NEXT STOP NATCHEZ

We landed in the town of Natchez in the morning of 25 Nov. Natchez was inhabited by the Natchez Indians in 17th century. Then the French came and built a fortification called Rosalie. Flatboat men brought goods downriver from Nashville for further transport to New Orleans. The men walked back to Nashville 444 miles. Today the pathway through the wilderness remains as a National Park.

Cotton made Natchez the wealthiest city in US in 1860's. Plantation owners built mansions here and they were spared in the Civil War because the town surrendered. Many of them have been restored and are open for inspection.

After another delicious breakfast we boarded the Hop on Hop off bus and toured the town. 

 We toured Rosalie mansion built in 1823. The original owners were Peter and Eliza Little they didn't have children but  they cared for orphans. When Peter and Eliza died there was no valid will and the house was auctioned. It was bought by Wilsons who didn't have children either and also cared for orphans. They adopted one, Fanny McMurtry, who inherited the house. She married and had six children and the house stayed in the family until 1958. It is now owned by the society: The Daughter's of the American Revolution.

 Known as the Keyhole House due to the shape of the entrance.

  The houses in this town were amazing.

We had a guided tour of Stanton Hall built before the Civil War by cotton broker Frederick Stanton. This is a good example of the opulent Antebellum Classical Revival Mansion. Bill was most annoyed because we couldn't take photos and walked out. He can only take guided tours in small doses not one after the other.
After the tour we found him wandering in the gardens. We checked the map to see where to go next. Kathy knows how to win him
over,
"Look Bill it's not far to walk to the main street and a coffee shop." Now he was interested.
"Show me, how far do we have to walk?" Walking not being one of his favourite activities. As you can see it was still very cold.

We had coffee and a muffin for lunch and after visiting some other attractions we walked back to the boat instead of catching the bus. We strolled along the top of the bluff which overlooks the Mississippi. You can see 30 miles of the river.

We leaned on the fence and soaked up the lovely colours of the sunset over our pretty steamboat.

 We ambled down the steep embankment and prepared for another smashing dinner. I couldn't resist another glimpse of the sunset from outside our cabin.

 I even walked up to the bow of the our  boat to try and capture the silhouette of an old steamboat permanently moored in front of us and used as a casino.