Natchez and Vicksburg

Friday and Saturday

We have wandered our way up the mighty Mississippi River, visiting some lovely old town centres and beautiful old homes and museums. We have seen more than enough mansions, although every one has been very different and the history of each has been interesting. In Natchez we visited several homes and saw a wonderful costume display in the upstairs rooms of Magnolia Mansion. We wandered our way around the town looking at all the lovely old buildings. The weather was misty to start the day but warmed up to be quite steamy. Again the Azaleas were magnificent and gave a bright splash of colour to the day.

After 4.30 we sat out on the front deck of the Duchess and watched the crew cast off. One poor crewman had to don waders and wade out into the river to unhook the bow ropes from the moorings, because they were under the high water. Probably wouldn’t get away with this In Australia. It was very pleasant sitting on the rocking chairs on deck soaking up the afternoon sun.

Very few other travellers spend time out here.

We woke as we were mooring in Vicksburg, another very pretty town, built on a bluff above the river. (P-Judith woke and announced it was an extremely foggy morning – it was until I wiped the fog off the windows, the day improved miraculously after that!). We rode the Bus on the loop around town and then took it to the highest point where we hopped off and started our own walking tour of the area, (have to get some exercise somehow). Again there are many wonderful old buildings, and then there are some that would be a maintenance nightmare, with rotting weather boards, sinking verandahs, overgrown gardens etc. We stopped off at several small museums, the first being The Old Courthouse Museum. It was built in just 2 years between 1958 and 1960 for $100,000. It survived Union Shelling, during the Civil War and a direct hit from a tornado in 1953. Now it is filled with artefacts and memorabilia for all to enjoy.

Further down town we stopped in the Main Street at Abraham’s Department Store, continually owned by the one family for 90 years. It was very much an old style store, with old fashioned clothes. Philip found a pair of jeans he thought might fit and also a smart outfit with matching shoes and hat band. (Check out the photos).

Continuing up the street we stopped at the Beidenharn Coca Cola Museum. In this building Coca Cola was bottled for the first time, previously it had only been dispensed at Soda fountains.

After a walk back to the Duchess for lunch we took off again along the flood levee, looking at the murals along the concrete levee walls. Some great history depicted here.

It’s been another great day full of history. We are off again soon and tomorrow is a river cruising day.

( P- The history of the Slave trade, Plantation farming, Mississippi River and the Civil war has been fascinating. The “Warm Southern Welcome” into every shop and Museum, along with the awesome Southern Food has been a real highlight – I really do need to sample more food so the new jeans fit – only 2.04m waist measurement and a .9 m leg length – they must be for the Giant out of Jack and the Bean Stalk,)