I was back in the bayou- my last week was spent in Baton Rouge, Louisiana!
After spending a great weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, it was time to move on. We would be traveling to Baton Rouge by flight- our first flight day since we all arrived back from the holiday break! I don't enjoy flying that much, but I've gotten used to it. Thank goodness we had good weather and clear skies, and were able to make it safely. It's been a little while since I've been in the South, and the heat and humidity hit as soon as we got off of the plane!
Baton Rouge was the only city we would have shows in last week, so it was nice to have a couple of days off to explore and relax. The weather was beautiful and our hotel was in the convenient downtown area- the days off were looking good! Even better, our whole company had a home-cooked meal to look forward to. Our head of wardrobe is also from the Baton Rouge area, and was able to host a huge company gathering at her home! On Tuesday, I attended my first authentic, Louisiana bayou crawfish boil- I can't say I'm a fan of them (I don't really like it when my food can stare at me) but the experience was unlike any barbecue I've ever attended. Literally buckets of crawfish were boiled in gigantic pots, and when they were finished, they were dumped onto tables for everyone to have their share. There was enough food to feed a small army! It was so nice to feel at home for a little while; the whole company got to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, a warm and welcome home, and even a dog! And to top it all off, the evening ended with Girl Scout Cookies- it was great to get out of the hotel routine for a day and enjoy the comfort of a real charming Southern home!
The downtown area of Baton Rouge had a lot to check out as well. A group of us treated ourselves to manicures at a local nail salon, and I spent a great deal of time by the riverwalk. Right along the Mississippi River, there was a running trail and plenty of seating to enjoy the view. There's something so peaceful about being able to sit beside the water and bask in the sunshine. I lost track of time just sitting outside, reading, and playing some music on my ukulele! I've also never been able to enjoy 80 degree weather in March- I surely didn't want to waste it!
Our weekend of shows was very busy- we had eight shows from Thursday until Sunday! We got off to an easier start with only one show on Thursday. My work-day ended at noon, so Kelsey and I were excited to spend the rest of our day checking out more of the city. Baton Rouge has the tallest capital building in the U.S. with an observatory for tourists to check out. One long elevator ride later, and we got a complete 360 degree view of the city! It was another beautiful sunny day, and taking in the scenery was especially breathtaking when you could see for miles on end. Afterward, we were able to check out the Old Capital building on the opposite side of town. The Old Capital building was in use until the 1950's when the current, taller capital was built. With a grand Medieval design, majestic staircase, and gorgeous stained glass, the Old Capital building was a true architectural masterpiece. I was in awe of the entire building, which is currently used as a museum, and occasionally hosts special banquets and weddings. It was a treat to explore such a beautiful place, and better yet, it was free!
The Old Capital building was right next to a small park and a couple of fountains; I'm not one for really embracing the outdoors, but I enjoyed relaxing in the grass for awhile! I am also not a huge fan of the South, but Baton Rouge was a surprisingly sweet town with more to appreciate than I expected.
The rest of my weekend was spent at seven more shows- the audiences were wonderful, which is always a treat. The weekend flew by for sure, and then it was on to the next!
I'm heading back to the Midwest- Muskogee, Oklahoma and Tulsa, Oklahoma, here I come!
Signing off from the Street,
Shelby
City #46- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
#shelbyseesthestates
A picnic table full of crawfish, potatoes and corn!
Rusty, my new bff.
If I drop an album, this would be the cover. A snapshot by the Mississippi.
The pelican represents the city- there were little reminders everywhere!
A sunny day selfie.
A view from the riverwalk!
The current Louisiana State Capital Building.
A view from the observatory!
On top of the world!
The stained glass rotunda of the Old Capital Building.
Truly breathtaking- I sat on the floor for awhile just to take it all in!
Live in living color.
I loved the way the colors melted together on the floor.
Even the door hinges had beautiful detail!
Admiring the view.
Smell the grass, the dirt- just like I dreamed they'd be!
On the steps of the palace (or the Old Capital Building).
Exploring with the best roommate ever. :)
Another city in the books! See ya, Baton Rouge!
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