http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Louisiana , Abbeville en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:28:24 BST Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:28:24 BST I had never heard of Joseph Jefferson before I came to Vermilion Parish. Chances are it would have remained that way. But the renowned 19thcentury American actor grew so fond of Southern Louisiana that he poured much of his earnings into a twentyfive acre subtropical retreat in Delcambre. Jeffersonrsquos New York fame for playing the Washington Irving character on stage over four thousan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237734.html It was time to head north and get back to Abbeville. The open wetlands stretch for several miles north of Cameron. The massive shallow lakes are a refuge to numerous waterfowl of which my favorite are easily the egrets. The tall longlegged and lanky ivory hued birds are as commonplace as squirrels back home but less suicidal. I comment about them to Alison but she pays little attention. S http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237733.html Cameronrsquos importance before September of 2005 centered around shrimping the petroleum industry and being the seat of the parish of the same name that abuts Vermilion to the west. While all three still play their essential roles the winddriven destruction of Rita lends to Cameron an ominous sensation that the storm struck its lethal blow only three weeks ago. Cameron is the swamp versi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237730.html Louisiana highway eightytwo slopes south of Abbeville to the Gulf of Mexico. The raised and shoulderless byway uncovers a lifestyle dramatic recent destruction and geography that the parish seat quietly conceals in its more densely populated setting. It is the gateway to the expansive wetlands where waterfowl and fearsome reptiles far outnumber human inhabitants.ldquoTherersquos a gator http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237729.html ldquoI think Irsquoll pass on the alligator bites for today sweetie.rdquo People here refer to pretty wait staff as ldquodarlingrdquo ldquosweetheartrdquo or some other term of endearment.The pretty twentyyearold leaned towards me at the counter and offered another suggestion from the menu. ldquoOur oysters on the half shell are just therdquoldquoNo thank you.rdquo Ju http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237727.html Abbevillersquos unique and elegant downtown should be an icon for Main Street America. Founded by Pre Antoine Dsir Mgret in 1843 as La Chapelle Pre Mgret designed Abbeville with two connected central squares around which traffic flows counterclockwise. The manicured grounds of St. Mary Magdalen church anchor the western square at the center of which is a tastefully designed park with be http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237726.html Resigned to a quiet and solitary Christmas Day I went to the only place in Abbeville I was I could get a meal. All the restaurants even the fast food outlets are closed Abbeville hasnrsquot enough traffic to merit anything else open but the convenience store at the Valero gas station. Undaunted I bought some coffee and a prepackaged threeday old sandwich. I carried it over to the count http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237723.html The barfenced Texas ranches of sharp defoliated bushes along I10 enclose lethargic cattle grazing on dry vegetation. Little changes on the horizon to keep the mind occupied on any highway in East Texas. The broad plots of land are replaced first by oboelike towers of petroleum refineries in the Houston area. On the far side of the Sabine River swamps and canals welcome motorists far more ap http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/Abbeville/blog-237722.html