Somewhere along the Mississippi River just south of Downtown Baton Rouge, an old abandoned wharf still stands, forgotten by the busy river traffic continually passing by.
This wharf isn't in any of the travel guides and with good reason: it's a pretty dangerous place. I received the tip-off from former Baton Rouge resident Mary from The Search For Cookie Mountain, and one day after work, I wandered out to the wharf to explore the unique structure.
It amazed me how easy it is to access the structure. I arrived at the wide open entrance gate - no locks, no fences, no barbed wire. Not even a ‘no...
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Before my initial photo essay (Old Santa Barbara Mission in Photographs), I debated whether or not I should publish the post at all. I figured I'd be 'phoning it in' as a blogger, relying on pictures instead of words. I was worried that it wouldn't be popular or go over well with readers.
Wow, was I ever wrong.
The post went on to be my most popular post ever, garnering more hits and comments than anything else I've ever posted. So first and foremost, thank you so much for visiting. It really does mean a lot to me. And second, thanks for commenting. I love interacting with readers and other...
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Louisiana is a state known for its food culture. Cajun, Creole, southern, and more all mingle to create some of the most indulgent regional dishes in the United States. Though most of the focus on Louisiana food culture resides in New Orleans, it would be a mistake to overlook Baton Rouge as a food destination in its own right.
When I found out I’d be working in Baton Rouge, I was excited because I’d be near New Orleans – which meant great food was only an hour away. But now that my time in Baton Rouge is coming to an end, I have realized that there is no need to drive all the way to the Big Easy...
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First, a quote:
"It is pathetic enough, that a whitewashed castle, with turrets and things...pretending to be what they are not-- should ever have been built in this otherwise honorable place"
These are the words of one Samuel Clemens a.k.a Mark Twain, from his book 'Life on the Mississippi,' and the structure he is referencing is none other than the Old Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a building which he also called a 'Little Sham Castle' and 'the ugliest building on the Mississippi.'
One thing is for certain - if a building can capture Mark Twain's attention enough for him to make...
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Plantation. For me, the word evokes many images. Opulent mansions on grand estates dripping with more southern charm than the KFC Colonel himself; the products of a simpler, bygone antebellum era. But also, I generally associate the word with slavery, the barbaric American practice that wasn't ended until the Civil War nearly tore the country in two. It is hard for me to separate the ideas of the two, as they will be forever inextricably linked.
After the war and the abolition of slavery, it became near impossible for many of these plantations to remain open and many fell into disrepair or were...
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