Cafe Des Amis and Museum Cafe

Last Saturday the group got up early…well early for most people, like 5 a.m., but since Jim and I normally get up at 4-5 a.m. every morning it was normal for us.  (Yes, Jim and I haven’t broken that habit) The reason?  To get in the front of the line at Cafe Des Amis in Breaux Bridge to listen to Cajun music. We were in line by 6:45.

                
Doors opened at 7:30 a.m. and the music doesn’t start till 8:30 so you go in and order coffee and beignet, then you order breakfast and try to linger as long as possible so you can stay seated at the table and listen to the music.

Small omelets & grits	Eggs & shrimp etouffee & grits

The place filled up fast.

Starts like this

Ends up like this

Lots of dancing
    
The music was great…you know we love Zydeco music, the lady is selling a “washboard” tie.
           
We went home for a little rest and a nap, then off we went again at noon to the Museum Cafe in Erath for their alternate week jam session.  We went an hour early so we could get a table and we were right up front.  Many people came over to greet us and welcome us.  Folks are so friendly and inclusive in Louisiana!!! Everywhere we go people are always welcoming us…it’s very nice!

    
The Acadia Museum is next door, where we visited last week, thus the name.  When we arrived men were beginning to cook a meal for later.  They had injected marinate in 8 pork butts several days before, browned them in a large cast iron kettle and then cooked all afternoon. It was served at 6 p.m. with beans and rice and candied sweet potatoes.  We were told it was a tradition to feed the patrons after a jam session to sober them up and hopefully get home safely.  More bars should do that!!!

	They served sausage during the day.
Dinner cooking	Finished plate

We sat right up front of the stage and I really enjoyed the Cajun music here. I especially like the button accordion. Local amateur musicians work a set and then change. Some musicians play several instruments and change off depending what is needed. The songs are all sung in French.

	Mural of D.L. Menard
	This gentleman was 81 and has played since he was 15

This is Christie and has only been playing accordion for 18 months and she did a good job.  Her accordion was so pretty.

       
We were lucky to be attending on a special occasion when musician August Broussard was named a Living Legend by the Acadian Museum.  He was honored for his efforts to preserve traditional Cajun music culture for future generations. August plays the accordion, guitar, steel guitar, harmonica and fiddle. Oh, could he play that accordion…his fingers just flew over those buttons. He was a quiet man, but then he’d close his eyes he went somewhere else and that accordion whaled.

August teaches Cajun music to the younger generation and one of his students joined him on stage to play.  Kid was 10 years old and had been playing since he was 6!!! He sang in French and played very, very well.

	Proud teacher watching
Proud mama watching

There were several impromptu musicians and a lot of dancing
and music enjoyment.

Jim and I really enjoyed ourselves…the music, the food and the people. Everyone made all of us feel so welcomed.  Several people came to our table and asked where we were from and thanked us for coming. They even announced from the stage that we were from Betty’s RV Park and welcomed us publically.

We are really enjoying Louisiana SO MUCH. I’ve fallen in love with the Acadian culture, am collecting fleur de leis and we are even getting a vinyl graphic to put on the back of our rig that says, “ laissez les bons temps rouler”, French for “let the good times roll”‎.  Louisiana is becoming a favorite state.

Do you THINK we are having the time of our lives?????  You are so right!!!!!

Remember, you are loved.