So we traveled to New Orleans—on Thanksgiving day no less, to begin a Mississippi Rover cruise with Viking. Despite all the news reports of horror shows at airports, we had a very smooth flight. We got to the hotel early and our room was ready. That’s tough to beat.
We got to the Big Easy a couple of days early where we met my sister Barbara and her husband Tim. Then we proceeded to take a look around town. The city has not yet fully recovered from Katrina—back in 2006. But it was a pleasant stay anyway.
We caught a few moments of the annual Thanksgiving day parade where we spotted a lady in the audience with what may be the biggest dog in the world (photo below).
![](https://joebenningphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Big-Dog-1024x791.jpg)
We also made our way to Jackson Square where someone was dressed up in a clown suit.
![](https://joebenningphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Clown-with-a-Dog-1024x819.jpg)
![](https://joebenningphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/A-Clown-Entertains-in-New-Orleans-1024x683.jpg)
And we went to the New Orleans Aquarium where a young boy posed by the jaws of what must have been an enormous shark.
![](https://joebenningphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Boy-in-Aquarium-768x1024.jpg)
Next stop, the cruise ship and our first cruise stop at a plantation Mansion in St James Parish, Louisiana. We’ll keep you (or as they say down here “Y’all”) posted.
Joe