TWO MILES LONG AND TWO YARDS WIDE

The post title is how the Mississippi River town of St Francisville is described. The little town is perched on a very narrow ridge. with steep drops on either side. We had to climb a very steep path from the American Queen steamboat up to the free Hop on Hop off buses. The bus climbed higher up the bluff to the little town of St Francisville. It didn't take us long to visit the few attractions. There were more beautiful antebellum houses, a nice church, a historic museum, bric brac shops and a market hall.

 I surprised myself by being up early enough to see the morning mist and sunrise from our cabin door.

 We visited the church which was engulfed by these huge oak trees draped with  Spanish Moss.

 We walked the neat streets with lovely houses, we visited museums and yes Bill found a coffee shop before we hopped on the bus back to the boat for lunch.

After lunch we went on another"Premium Excursion"(at an extra cost). This was to 'Angola', the Louisiana State Penitentiary. It is the biggest prison in US covering an area of 18,000 acres which used to be plantations, one being "Angola" supposedly named after the country where the Afro Americans came from. It is bordered on three sides by the Mississippi river and the other side faces a mountain range and so the prison 's nickname is 'Alcatraz of the South'
Angola used to be the most violent prison in the country but in 1972 Elayn Hunt was appointed director and massive reforms took place. Today the prison, under Warden Burl Cain, has become the most successful correctional centre in the country. The emphasis is on moral rehabilitation. There are a huge range of programs operating, ranging from farming to religious studies, including educational studies, dog training, running TV and radio stations and holding the world famous Angola Prison Rodeo.
There are over 6000 offenders and 1800 staff. 90% of offenders are in for life until they die. Angola is like a town, it has its own Post Office. It is self sufficient, growing crops and cattle.

 Our bus drove into the prison and stopped at The Red Hat block (1933) which is now heritage listed. It was where the most dangerous offenders were held and executed. They had red paint splashed onto their straw hat for when they worked in the fields. We walked through this eerie building, which reeked of bad memories.

 When we emerged from the old cell block we were met by a rehabilitated offender driving the Rodeo Cart. He talked to us about the rodeo held every weekend in October for the privileged offenders and the general public.

 The prison is designed with a main complex and a  series of camps like mini prisons. We were taken to the chapel where two 'lifers' who were now mentors for other offenders, gave us a talk about the programs offered. We were most impressed with these two men who knew they would never leave this place but they had a zest for life, learning and helping others.

 One of the most sort after jobs is one of dog training.

At the end of the tour we visited the jail museum. Angola sure has a gruesome history but an amazing story of becoming a model prison, that is visited by other directors of correctional institutions from all over the country and the world.

Ooops we nearly left Bill behind.