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Margot, also known as the Cajun Queen of Melbourne, has been teaching Cajun dancing since 1995 at venues and Music Festivals. She has written before in other publications on her previous trip to Louisiana and her activities in music and dance. This "Lets do it All trip" shows how much you can pack into a two week visit to Cajun country in Louisiana. An inspirational trip to lovers of all things Cajun. For more information and to see the biggest Cajun/
Zydeco web site in America go to Gary Hayman's web page at http://users.erols.com/ghayman
My friend Glyn, a Cajun dance teacher, from England, met me at the New Orleans Airport, after my 23 hour trip from my home in Melbourne, Australia and three hours sleep. As I teach Cajun dancing in Melbourne, I knew I would be in for a good time with another Cajun dance teacher for our two week's stay in Louisiana. We drove in our hire car to the Best Western Motel in New Orleans.
A shower and change and we arrived for our dinner booking at Michaul's Restaurant. But we were too late for dinner, so had a drink and a dance and then went to Mulate's Restaurant where we had Cajun food and Cajun danced some more. Next morning, we had a swim in the pool and then a spa, and our continental breakfast and caught the free shuttle bus to see the sights of New Orleans.
Our first stop was the Riverwalk and the French Quarters, where Glyn photographed me standing outside the riverboat, the Cajun Queen, which is the name of my website. Found the Market and souvenir shops and had lunch listening to a Jazz band and danced. Walked to Bourbon Street, and enjoyed the sights.
Then a two-hour drive to Breaux Bridge, to our accommodation at the Bayou Cabins. Went to Mulate's, the original Cajun Restaurant in Breaux Bridge for dinner and danced to Jay Cormier's band and even got up to play a few numbers with my rub-board with Jimmy Breaux on accordion.
Wednesday we had dinner at Mulate's Restaurant again and Cajun danced, and played some more with Jay Cormier.
Thursday, we drove to Henderson to Whisky River Landing where we hoped to go one Sunday night to dance. Booked to go the next morning at the nearby McGee's Atchafalya Basin Swamp Tour. That night had dinner at Randol's Restaurant in Lafayette and danced to Leo and Ray Abshire and The Old Tymers Band.
Friday, we enjoyed the sights on the Swamp tour in a big boat. Friday afternoon we drove to Lafayette to 'Downtown Alive' in Parc International, which was the start of the free Festivals Acadiens. Danced to the music of Bruce Daigrepont, and Dwayne Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers. Then went to the Grant Street Dancehall to see Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys where we Cajun danced some more.
Saturday, we were up early to go to Café Des Amis in Breaux Bridge for the Zydeco Breakfast which started at 8.30am. Danced with many locals and had a wonderful time and lemon pie for breakfast!
Then off again to Lafayette for a fantastic day at the Festivals Acadiens, in Girard Park. The music was awesome, and we danced in front of the bandstand to Ray Abshire, Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold band, Jambalaya, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, and Preston Frank and the Zydeco Family band with Keith Frank, Traiteurs with Sonny Landreth and guests, and Feu Follet who were my choice of many brilliant performers. Then another drive back to Breaux Bridge to dinner at Mulate's again to see Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold band, who I'd met at the Cajun/Creole festival in West Virginia in 2001.
Sunday, we went back to Lafayette for the last day of Festivals Acadiens, and it rained most of the day, but people just danced in the rain in the hot, humid weather. I enjoyed the Creole Music Workshop, with Dexter Ardion, Cory Ledet, Joe Hall, Mitch Reed, Cory "Lil Pop" Ledet, Cedric Watson, James Adams and Hadley Castille. All great musicians and people danced under the big marquee. Then I played some triangle in the jam session, and saw Balfa Toujours, and, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, ( two of my favorite bands who came to Melbourne to perform in 2001) then Marc and Ann Savoy with their son, Joel Savoy, then topped this off with Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun.
Then to Breaux Bridge and dinner at Mulate's and danced to Tony Thibodeaux and the Cajun Five band.
Monday night, we drove to Prejean's Award Winning Cajun Cuisine and live Cajun music Restaurant in Lafayette. Danced to the music of the Michot Brothers (Freres Michot).
Tuesday, we went to the Cajun Cultural Centre and Virmillionville, a Cajun/Creole Heritage and Folklife Park in Lafayette. Followed in the afternoon by an exciting swamp tour with Norbet LeBlanc at Lake Martin and the Bayou Teche, where we saw three alligators. At night it was back to Mulate's Restaurant and some more Cajun dancing and play in Jay Cormier's band with Kevin Dugas, the drummer from Steve Riley's band.
Wednesday, we were invited by our hosts, Rocky and Lisa Sonnier to visit their home and attend a Rally and BBQ for Ronny Theriot who was standing for Sheriff. David Greely on fiddle, from Steve Riley's band was playing Cajun music with Pat Breaux (Jimmy Breaux's brother) on accordion, and Glyn and I danced.
(Continued on page 23)
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