Little Miss(ing) Sunshine

We woke up this morning to a pouring rain in Natchez.  We had breakfast at a communal table with the other guests of the B and B, and we were again reminded that we are in the Bible Belt because breakfast started with a morning prayer by all.  John and I were politely silent.

We spent an hour driving through Natchez and photographing some of the plantations.  Here are some pics:

We made a purchase offer on this one:

And here is the view of the Mississippi River from Natchez.  

When we left the park where that picture was taken we started Vanna's engine and she pulled a Little Miss Sunshine on us and blared her horn.  Fortunately the horn stopped when we shut off and restarted the engine.  We think she heard that a Hollywood studio is filming a James Brown bio at the house next door to our B and B and she was auditioning by recreating a scene from one of her favorite movies.  (The innkeeper reported that Mick Jagger had been in town for filming the day before).

Natchez is beautiful but sleepy.  We read that Franklin Street in Natchez is Mississippi's equivalent to the Castro district in San Francisco but the only evidence we saw was a flower shop and a couple of antiques stores, but no hair salon. 

Here is the synagogue in Natchez and its history. The plaque sounds wonderful, but I'd be willing to bet years ago the guys dressed in white bed sheets came after those sporting yarmulkes too.  And I'm suspicious those same boys in sheets might have had something to do with the 1903 fire. 

We drove hwy 61 south, and parts of it were gorgeous.  I'm in love with live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Here are some of the plantations we saw along the way:

The Myrtles

Humas House

Oak Alley

A Mississippi River paddle boat was docked at the levee at Oak Alley.

We stopped at a roadside country store near St. Joseph's Plantation, and the store and the owner Melanie were both absolutely charming. Melanie told us the store was originally part of the Plantation and inside it looked like it hadn't changed in 100 years.  Here are Melanie, John, and the store.

We rolled into New Orleans this evening and will be spending two nights at The Green House Inn, a little slice of heaven in the Garden District. They even have a clothing optional pool;  I guess John can throw his suit away now.  

Tonight we enjoyed mojitos at the Bridge Lounge across the street from the Inn.  Dogs are allowed, even encouraged, in the bar.  We are loving New Orleans.

John and the mutts in the bar.