OUrALASKA - 49th state in the U.S. - commonly referred to as The Last Frontier and also the Land of the Midnight Sun (can attest to that!!!!). Since our 50th anniversary is in December (and really didn't want to go to Alaska in December), decided July was great time to go! Since over the past few years,we spend more time traveling in our motor home, and getting somewhat lazier, I called our travel agent to book it all - sea and land destinations. Instead of flying into Seattle, where many get on cruise ships, we decided to embark in Vancouver. We have never been to Vancouver, so thought this would be a good time for a couple of days exploration before embarking on Holland-America Cruise line.
   So after arranging for care of Thumper (he was not coming this trip) with our family and a friend of a friend's son, early July 11th we were picked up by our driver to take us to LaGuardia Airport

for our flight to Toronto, and then on to Vancouver on West Jet. Flights were good. Arrived in Vancouver, early afternoon.  We were booked into the Hampton Suites downtown (right near soccer stadium).  Since we were hungry, headed to nearest restaurant to hotel - Hobarts for lunch. Nice place and crowded. Lucky to get a seat - with world cup soccer playing every bar and restaurant with a TV was packed. After lunch, we walked around area for awhile.

  Dinner was at Original Joe's - up the street. Sport's bar restaurant - food was very good and our waitress was fun. Up early to start exploring Vancouver. Temps in the high 80's. It was hot! You can buy a transit pass that lets you "Hop On and Hop Off)

certain buses and trolley cars. Easy way to get around town.
  Our first stop was Chinatown.  The Chinese Garden - was our moment of Zen!!!!

After browsing a couple of shops, we hopped on a bus and got off in Gastown area. More shops and restaurants. Also a lot of filming was being done in this area. Cameras, lights, wires all over the ground, and baskets of flower baskets being placed all around the area.

Lots of filming for TV and movies, goes on in Vancouver.
  We had stopped at local restaurant called Neighbor. This is organic, healthy food!  Lots of salads, etc. Unfortunately, with the bout of diaverticulitis that I was getting over - healthy eating was a no-no, so we ended up the Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch - pasta and bread worked for me. Skip was happy with the pasta with white clam sauce.
  Back on our Hop On-Hop Off bus, and next stop was the Harbor Area.

This is where cruise ships come in, where some of the upscale hotels and shops are located. Also where you can get ferries to go across to North Vancouver, Vancouver Island, etc. Also where you can get a seaplane to take a ride,

or to take you to a destination. Great area.

   Dinner was back at Original Joe's and the Italian Gelato shop for dessert. Busy day!!
   Friday - up early and headed to Harbor area again to take the SeaBus over to North Vancouver. You had to get tickets at the kiosk. Had trouble figuring it out, (Ship inadvertently gave an $11,000.00 tip for ride - which he immediately cancelled!!). Thank God for a few guys from Ohio who helped  figure out the kiosk. Waiting for the ferry, is like waiting for the subway in New York.
Ride over was about 15 minutes.

  North Vancouver has a market area and shops. Had lunch at the Crepe Bakery. Also some high hills to climb if you wish to leave the harbor area. On the way back to hotel, went through a residential area where the locals have their own garden growing on a corner plot.

  The bus driver was very nice and made a slight deter dropping us off in front of our hotel. We immediately stopped at coffee shop on premises.

Really great coffee and also prosecco cooler!  Fun day.  Tomorrow we head to harbor to board cruise ship and start heading to Alaska!!!!
 

Our biggest dilemma is which restaurant to eat at! Food and it is good is everywhere.

 We love Crazy Bout Crawfish;

Prejeans

in Carancro,
Pat's on the Levee in Henderson  (gator and catfish)         

; Chez Jacqueline's

in Breaux Bridge, Pont Breaux in Breaux Bridge

and Crawfish Town

 Crawish and catfish rule in this area!!!Breaux Bridge is known as the Crawfish Capital!!These are only the few restaurants in the area - their are plenty more!

Saturday mornings is Zydeco Breakfast at Buck & Johnny's in the heart of Breaux Bridge. Very crowded. Have to get their early to get a seat. Hostess sat us with Daniel and Kathy. At 8:30 am, tables were full and dance floor crowded. Cajuns love their music and dancing - Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boys were the band.

Their Zydeco omelet is awesome! Had fun! Went to Pont Breaux Restaurant for dinner - we had the seafood gumbo and crawfish etoufee. Also had local bank playing

While at Buck and Johnny's, found out that dance lessons are offered on Wednesday evenings for $10.00/per person. We showed up Wednesday and had lots of fun learning to dance to zydeco music. Reggie is the teacher and has great patience for all!!!

Beautiful day - weather warming up. We took a ride the Acadian Village in Lafayette. A brief history of the area - Small village replica of how the Acadians arrived from France to Nova Scotia in which their settlements were not important to either King of France or Bristish Crown. In 1754, British demanded that Acadians sign a loyalty agreement to the Engish King. When Acadians refused, men were arrested and farms destroyed. Amid the chaos, some Acadians ended up back in England; some went to France and other stopped at ports along east coast.

