Natchez, Mississippi – Day 4

Note: Mary flew from Baton Rouge Airport, Louisiana on March 12 to her home in California. I’m hoping to get her back with me by mid-April. My current plans are to drift SLOWLY north along the Mississippi River to Memphis, Tennessee where I’ll then turn northeast heading for New England for the Summer. Can’t go north too fast because it’s still cold up there! The Mississippi River is rich in history…I expect it to be an interesting passage.
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The motorhome is still parked at the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1662 in Natchez, Mississippi.

Natchez remained mostly undamaged from the Civil War. Hence this old city with its narrow and many one-way streets remains a beautiful city. To read about Natchez, click this link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez,_Mississippi

Yesterday’s first stop of the day was at the First Presbyterian Church…

Here are some of the photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

While the church was interesting…it was not the primary reason for my stop. Rather it was for the attached Stratton Hall where there is housed a permanent 600+ black and white photography gallery of old Natchez entitled Natchez in Historic Photographs. You can read about this exhibit by clicking this link…
http://www.visitnatchez.org/listings/index.cfm?action=display&listingID=312&menuID=0&hit=1

Since every photograph was framed and covered in glass, light reflections made for difficult photographic conditions. Nonetheless, I spent a good 1.5 hours enjoying the old beautiful images. The exhibit is on the second floor up this staircase where the walls are just covered with the many photos…

I did manage a few photos with little to no reflections…

If you ever find yourself in Natchez, I highly recommend you visit this great exhibit which is located at 405 State Street.

Next stop was just a couple of short blocks away is the Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture which is located in the old Post Office building at 301 Main Street…

It also has many great old photographic images…

I had the good fortune to meet Darrell White, the Director of the Museum. He invited me to sit and chat with him. We had a most interesting one hour conversation. He proved to be a very intelligent and articulate man with a vast knowledge of the African-American History…especially in Natchez. You can read about the museum by clicking this link…
http://www.visitnatchez.org/listings/?action=display&listingID=220&menuID=134&hit=1

Did you recognize Mr. White from yesterday’s Blog entry? See the below photo as I caught him leaving the William Johnston House. He had just come from delivering a lecture and was dressed in a period costume where he presents himself in the first person as William Johnston. If you missed that Blog entry…here’s the link…
http://wp.me/pDCku-7sG

After leaving Mr. White it was time for a late lunch.

I’ll share with you now, one of my traveling secrets. I always ask the locals where they would go for the best lunch in town. I tell them that I’m especially seeking out a small Mom and Pop…hole in the wall kind of place where I’m likely to find home cooking. I’ve had many a great meal I would have missed. Employing this method once again, several locals told me of the Cotton Alley Cafe…just across the street and down one block from the museum. So, off I went to 208 Main Street…

While it does not qualify for a hole in the wall Mom and Pop kind of place…

I enjoyed a great meal and great Service. Guy Bass is the Owner and has been in the restaurant business for 30+ years…

You can read about the Cotton Alley Cafe by clicking this link…
http://www.visitnatchez.org/listings/?action=display&listingID=424&menuID=111&hit=1

I’ll explore more of Natchez today.

Enjoying historic places is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

The red dot on the below map shows my approximate location in the State of Mississippi. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2013
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust