Mustangs @ Las Colinas

Opening in 1984 the Mustangs at Las Colinas are the largest horse scluptures in the world!! Located in Williams Square in Irving (near Dallas)  are nine realistic bronze horse scluptures are running across a stream.

Here are some pictures-- enjoy :)

Sunday in New Orleans

Goal- drive back to Houston, avoid New Orleans city limits due to large crowds and street closures due to the Rock N Roll Marathon

LAURA- A CREOLE PLANTATION

Laura Plantation website 

LAURA LOCOUL

Creole is the non-Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle that flourished in Louisiana before it became a part of the United States in 1803. Louisiana Creole is a blending of three different ethnic influences: the west European, west African, and includes a significant input from the Native American.

Guillaume Duparc's sugar farming complex was originally called l'habitation Duparc, then, years later, renamed the Laura Plantation.  At its largest size, it was approximately 12,000 acres, which included properties amassed over time.  In 1804, Duparc, a French naval veteran of the American Revolution, petitioned Thomas Jefferson for property. Construction of Duparc's manor house began in 1804 and completed 11 months later.  The work was executed by highly-skilled slaves, probably of Senegalese descent, in pre-fabricated methods, typical of early Louisiana vernacular structures. This U-shaped structure totaled approx. 24,000 sq. ft. and had a 2,500 sq. ft. detached kitchen to its rear.  At Duparc's death in 1808, the l'habitation consisted of 10 sizable buildings, including quarters for 17 slaves, a barn, warehouses and a small, rudimentary sugar mill. By the 1850s, the Duparc Plantation was the workplace for 100 mules and 195 humans, 175 of them slaves.

Laura Plantation was rescued from demolition, not because of its Big House but, because of its remaining slave quarters and what happened in them many years ago. In the 1870s, Alcée Fortier, a young neighbor of Laura's, visited the workers' cabins at this site and at nearby plantations. As a teenager, Fortier began to collect these stories from former slaves, all lively accounts of Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki, the clever rabbit and the stupid fool. Ever since, English-speakers would know Compair Lapin as that rascal: Br'er Rabbit.

FRONT GATES

BIRTH/ CHILDREN'S ROOM

DINING ROOM

OAK ALLEY PLANTATION
website

LOOKING AT THE FRONT DOORS

Jacques Telesphore Roman began his courtship of Celina Pilie, whose very prominent family lived around the corner on Royal Street. They were married in June 1834. In May of 1836, "Valcour" Aime, neighbor, brother-in-law and friend, sold Jacques Telesphore the plantation riverboat captains later dubbed "Oak Alley."

 Jacques Telesphore and Celina plunged with enthusiasm into the project of their plantation home. There would be no corners cut ... only the best would do. The architect is believed to have been none other than Celina's father, Gilbert Joseph Pilie, and master builder George Swainy was contracted to direct the construction, a task which took over two years to complete.

The design of the mansion combined several styles, the most notable being the 28 classic columns surrounding the house. The columns measure 8 feet in circumference and are solid brick. The veranda extends approximately 13 feet from the walls, keeping the home in shade most of the day. The tall windows and doors face each other for cross ventilation and the ceilings are 12 feet high. Most important are the 16 inch thick walls throughout the house.

The mansion as you see it today has been restored to its 19th century glory, a noble tribute to those who left their indelible mark on this rich River Region.

 

FRONT DOORS

 

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

 

UPSTAIRS PORCH

NOTTOWAY PLANTATION
website

GOLD & WHITE ROOM

At the edge of the sugarcane field stands the majestic Nottoway. This historic and architectural jewel was completed in 1859 by a wealthy Virginia planter named John Hampden Randolph for his wife, Emily Jane, and their eleven children.

Nottoway is the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the Southern United States and splendidly rests along Louisiana's Great River Road in White Castle, at the heart of Plantation Country.

