The plantation

Who doesn't know the film classics Torches in the Storm, Interview with a Vampire, Lullaby for a Corpse.

All of these films have one thing in common. Many scenes were filmed on the famous southern plantations.

Louisiana has tons of them and it's hard to choose plantations to visit.

We start our tour with Oak Alley Plantation. Here Tom Cruise bit Brad Pitt in Interview with a Vampire and condemned him to eternal life as a bloodsucker. This is the perfect end to Halloween.

Early in the morning, we pack up our polar equipment, because the damn cold front has New Orleans firmly in its grip today, and set off.

Oak Alley Plantation takes its name from the 800-foot-long avenue of oak trees that leads to the property. The trees are more than 200 years old and form a beautiful avenue.

In 1830, Valcour Aime, the richest man in the southern states at the time, purchased the property and established a sugar cane plantation. At that time, sugar was more expensive than gold and a plantation was a gold mine. The plantation was completed in 1839. This credit goes to the countless slaves who had to work here. In addition to sugar, pecan trees were also planted, which still guarantee a rich harvest of this delicious nut today.

We reach the plantation after only about an hour's drive. The oak avenue is impressive. If these trees could tell, what stories would they reveal?

We also decide to take a tour of the plantation house. I actually expected it to be more pompous. The furnishings are rather simple. From the balcony of the house you have a breathtaking view of the property with its mighty trees. Fantastic.

After a coffee and buying home-grown pecans, we continue to Houmas plantation.

This plantation was the location of the psychological thriller Lullaby for a Corpse and is just a 20-minute drive from Oak Alley Plantation.

The plantation was founded in the 18th century, the plantation house was not built until 1840.

The plantation house is surrounded by a beautiful garden. You feel like you are in a castle garden. Beautiful flowers are surrounded by water features. Everywhere you can find little oases to linger.

For me, the Houmas House doesn't have the typical plantation character, but it impresses with its beautiful green spaces. There is also a lovely guesthouse on site where you can stay overnight.

I think the guest house has an excellent baker, because as we walked through the garden there was a tempting smell of freshly baked cake.

A long day and a short stay in New Orleans comes to an end.

New Orleans is an incredible city. So not American at all and yet the scene of many historical events, American history. Place of ghost stories and voodoo magic. Party metropolis. Birthplace of so many styles of music and one of my absolute favorite places in the USA.

Tomorrow we continue to Costa Rica.

We say bye bye, Big Easy