         In 1764, one of the ships arrived in  Lousisana, whch at the time was ruled by Spanish colony. Over the next 20 years or so, about3,000 Acadians found their way to Louisiana and settled in the swamps, bayous and prairies that no one else wanted. The were not welcome by the French already in the area, the Acadians only had each other - their language, culture and their customs.

         After all these years, the Cajun culture still continues in this area of Louisisana, and are proud to give you a history of their family.  Family, good food, good music still thrive in Cajun country.

     Per Ed and Mary's suggestion, we drove down to Rayne, LA, which is about 20 minutes west of Breaux Bridge on I-10. Rayne is also known as the "Frog Capital of the World".

Rayne's history dates back to the 1800's when the railroad came. The town was originally named Pouppeville, but changed to Rayne in honor of the engineer who laid the railway tracks.
     Due to three Parisian brothers (Weill brothers), who began an export business of shipping the frogs to restaurants all over the U.S. and internationally.

    As you wander around, frog statues are in front of many establishments as well as murals on many buildings.

There is also a frog festival held after Labor Day. Their Candyland Cottage Shop is a hit with Skip.

If they don't sell it, it hasn't been thought of. Since the Chamber of Commerce was closed, Miss Julie (owner of candy shop) became our guide for places to visit.
    Per her suggestion we went to their local 5 and 10 - Worthmore's. Like going back in time. Cash only or personal check - no credit cards.

Next door was Bullets and Bows - local gun shop but they also sell dog food, which we were in need of.
   Had lunch at Chef Roy's Frog City Cafe - also per Miss Julie's suggestion. We both had the gumbo which was excellent. I also had seafood salad and Skip had the gator. Both very good. You will learn that there is no bad food in Cajun country.

    

Finally arrived at Poche's RV Park. We have been staying here on and off for the past 8-10 years. One of our favorite places. THIS AREA IS ABOUT CAJUN CULTURE, FOOD AND ZYDECO MUSIC!!!!! Arrived late afternoon; tired but glad to be here. After a day or two of much needed rest, especially for Skip who does all the driving, we headed into town. Stopped at Buck and Johnny's for lunch. This restaurant has bands playing just about every evening and also on Saturday morning's for their Zydeco breakfast.  Will be back on Saturday.
    Heard from Mary and Ed.  They are in Mississippi, but were dying for crawfish!  Met them at Crawfish Town for lunch. A three hour drive for them, but worth it.

Skip had the catfish but the rest of us dived into the crawfish. Mary and I had the 2-lb of crawfish platters and Ed went for the 4 lbs. of crawfish! 

Delicious!!!!!!  and great company. Had a great time. The last time we saw them was at

Poche's two years ago but have kept up like everyone else on Facebook.                                                                                                                                                                          

Left Connecticut, March 1st  before the snowstorms came!! We usually leave earlier, but had to have retina surgery - surgeon gave me a "get out of jail card" for 6 weeks so we packed up and left heading for Breaux Bridge, LA. One of my favorite places. Got on the highway early (traffic already backed up on I-95-S) into New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania (connected to I-81S) and into Virginia. Winds were picking up so we pulled into the Walnut Hills Campground in Staunton, VA for the night. Given Site 68 (up on the hill) - could not get satellite, but for one night, and we were tired it was okay.  The wind was blowing all night long.
     In the morning - cold and windy, we decided to stay another night. Too difficult to drive, and there was no need for us to have to be on the highway. We did move to Site114- out in the open and were able to get satellite.

We went into Staunton for lunch. The ladies at the Visitor's Center recommended the Depot Grille - so we headed there.  As you can guess, the restaurant is located in the old train depot. Also on a cobblestone road.

Afterwards, we stopped at The Wine Cellar - picked up a few bottles of Virginia wine to help get through the windy night. On the way back to campground, saw this big watering can sculpture
     Winds died down so Saturday morning, we were on the road. In Tennessee, we turned on to I-75 S through Chattanooga and into Georgia. Thumper in her favorite spot on dash watching the world go by

    We pulled into Fort Payne, AL at Wills Creek RV Park.Skip called the owner who said they were out, find a site, and we would see her later in the evening. We pulled into Site 8 (our neighbors are from California - visiting her mother in a nursing home recovering from surgery). Perfect place for the night. Exhausted and tired. An early night.
  Up early Sunday morning. Had breakfast and on the road - through Alabama, Mississippi and into Louisiana. At 5:30 p.m. we pulled into Poche's Fish and RV Resort - our home for the next month.  Before pulling into campground, we stopped at Poche's Market and Restaurant and picked up crawfish etoufee for supper.

Had dinner and watched the sunset! Glad to be here!!