When you travel, whether you’re on a one week jaunt or a six month long journey, some days stand out more than others in your memory. And the day we went out onto the bayou in New Orleans will be one of those. It was a warm, still September day with the sun shining down from a blue sky and the humidity shimmering on the brown waters.

Swaying bayou cypress trees and a floating lawn made of moss

We took off in our open boat to get a closer look at life on this side of the world. Far away from the noise of the city, strange swamp creatures buzz about around you, swim in the sluggish water, and scurry up trees. Our guide explained the life cycle of trees, about the flow of water and the changes taking place in the environment around us.

Spotted a swamp spider….

and a jittery raccoon

But all the interesting facts in the world couldn’t distract us from what we were there for! We looked for alligators eagerly, but all we saw were a few babies chilling on the shore.

This one’s working on his tan!

These two were having a face-off over who got to hog the log

But finally, the guide turned off the engines and we drifted into deeper waters, and the BIG BOYS came out to play.

Step 1: Stick a hot dog on a looonng stick and wave it at ’em

Step 2: Wait to see him getting interested!

Step 3: Lift the hot dog above the water and watch him debating whether he should jump!

Aaaaand….bullseye!!! A perfect jump!

Here’s the highlights of the tour: