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Jackson Square, located within the French Quarter.

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Street performer. He'd win some sort of unique contest.

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Beignets and coffee at the Café Du Monde. Beignets (pronounced "ben-YAYs") are powdered fried dough that are famous here, as is this Café.

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Inside of the Café Du Monde. They've been here since the 1860's, and are open 24 hours.

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A little note on a street vendor's shelf. I didn't realize God was crosseyed...

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The steamboat Natchez, which we later took on a ride down the Mississippi River.

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A washateria is what they call a laundromat.

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We came upon this restaurant and hoped it would be similar to a great San Francisco garlic-based restaurant called The Stinking Rose. Unfortunately it was nothing special.

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We went on a GREAT swamp tour, and saw quite a few alligators.

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He's waiting for the tour to begin, as he knows he'll be fed marshmallows. Mmmmm.

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An egret, a beautiful white bird seen frequently in the swamp.

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This is a young alligator, slightly up on shore at the launching point for the tour.

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We're on the tour now. This guy is resting on a log. Apparently after eating, they like to sit in the hot sun. The heat helps them digest the tourists from the last boat.

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A raccoon who heard we were in the neighborhood. We brought his family with him.

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Our swamp tour guide, with the raccoon family behind him. They also enjoy marshmallows.

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Here's the tour guide is feeding a gator a piece of chicken.

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More chicken.

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More raccoons.

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Looking down the swamp. This swamp is privately owned by the tour company, which was great for the tour. We saw no other activity. The tourguide gets alligators to appear or stay a while by throwing marshmallows, which they obviously enjoy. In a public swamp this wouldn't be allowed, as gators instinctively stay away from people and people are safer that way. I'm not sure why, but for mood they hung a skeleton from a tree on the left.

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An egret lands.