New Orleans trip; history, architecture and tunes!

I love road trips to the States. For 12 days at the end of October and the beginning of November we travelled as far south as New Orleans, enjoying music, history and architecture there and back. Our first stop once crossed the Canadian border was the lakeside city of Cleveland.

The historic Glidden House, a delightful Bed and Breakfast near the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

The Cleveland Museum of Art, an astounding collection of art this museum has all the masters like the Louvre in Paris...but it is FREE!!!

Going south we stayed in Kentucky The lovingly restored Grand Victorian Inn, in Park City , was built to accommodate tourists who arrived by rail to visit the nearby Mammoth Caves. In the inn's charming cafe you can get fried green tomatoes!

The inn that preceded the Grand Victorian, burned down during the civil war and is marked by a plaque. Next stop...Birmingham Alabama!

In Birmingham Alabama trad musicians meet monthly https://www.facebook.com/groups/bhamsesh/ Check their facebook for venue/dates

In Birmingham the Hassinger Daniels Mansion has been lovingly restored. Our bed and breakfast was so memorable for class and charm!

The stained glass on the gorgeous staircase. Breakfast was with the best china and crystal and I enjoyed my conversation with the inn owner.

We made our way to our southern destination, Louisiana. Three glorious days of parades, food, history... There is no place like NOLA!

The food in New Orleans is incredible..so much choice! So many flavours! Gumbo, Jambalya, shrimp creole, Po boys, oysters....

We arrived the day before Halloween and we went to the Silk Road’s Monday session at on Royal Street. It is an Indian restaurant (great food) which has embraced the traditional musicians of New Orleans.

Colourful Creole homes and Halloween in the city that loves it's parades!

Fats Domino passed away the week before; New Orleans had lost an icon. This is the second line parade held in his honour. The second line refers to the mourners who walk behind the first line, and all fans and friends are welcome. The parade went to Fats Domino's home in the ninth ward.

No trip to New Orleans is complete until you take a cemetery tour. Ghost stories, voodoo, intrigue...fascinating history!

The poshest place on our internary was the Nottoway Plantation, the largest surviving Plantation home in America, now a hotel complex.

Sugar cane made the plantation owner very wealthy. The house was finished just before the civil war broke out. The white ballroom below.

The bed in our room was the original four poster of the plantation owner daughter Cornelia Randolph.

Breakfast at the Nottoway.

The historic Michabelle Inn, in Hammond La. The landscaped surroundings and beautiful interior where breathtaking.

Our elegant room.

Breakfast in the dining room.

As we made our way north we stopped at Guntersville, Alabama. We stayed at the the Lake Guntersville Bed and Breakfast, formerly the historic Hooper House. The wide porch was so romantic! And the breakfast truly gourmet.

What a view with breakfast!

Going north again, we stopped in Chattanooga . The Chattanooga Choo Choo is a hotel that encompasses the old terminal building.

Close to the hotel the electric shuttle takes you to the downtown (for free).

Our room was a converted Pullman passenger car. Sheldon Cooper would stay here!

The Moccasin Bend Brewing Company hosts the Chattanooga Irish session. A fun and welcoming group. https://www.facebook.com/ChattanoogaIrishSession/

The best accommodation deal we had on our trip was the Empire House hotel...a 200 year old place on the Ohio River in Rising Sun, Indiana

For less than 75 dollars a night, you can't beat the history charm and location of the place. What a view of the Ohio River!

Our final inn was the Edward Harris House in Rochester. Built by the lawyer for George Eastman (of Eastman Kodak fame) it was a wedding gift for the lawyer's daughter. The railing on the centre stair is similar to the staircase of the George Eastman museum house; built by the same craftsmen.

Our room at the inn.

If you are n Rochester on a Tuesday evening you must stop at the Charlotte Tavern. I laughed as I pointed out almost all the musicians were wearing plaid..to match the walls and carpet! A friendly fun session, welcoming to beginners and advance players alike. I will return for sure!

On our final day we visited the George Eastman home. the man who brought immense prosperity to Rochester with his Kodak camera inventions. Part of his home has a theatre, named for his mother.

Eastman was so rich , that when he was dissatisfied with the width of his grand atrium (below) he had workers cut the house in half and move it 9 feet. It was enormously costly, but Eastman was happy with the result (and had the money to do it!)

Our trip was 12 interesting and rewarding days, and I was pleased to have participated in four sessions. I love visiting the United States and I cannot wait to return. With my fiddle of course!