Tues, Nov. 9 through Thurs. Nov. 11

Tuesday was a relaxing day at home.  After a short journey Wednesday morning, found Deano's in Lafayette, LA.  It is a gourmet pizza place and is undeniably the best pizza we've ever had.  (Had eaten here on our winter trip 00-01).  Jerry's half was the T-Rex ( meatlovers) and my half was carmelized onions, peppers and mushrooms and grilled shrimp.  Awesome.  After that feast it's a good thing we only had a half hour to travel to Betty's RV Park in Abbeville.  Met fun people at happy hour and generally relaxed. 
Wednesday was sight-seeing day.  Traveled to Avery Island about 20 miles away for the Tabasco Factory Tour.  It was interesting and we received small sample bottles.  It's the only Tabasco factory in the world.  They get most of their peppers from South and Central America now but it has been in the McIlhenny family since it's inception.  They also have a wildlife refuge and jungle garden area which we didn't visit. 

After our tour we sampled the various hot sauces and jellies along with sweet and hot ice cream and jalopena ice cream - both yummy.  Jerry bought some red beans and rice and I shared his boudin (sausage) for a mid-morning snack.  Yummy!  Prepared and served by a lady who's Grandmother worked for the company and lived on the island.  Full-time employees can petition to rent a home on the island for $100/mo. 

This is a view of the bayou which you cross to go to Avery Island.  We saw a small alligator swimming in it along the road after leaving the Island.

We then drove a few miles to New Iberia and drove around the town viewing the awesome architecture of the homes and the live oak trees.

Took a tour of the Conrad Rice Mill.  Margaret (a Cajun) was a great tour director, talking of her own experiences living on a bayou and of working in the mill.  The rice is grown locally and has been in business for many years.  The factor is a Registered Historic Site and much of the machinery has been in use for about 85 years.  We checked out the company store and bought some Pecan rice.  



Back in Abbeville, met new neighbors from BC and enjoyed happy hour with many couples.  Treated ourselves to dinner at the Riverfront on the banks of Bayou Vermillion.  Sue got her crab fix and Jerry had the shrimp special.  Beautiful church right across the bayou which chimed on the quarter hour.  The restaurant was right next to the drawbridge where it is a busy daytime waterway with shrimp boats, etc. traveling in and out.