A bit of everything

Today was a day for a bit of everything, history, music, shopping, fish, reading, whatever one’s pleasure.  Our caravan leaders presented us with a city with choices and we all headed in our chosen directions.

For some of us it was St. Louis Cemetery #1.  There our caravan leader Rita explained that the above ground vaults belong to families or societies. 

With limited space for burials, when someone dies he/she is placed in the crypt and the previous residents are shoved to the back.  There must be a one year wait between burials to allow the body to be “shovable”. 

Some of the crypts are described as “ovens” because of their design.  Many go back to the 18th century.

Some are famous New Orleans names.  Among the infamous is Marie Laveau, an alledged voodoo queen.  Two tombs could be hers, each has the signature XXX indicating that visitors had made a wish upon her memory. 

This pyramid is the future burial site for actor Nicholas Cage.

Some of our group headed back to the French Quarter to enjoy more of the music festival.  The day was lovely and the crowds moderate but very enthuastic.  Music filled the air and sometimes tripped on neighboring sounds.  Dancers swung to the rhythms.

Another activity was to visit the Aquarium of the Americas.  Their emphasis is on South American water species especially in the Amazon.  Large tanks let viewers get close to such various species as piranha, anaconda, and frogs.

Seahorse and jelly fish had small exhibits.

The South African penguin exhibit attracted a lot of attention during feeding time.   

Shops and restaurants beckoned