November 9, 2023

We woke up docked in Baton Rouge and had two excursions planned for the day. The first involves taking a bus to the Atchafalaya Basin to board a boat to explore North America’s largest river swamp ecosystem. This section of the swamp was once a dense cypress tree forest that was harvested for the interior wood for Fords model T. The remaining cypress are now protected and the area is a wildlife refuge.

In the afternoon we go by bus to the Rural Life Museum at LSU. We learn about Cajun culture, including sampling food, music and dances. Oh yeh, the alligator does taste like chicken. The museum includes an array of historical buildings, artifacts housed in the exhibit barn as well as the presentation center.