were greeted with refineries and a run-down trailer. Although during certain times of the year you may be surprised:

“Located near the southeastern tip of Louisiana, just where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, Venice is the jumping-off point for some of the finest fishing adventures you could imagine. The many charter boat and guide services available in and around Venice offer a plethora of offshore trips that will take you to the most productive waters.

Whether you’re looking to land a trophy fish or merely bring home a stock of fresh fruits de mer, this is your spot. From gorgeous redfish to record-setting tarpon, sailfish and tuna, you’re sure to find the fishing experience of your life in Venice.” ~ READ MORE

In Conclusion

I’m glad that we made the trip (I guess), but unless you absolutely have to go down there to do a little deep sea fishing, win a bet or cross that off a list, I wouldn’t bother. There are much more beautiful parts of the Mississippi to explore.

Next up: Some Time in N’awlins

Happy trails,
Barb