They refused to pledge allegiance to the British Crown, and were forcibly expelled from their adopted homeland of "Acadie" in present day Nova Scotia, Canada. Some of these Acadian refugees wandered south along the Atlantic Coast and settled there. Most sailed back to France and found that the many years that they had spent isolated from their motherland had made it difficult, if not impossible, for them to reacclimate. They had grown away from French customs, developing a unique way of life. So, they petitioned the French government and were eventually granted land in the New World. What began as "Le Grand Derangement" in the mid-1700s became a thirty year odyssey that led the Acadians to the swamps and bayous of Louisiana where they lived in virtual isolation until the early years of this century.
Today's Cajuns, a derived pronunciation of "Acadians," are a vibrant culture who have fiercely held onto their language, food and music. Traveling through the Atchafalaya Basin America's greatest freshwater swampwe'll come face-to-face with a culture that is as unique and interesting as can be found anywhere in this world.
It is no secret that Cajuns know how to "pass a good time." You've probably heard about Acadiana, Cajun Louisiana. Maybe your friends have visited and told you about all the fun. Perhaps you've visited south Louisiana before. Regardless, no one has ever experienced Cajun Country quite like this before.
Leaving New Orleans behind, enjoy an excursion through the bayous, lakes, rivers and bays in this region to a mystic world where "joie de vivre" (the joy of life) is the order of the day. Dance to Cajun music. Sample spicy Cajun delicacies. Experience one of North America's unique cultures. And that's only half of the trip!
After you "let the good times roll" in Cajun Country, the RiverBarge goes through locks to the Mississippi, sharing the river with great sea-going vessels, flying flags of many nations before arriving downstream for an encounter with another unique civilization, the Creole culture of New Orleans.
New Orleans is synonymous with haute cuisine. Gracious living. Old World architecture and charm. Find it all and more in New Orleans, where an evolving Creole society has molded this city in traditional European fashion.
The story of the Creoles is a stark contrast to the story of the Acadians. Creoles, Gulf Coast-born descendants of Spanish and French immigrants, have carefully protected an honor-bound social order whose origins can be traced back more than three hundred years to the founding of this great river city. This melange of cultures is as special as the many definitions used to describe it. The term creole is not only applied to descendants, but also to mixed race free people of color, to the language they speak and to local food and goods of superior quality. Influenced by French, Spanish and African methods and ingredients, Creole cuisine is a gumboa blend of flavors unlike any other in this world. To fully appreciate Creole and Cajun culture, you'll have experience it on the only adventure of its kind as you go Barging Through America® on the R/B River Explorer.
A JOURNEY THROUGH
THE LAND OF CAJUNS AND CREOLES
Overnight in New Orleans. Stroll the French Quarter. Or perhaps visit Aquarium of the Americas. Depart the next morning to begin exploring this historic region on a 7, 8 or 9 day excursion. Each trip covers the same route, the only difference is the depth of the experience. Get an "insiders view" of this region to gain a deeper understanding of the Cajun and Creole lifestyles. Along the way, witness the spectacular beauty of this region. Bayous. Swamps. Lakes. Atchafalaya and Mississippi Rivers. Incredible sunsets. World-class cuisine. All this and more!
