New Orleans - The Swamp and Haunted Places

Swamp tour? Haunted history tour? If you go to New Orleans, of course you have to go on swamp and haunted history tours!

Cajun Encounters is a well recommended swamp tour 

Our intrepid explorer in the deepest, darkest swamp!

No trolls were harmed in making this picture

Hard to tell, but yes, that is an alligator behind Lil Dude!

Here's the alligator behind Lil Dude in the above picture.
Unfortunately,  after Lil Dude saw this creature up close,
he would not pose with it!

After surviving the swamp, Yo Mama's!

Voodoo "stuff"

In the window of the extremely haunted Jean Lafitte Bar

Lot's of spooky goings on have been reported at
Jean Lafitte's Bar!

A very creepy place - where Richard Simmons went to school!

At the B&C Cajun Restaurant with
"Chef Don't Ask"

Mrs. Chef Don't Ask at the B&C Cajun Restaurant

After a very enjoyable day, the best way to end it is with
coffee and beignets at Cafe Dumond!

New Orleans

And a good time was definitely had by Lil Dude Troll and his human family in New Orleans, Louisiana!

Best way to start the day is with coffee & beignets
at Cafe Dumonde

At historic Jackson Square & the St. Louis Cathedral

Jackson Square

Wonderful architecture all over New Orleans, but especially
in the French Quarter

At the infamous Pat O'Brien's club in the French Quarter

Bourbon Street!

At the site where the famous "trip" scene was shot
in the movie Easy Rider

Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau's tomb in
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Time for lunch at Bubba Gump's in the French Quarter

Kid's Chicken Tenders meal comes in a shrimp boat

Cheeseburger & fries comes on the traditional
Bubba Gump newspaper

What a great server! Nice, friendly, funny & prompt,
attentive service!

Troll - it's whats for dinner. Oh no!

Huck Finn's restaurant & watering hole.

Reagan Presidential Library

One room in the library contains busts of every U.S. President

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is located in Simi Valley, California. Lil Dude Troll visited and found it to be a lot more interesting than you think and gives it 2 thumbs up!

Lil Dude taking a horse ride with President Reagan

Reagan's Air Force One

Lil Dude inspecting the wheels of Air Force One

Riding on President Reagan's limo

The Gipper!

President Reagan's Marine One helecopter

Reagan & Gorbachev at Reykjavik Summit

A section of the Berlin Wall

One of the motorcycles ridden by a police escort during Reagan's funeral

Texas State Fair - Entry 2

Yes, there are some wonderful grape orchards and winery's in Texas
producing first-class wine!

The State Fair of Texas is so big, we had to use 2 postings to show how much fun Lil Dude Troll had!

Enjoying the wave riding show

Random strangers from Louisiana we rode the Texas Giant Ferris wheel
with. They thought Lil Dude was cool!

At the famous Cotton Bowl

For some reason, Lil Dude LOVED the blue Mustang at the auto exhibit

What kind of fan kept the inside of the buildings cool? Oh, really
big ones with very appropriate names!

Clowns make Lil Dude's hair stand on end!

Having a good time at the pig races!

Everyone wants to pose with Lil Dude. A few lucky ones get
their dream fulfilled!

Texas State Fair - Entry One

At 52 feet high, Big Tex has been the mascot for the
fair since 1952.

The State Fair of Texas is the largest state fair in the United States by area of fairgrounds and total attendance with over 3,000,000 visitors every year. It hosts America's largest fair-based auto show with over 300,000 square feet of space in 2 buildings to display new model vehicles, a Truck Zone and a Test Drive Track. 

In addition to the large midway full of rides and games of chance,there are literally hundreds of activities suitable for the whole family to enjoy such as educational exhibits, concerts featuring big name acts as well as local talent, pig races, farm animal contests, vendor's wares, free food samples, cooking demonstrations and food contests.

Speaking of food, the Texas State Fair has a well-earned reputation as an event featuring unique, high-fat foods. Fletcher's corny dogs have been associated with the fair for years, but in the last dozen or so, corny dogs are one of the healthiest foods available as new items such as deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried butter, deep-fried Twinkies, deep-fried s'mores, deep-fried pork ribs, fried cheesecake, deep-fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwiches, deep-fried Coke, chicken-fried bacon and fried banana splits have been introduced.

A Fletcher's corny dog smothered in mustard and a Dr. Pepper
are required treats at the fair!

Lil Dude Troll had to check out this annual event and had such a great time, it will take 2 posts for all of the pictures!

Every year, new weird, totally unhealthy food items such as fried
Millionaire Pie and fried Fritos Pie have become de rigueur.

At the start of the Midway where seemingly countless rides and
games of chance are located

More rides and games of chance than you can shake a stick at!

High in the air riding on the rotating "Top of Texas" tower

With the Texas Star Ferris wheel in the background. The 212 foot tall
ride was opened in 1985 and is the largest Ferris wheel in the U.S.

Looking down on the Cotton Bowl

Great view of the fair grounds 500 feet below

Sorry Lil Dude, you can't ride this one!