Cajuns and Creoles The Atchafalaya River Basin and the Lower Mississippi River



Cajuns and Creoles The Atchafalaya River Basin and the Lower Mississippi River They refused to pledge allegiance to the British Crown, and were forcibly expelled from their adopted homeland of "Acadie" in present day Nova Scotia, Canada. Some of these Acadian refugees wandered south along the Atlantic Coast and settled there. Most sailed back to France and found that the many years that they had spent isolated from their motherland had made it difficult, if not impossible, for them to reacclimate. They had grown away from French customs, developing a unique way of life. So, they petitioned the French government and were eventually granted land in the New World. What began as "Le Grand Derangement" in the mid-1700s became a thirty year odyssey that led the Acadians to the swamps and bayous of Louisiana where they lived in virtual isolation until the early years of the twentieth century.

Wild Iris growing in the Louisiana Marsh

Today's Cajuns, a derived pronunciation of "Acadians," are a vibrant culture who have fiercely held onto their language, food and music. Traveling through the Atchafalaya River Basin- America's greatest freshwater swamp-we'll come face-to-face with a culture that is as unique and interesting as can be found anywhere in this world.

It is no secret that Cajuns know how to "pass a good time." You've probably heard about Acadiana, Cajun Louisiana. Maybe your friends have visited and told you about all the fun. Perhaps you've visited south Louisiana before. Regardless, no one has ever experienced Cajun Country quite like this before.

Wild Iris growing in the Louisiana Marsh


Leaving New Orleans behind us, we'll run through the bayous, lakes, rivers and bays in this region to a mystic world where "joie de vivre" (the joy of life) is the order of the day. Experience Cajun music. Sample spicy Cajun delicacies brought onboard from local fishermen. Experience one of North America's unique cultures. And that's only half of the trip! After we "let the good times roll" in Cajun Country, we'll lock through to the Mississippi and share the river with great seagoing vessels flying flags of many nations before arriving downstream for an encounter with another unique civilization, the Creole culture of New Orleans.
	Avery Island Bird Sanctuary

When we say civilization, we aren't kidding. Haute cuisine. Gracious living. Old World architecture and charm. Find it all, and more in New Orleans, where an evolving Creole society has molded this city in traditional European fashion.

The story of the Creoles is a stark contrast to the story of the Acadians. Creoles, Gulf Coast-born descendants of Spanish and French immigrants, have carefully protected an honor-bound social order whose origins can be traced back more than three hundred years to the founding of this great river city. This melange of cultures is as special as the many definitions used to describe it. The term Creole is not only applied to descendants, but also to mixed race free people of color, to the language they speak and to local food and goods of superior quality. Influenced by French, Spanish and African methods and ingredients, Creole cuisine is a gumbo, a blend of flavors unlike any other in this world. We can only begin to describe it here. To fully appreciate Cajun and Creole culture, you'll have to join us for the only adventure of its kind as we go Barging Through America® on the R/B River Explorer.

Laura Plantation

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE LAND OF CAJUNS AND CREOLES
Boiled Crawfish: A Cajun Delicacy	Get an "insiders view" of this region to gain a deeper understanding of the Cajun and Creole lifestyles. Overnight in New Orleans. Enjoy great shopping and entertainment. Stroll the French Quarter. Or perhaps visit the National D-Day Museum. We depart the next morning to begin exploring this historic region on an 8-day excursion. You'll enjoy a swamp tour where you'll get to see what we consider to be part of America's wettest and wildest frontier, the incredible freshwater swamps of Louisiana. In the heart of Cajun Country, the French-speaking natives will welcome you to a place where counties are called "parishes" and where "passing a good time" is the order of the day. This stop is a feast for your senses. The food is spicy, the music is lively and the memories will last a lifetime. In Cajun Country, we'll visit Vermilionville, La., the Jean Lafitte Cultural Center and St. Martinville, La., home of the famous Evangeline Oak. Along the way, we'll also visit the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge. This city is home to the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial, the Louisiana Maritime Museum, the beautifully restored Old State Capitol, quaint shops and art galleries. On our way back to New Orleans, you'll enjoy a lavish tour of Laura, a Creole Plantation. You'll feel as though you stepped back in time. Witness the spectacular beauty of this region. Bayous. Swamps. Lakes. Atchafalaya River Basin and Mississippi River. Incredible sunsets. All this and more!