Construction of Nottoway was completed in 1859 at an estimated $80,000. Nottoway has 64 rooms in its three floors, six interior staircases, three modern bathrooms, 22 massive square columns, 165 doors and 200 windows. During Randolph's day, the home had fancy chamber pots (flushing toilets) and hot and cold running water in all bathrooms, all unheard of at that time. Nottoway had a "gas plant" on site with gas lighting throughout the home, unique at the time. A bowling alley was installed for the children inside the home.

 

VIEW FROM FRONT GATES

  

DINING ROOM

 

LADIES TEA ROOM

BATON ROGUE

The Capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge- which is French for red stick. The population is 228,000 and is the second largest city in Louisiana. The capitol builiding is 34 stories and is the tallest capitol building in the United States. 

 OLD CAPITOL BLDG

Baton Rouge dates from 1699, when French explorer Sieur d'Iberville leading an exploration party up the Mississippi River saw a reddish cypress pole festooned with bloody animals and fish that marked the boundary between Houma and Bayou Goula tribal hunting grounds.

 CURRENT CAPITOL BLDG

Baton Rouge is home Louisiana State University and it is estimated that 20% of the city's population are college students!

Sunday roadtrip PICS

Carson City, Nevada

Julie & I at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe

Emerald Island at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe!

snow mobiling at Lake Tahoe

Sacramento, California

Julie & I in San Francisco

San Francisco at night

Julie & I at Pier 39

Chinatown- San Francisco

Roadtrip SUNDAY

goal-- Lake Tahoe, Sacramento for lunch, then dinner in San Francisco

Wake up in Carson City, Nevada!!

Tour the Capitol grounds and historic houses in the area. Breakfast at Mom & Pop diner. Wonderful breakfast!!! Other dining guests suggested to us to see Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. We pulled out our maps and were off to Lake Tahoe!! 

Driving around the lake, touring some very nice neighborhoods with private lake access. We just made our selves at home stopping in a driveway to take pictures!!

Then made our way to Emerald Bay- the only island on the lake! It was beautiful- snow covered grounds, tall evergreens lightly frosted with snow, and mountains across the lake. The drive to see the island reminded me of highway 1 on the coast of California. On one side was the lake and the other evergreens trees and mountains. Julie was glad she was not driving!

As we are driving away from the lake we pass this area with snow mobiles. Julie says, "That sure looks like fun. Have you ever done that before?" I replied, "No. Do you want to go?!" Then Julie says with a huge smile, "I think it looks pretty safe. I can handle that!" I turned the car around and we went snow mobiling at Lake Tahoe!!! It was such a blast and the people running it were laid back and let us each have our own snow mobile and we got to ride for a whole hour even though we only paid for 30 minutes!!! We would have stayed longer but honestly after 1 hour it was enough and we wanted to get to San Francisco before dark. 

Sacramento for lunch!

Touring the Capitol, wander the streets of Old Sac, lunch at an ice cream shop- hot dog & drink special for $3 plus validation for free parking . . . totally worth it!! Also, we saw the golden bridge over the river.

San Francisco for dinner!

Arrived into the city just before dusk. Got an awesome parking spot just down from Fisherman's Wharf and it was FREE!! Walked down this pier and we were able to see the whole city lights come to life as the sun went down. To the left was the Golden Gate Bridge, straight ahead was Alcatraz, and the right was the Bay Bridge and to the far right was the city!! Julie and I then wander the streets down Fisherman's Wharf, then Pier 39 hearing the sea lions barking just off shore!!! We grabbed a bit to eat at this Italian/ Seafood restaurant and had shrimp pasta that was amazing plus it came with fresh sourdough bread!

Then we got in the car and drove around the city! We went down Lombard Street twice! Finally making our way to Chinatown and parked along the street for FREE! Wandered the main streets and stopped in one of the many many shops for some wonton soup and pot stickers. It was delicious and my stomach was so so full. 

We departed the city around 10pm and arrived to Fresno, California around 1am.