Shreveport, Louisiana

Guess I left this in the 'draft' mode, also, since my photos were not downloading rapidly enough.  Regardless, here is where I left off.

Getting to the mall was interesting. We stopped at a red light to make a left turn. While waiting for the light to change, I counted six--6--churches!! There was one on each of three corners, and the other three were next-door establishments to the corner churches. Four of the six were Baptist denomination! I don't think I have EVER seen so many churches, (mostly Baptist) in one metro area before. It wasn't just that corner, but driving down one street, I counted ten or eleven churches in a mile distance. Again, most were Baptist, but we are in the heart area of the Bible belt.

It made me remember how years ago, Eugene was listed as having the "most pizza parlors per capita" in the country. I think the same could be said for Shreveport in regard to the most churches "per capita"! One thing that made it seem astounding, was that when you get near southern Louisiana, the long-standing saying is "Whose yo' daddy, are you Catholic, can you make a roux?" I guess I though that catholicism would be the most prevalent.

Saturday in Shreveport is not a hurried affair.  I was surprised at the 'light' traffic conditions, even on the Interstate Highway.  We went downtown and took in a local Farmer's Market.  It is held under some of the bridgework for the many elevated roadways, creating a "somewhat" cooler atmosphere than one would find on the sidewalks.  Lots of local produce to choose from -- don't you just love this time of the year?

Remember that phrase "Elvis has left the building"?  Well, it originated here in Shreveport!  Elvis Presley was contracted by the "Louisiana Hayride" radio show (which Ken remembers with fondness), and played 50 shows for $18.00 per show.  Before he started out on the "star circuit", he got the girls excited at the Hayride show, and the stage manager finally had to make the announcement that "Elvis has left the building" in order to get them all to disperse.

Above, Ken is shown below the unique street sign for "Elvis Presley Avenue", and to the right is the sight of the original opera and concert house, where Elvis performed.  It is still a performance hall, and while we were there, it was being set up for a wrestling competition (of the 'performance' type of wrestling!)