Mississippi Gulf Coast

Our trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast was over all too soon. We arrived after dark on Saturday October 9. It was raining and we had no idea where we were going. The traffic was heavy and we quickly realized we were in the middle of the Cruisin' the Coast group. We found a room at the first place we stopped. Supper was hash browns and waffles at the Waffle House. I have to say it was really good. I guess that shows how hungry we were. Watching the cars was fun and the rain slowed. The rain was heavier on Sunday morning. We couldn't check into the hotel until afternoon so we drover up the coast. The farther we got from Biloxi and Gulfport the more I liked the area. Storms had blown sand all over the road, backhoes were scooping it up and putting it in dump trucks. The wind from the gulf was blustery and I got out of the car to let it blow in my face. I could have stayed in the wind all day. We found a bookstore in Pass Christian, making me anxious to visit it later. I found out later I could have gone in on Sunday. We checked into the hotel around 3 and found it all to our liking. I was especially happy to see the soaking tub. Later we rode the shuttle to the conference site and talked to several people. On Monday morning John Wayne went to the exhibit hall and I ventured out to look for Spanish Trail Bookstore. After asking for directions 3 times I found it and it was well worth the trouble. I stopped to go through Beauvior, the last home of Jefferson Davis. After having a fine there I drove to Pass Christian and made my first visit to Pass Christian Books. Another visit was to follow on Tuesday. It was full of treasures. After that book stop I went to Ocean Springs to the Walter Anderson Art Museum. I loved every thing in it and did some Christmas shopping. If I can bear to part of any of it! At night we went to look around in the casino, no gambling for us. We had fun watching the old ladies play the slots. On Wednesday morning we checked out of the hotel and drove to New Orleans. Walking the streets was fun and we found a couple of book stores, Faulkner House Books and Arcadia Bookstore. We then had beignets at the Cafe du Monde before heading toward KY.  

On our way to Biloxi we went through Oxford MS to visit Square Books and Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner. I loved walking through the house and grounds. It was a quiet place that had a life of its own.

Several wonderful books came home with me. I'll list them in the next entry.