Jambalaya and Oak Alley Plantation

Chapter 4

Rollin’ On The River

Mississippi River Cruise 2025

Thursday, July 17

As intended, I was up by 6 AM for an early breakfast in the Sky Lounge on Deck 4. Overcast skies looked threatening, and it did rain later that morning and then in the afternoon. Though it was muggy, the heavy cloud cover kept the temperature to a tolerable level.

Our first shore excursions!

Vacherie Landing.

We had pre-arranged our shore excursions along our route. I went solo on an early morning trip entitled “Ca c’est bon – Cajan Culinary Lagniappe Experience at the Cajun Village”. Arriving by bus, our group were greeted by a native-born Cajun as a light rain was falling. Inside an old house he told stories and talked about what we were to experience inside and around the property.

Tables were set up with double gas burners, small cast iron pots for cooking and pre-portioned ingredients for cooking.

We were going to learn how to cook our own authentic Jambalaya!

Meat was small pieces of pork, sizzled in hot bacon grease, onions, green peppers, tomato, spices and finally rice. I paired up with Jean, a single woman traveler. Between the two of us and the overseeing with step-by-step instructions by Bruce the Cajun owner, everyone successfully created their own jambalaya. That, with a side dish prepared by another person, Corn Maque Choux (pronounced “mock shoe”) and a slice of corn bread made for a delicious and filling meal.

Before and during our cooking lesson, Bruce told stories. You may know that Cajun is a distinct dialect, French in origin, from an ethnic group expelled from Nova Scotia, Canada in the late 1700’s. They settled in Louisiana forming their own distinctive community with culture, speech and cooking. I can’t repeat or even try to speak as a native Cajun, but it is colorful, fast paced and even melodic when you hear it spoken.

He told us that when he went to college, he thought everyone else were odd in the way they spoke. He thought THEY talked funny. In short order he realized HE was the odd man out and, by necessity, soon adapted to the others’ way of speaking.

He demonstrated for the group how he could switch between Cajun and “normal” English. He did not speak Cajun while he taught us cooking skills. He was a fun guy who really loved his culture, food and sharing with visitors.

In the afternoon, the three of us set out on the next shore excursion to the famous Oak Alley Plantation. This is the plantation that is seen frequently with its long brick walk straddled by centuries old magnificent live oak trees. This plantation was the one I most looked forward to seeing. It was not disappointing. An amazing property, the plantation house tours were very informative, the décor stunning, and the surrounding grounds well-manicured and beautiful. Several movies have been filmed in Oak Alley including one starring Bette Davis in “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte”.

Additionally, several restored slave quarters were on display. Though slavery is a dark past for our country, I was thankful to see the stark conditions in which slaves were housed.

As our buses returned to the boat, rain again damped the day. Our boat had provided umbrellas and clear plastic rain ponchos as the groups disembarked. Luckily, I picked up and used one of those ponchos which kept me dry on the rush from the bus to the boat.

Mark’s sister, Penny, improvised her rain gear before departing the bus. Fashioning a plastic shopping bag into a rain bonnet, she was très chic. Always fashionable, Penny’s adaptation was a unique fashion statement.

Back on board, in the Sky Lounge, we enjoyed a delectable variety of hors d’oeuvres accompanied with cocktails before dinner.

Lunch and dinner choices could be chosen from the onboard computer portal, which we tried to do daily. A nice option was that passengers could order ½ portions, which I did. Since most on board were senior citizens, this option was welcomed by many. Besides, having half portions permitted me (guilt free) to then order desserts every day. A nice trade off, I thought.

This evening we were treated to some awesome Cajun fiddling. Very upbeat and entertaining! Contributing to the band, audience “volunteers” joined them. They were given a washboard instrument, which is similar to a breast plate, strapped over the shoulders, the corrugated surface extending from the upper chest to below the abdomen. The individuals then were instructed to simply rub over the surface with both hands, creating a really cool sound effect that complemented the Cajun music. Hilarity and great music combined!

A great day immersed in the Cajun culture from jambalaya to music. And, of course, the history and culture touring our first historic antebellum plantation home, Oak Alley.

We sailed all night to our next destination – St. Francisville, Louisiana.

Question- what is a Louisiana guard dog?