Spring Training Trip - Day 63

We got an early start this morning; we were eating beignets and drinking coffee at Café Du Monde in the French Quarter by 9:00 am.  We had reservations for a tour at 10:30 am just a few blocks away, a house that was visited by the French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas in 1872 - 1873.  His mother had been an American and some of his American cousins lived there.  He spent about 5 months in New Orleans, doing many sketches and several paintings in oils and pastels depicting members of his family.  He went back to France, taking most of his paintings with him, and became one of the leaders of the Impressionist movement in Paris.

The house has been changed a great deal since his visit; it has been divided in half and moved from its original site.  Also, most of the surrounding land has been sold and developed.  Copies of many of Degas’ paintings are displayed in the house, which has been renovated and redecorated in the style of the 1870’s.

After the house tour, we went to the grocery store to stock up for our trip home, which we will resume tomorrow.  After the food was put away, we left the VW with the RV and walked back into the Quarter.  We had a late lunch, gumbo and salad at the Café Royal Oyster Bar – great food and great service.  After that, we walked to the Old Mint to attend a demonstration of some of the roots of jazz; African, Creole and Cajun music and instruments.   It was done by two very talented National Historic Park rangers, both of whom played more than one instrument and sang.  The demonstration was very well attended - many high school students were there, as well as a large group of tourists.  We really enjoyed it, as did everyone else there.

After stopping for a drink and a short rest at the Bistreaux Lounge at the Hotel Depuy, we walked back to the RV, got a pizza for dinner and started to prepare to leave early tomorrow for the rest of our trip home.


Day 63 Pictures