Sunday February 20, 2011
The most romantic day in this Super Tourist's life!
Sunday was my day off. A few days before hand my wonderful boyfriend being so thoughtful the way he is suggested that since he also had the day off we take off and go somewhere for my blog. He suggested Oak Alley Plantation. A place he knows I've been dying to go since we first visited this area together last year in January. I'm a sucker for huge plantation homes and old romantic settings. Apparently he'd been doing a little bit of research because the suggestion was followed by this statement, "The tickets are $18 a piece and we'll save money if you show them your AAA card." (A card I never leave home without by the way, Thanks Mom!)
I pulled up the Oak Alley website online (you can find it here.) They have directions, prices and the restaurant menu all available online.With my SuperTourist travel bag packed and ready we took the short drive up the River towards Oak Alley Plantation. It took us somewhere around 30+ minutes to drive from the French Quarter to our destination. When we arrived we were the 4th car in the parking lot. A site that made me very happy because that meant good pictures without a ton of people in them so you can really see how incredible this place is! And as we were walking up I spotted cabbages! A plant I didn't realize I was so in love with until last month. But just look at the purplely goodness! They're so fun.
After I'd died and gone to magnent heaven we took a walk up to the main house. On the way we passed by a plaque dedicated to the slaves in the house at the time of the original owners of the house. On it is the name and approximated worth of each slave in their time. It was sad/facinating to see it the worth of a person in dollar amounts on paper. Makes you think. Located here also was, of course, a very large beautiful oak tree.
As you walk up the back of the house you can't help but notice the towering magnolia tree. Made me wish for warmer weather this winter so we'd have had an early bloom this month. Oh darn, I guess we'll just have to go back.
At the back of the house awaits several ladies in old fashioned hoop skirts which helps set the mood and take you back to the time period the house was first built in. Tours start ever half hour from the opening of the home.
Our tour guide was adorable. I'm sure she was older but looked like she was about 16 and had the routine down! We were taken from the sitting room to the dining room where the table was much lower and the silverware much larger than you were expecting. True story-people were really short then, the average man coming in at a whopping 5'4" according to our guide and to show wealth they would display large silverware. The larger the silver the more wealthy your host.
I'm awfully glad this isn't the case now, not only would silver be out of the question but I'm pretty sure my guests would be eating with their hands. I'm fancy like that.
Up the stairs we went where the bedrooms were. Unfortunately only one peice of furniture in the whole house was original to the first owners. But there it stood in the master bedroom, the baby's crib. It was really pretty.
I wish I was allowed to take pictures inside of the house to show you but inside photography was not allowed. Lucky for you after the bedrooms she opened the double doors on the second floor in dramatic fashion and introduced us to the oak trees of Oak Alley Plantation.
A grand site. I felt like I'd been transported into a romance novel. You'll be happy to note that my all time favorite author Nora Roberts book turned movie Midnight Bayou was filmed here. A fantastic on site location. Those lucky actors.
After our grand tour we returned to the grounds and went to check out the oak trees for ourselves. Here are some of the photos that followed...
Playing with the different settings on the camera. Now this is more than a point and shoot so we all know I didn't take this! Credit this photo to one Mr. Tyson!
First of all I'd like to point out that trees are bigger than you think. Esp. when you're standing right underneath them!
This is a picture of my favorite tree in the whole place. Gee, Erin, How would you pick a favorite? Well it's simple. I'll tell you. Underneat this very tree the love of my life got down on one knee and asked me to marry him on this very day! Something tells me he'd been planning this whole "let's go somewhere for your blog" stuff for a while!
This is the picture that follows. The most perfect ring ever made to order just for me! :o)
Now this is a photo I took! Happiest moment ever! So happy I could hardly stop staring at my finger to take a proper photo! Ha!
Now to finish this post off, further random shots of the plantation. Guess who took which pictures...
Wasn't me. I LOVE this photo. Great shot babe!
Nope. Not me either.
Point up at the trees and click. Yup, me.
Back view. Not sure. But this is the side you never see in the fancy photos. Don't say I never gave you something new!
Hope you all enjoy the happiest day in SuperTourist History and I hope you'll come back and join us as I recap my very first Mardi Gras EVER!
