We visited the Cajun/Creole Heritage Park and it was very interesting. The visitor center was modeled after a Creole plantation house.
Notice how low the stove was. Creole women were usually under 5 feet tall.
La Maison Des Cultures - an Acadian style home built in the 1840`s. It is made of colombage which is a half-timber wall framing system and bousillage which is a mixture of mud and Spanish moss. The exterior staircase leads to the garconniere where the older boys in the family slept.
Le Cabanage de Latanier - is a replica of a Native American dwelling hand built on site by an elder of the Houma Nation. It is a single family dwelling and features outdoor cooking with a boulillage oven.a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wAvn2CjDBi0/TX06oWVKQ2I/AAAAAAAACbE/GFWHlXqZ_fA/s1600/Lafayette%2Band%2Bthe%2BTobasco%2BFactory%2B085.JPG">
Le Hangar A Bateau - features several styles of boats built during the time of the early Acadian settlement in Louisiana.
Beau Bassin - built of colombage and bousillage. Spinning, weaving, quilting and textile crafts are demonstrated here. This is a 150 year old Acadian loom. Instead of weaving wool and flax in this new land the Acadian women learned to weave cotton. Most homes had a kitchen separate and set back from the main house. This reduced the risk of fire to the main house and kept the heat and smoke away.
Le Presbytere - a tiny cottage attached to the chapel. Notice it too has the outside staircase going up into the sleeping quarters.
La Chapelle Des Attakapas - is a reproduction based on the Catholic church at Pointe Coupee. Catholicism was the only legally allowed religion in Louisiana before 1803 so the Acadians, the Slaves and the Free Men of Color all worshiped in the same churches.
The following day we returned to see a performance by some Irish dancers and also got to hear some Celtic playing as well. 
The dance instructor who used to be one of the performers in River Dance tried to teach us a few simple steps. We all had fun learning which I guess was the whole point.
Then on to the professionals. They made it look so easy.
The junior group.
The intermediate group.
This is the whole group. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of afternoons.
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