I have loved his books for decades but I find it hard to not "know" his bait shop anymore: No more Batist; no more home right on the bayou, perched on the hillside above the shop; no more unfurling the tarps for shade at the shop; no more lighting the barrels for lunch-crowd cooking. I just miss all of that so much that, I would have to confess, I don't enjoy the stories as much. For me that slice of his life was comforting, so much so that, I tried to make my own tarp to unfurl at my own home.
P.S. Having said that, every time I go past New Iberia on Amtrak, I contemplate getting off there and enjoying your special place! And I will, one of these years!!
@@algebarb You should stop for a visit! A few of our locals have recreated the bait shop entrance for photo ops in the Historic District and visiting the locations from the books really helps bring to life the stories even more.
Mmmm, I can almost smell the air, feel the moss in my hands, and taste the gumbo. My father worked for United Gas Pipe Line, New Orleans Division, and travelled to New Iberia, Houma, Morgan City and others many, many times during the years we lived in Metairie. I went with him on a trip, but it's been a long time and I need to go back.
You should come back and see us! The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival will be happening in the Historic District this year and there will be a free Robicheaux/Burke walking tour. Hope you can visit us soon!
Long before I stumbled on JLB, I met a couple of good ole boys from New Iberia in Vietnam. These boys put McIlhehhy Tabasco on everything they ate, starting with eggs in the morning. Later in life, I kept telling my wife this story and said we had to go and visit; so we started in Lafayette and worked our way to NOLA, and everything is between. Then I found JLB, and I could relate to all his story lines; a wonderful story teller, but hold the ham and onion sandwich’s…
And I am not even sure now that I was so much influenced by Burke's books as I was by a trip down rt. 9 from Lafayette to New Orleans 50 years ago. I stayed in New Orleans for 15 years about 5 of those year driving from NO to Grand Isle weekly to work in the offshore oil patch. Raceland, Larose, Galiano etc. formed more of a lasting memory than did my one passage through Iberia Parish. In seeing your website ten months ago I realized how pretty New Iberia is and I thought I really missed something, while living in Louisiana, by not visiting the town for a time. However I am 76 years old now and seriously doubt that I will ever visit Louisiana again. Our sensitivities and appreciations change as we age. Interesting thing, though, about Burke's writings is his additional focus on Montana, especially the Missoula area. I lived in that area several years in the early 2000s so Burke seems to me to have kindred spirit with me.
@@lonniestarr1892 The incredible thing about Burke's writing is the way he can make us envision the worlds of his characters so vividly it's like we are actually there, so in a way, your love for his books means you've visited our area many times with our favorite guide, Dave Robicheaux. We hope that one day you may find your way back to our town to visit, because you're never too old to go on another adventure.
@@IberiaTravel or for another bowl of seafood gumbo, or crayfish etouffe, or a fried oyster po-boy...yep, lots of good reasons to visit south Louisiana again.
I first red the random Prisoners of Heaven and the decent film. I thought oh boy I found a great pile of Robicheaux novels. After reading Glass Rainbow and Cadillac I found the great Liberal Mind and White Man's Burden...I was so disappointed in all that woke extra garbage that he dropped fast on my list as a writer. He's either a sell-out or simply a pretender. What a waste of good writer.
I was a student of Jim’s at Wichita State University. He was a good friend and a good teacher.
Thank you so much. I haven't been to southern Louisiana since 2003. It's nice to remember what that area is like. I love James Lee Burke's books.
You should come back and visit! There's tons of new things to see and explore. :D
I have loved his books for decades but I find it hard to not "know" his bait shop anymore: No more Batist; no more home right on the bayou, perched on the hillside above the shop; no more unfurling the tarps for shade at the shop; no more lighting the barrels for lunch-crowd cooking. I just miss all of that so much that, I would have to confess, I don't enjoy the stories as much. For me that slice of his life was comforting, so much so that, I tried to make my own tarp to unfurl at my own home.
P.S. Having said that, every time I go past New Iberia on Amtrak, I contemplate getting off there and enjoying your special place! And I will, one of these years!!
@@algebarb You should stop for a visit! A few of our locals have recreated the bait shop entrance for photo ops in the Historic District and visiting the locations from the books really helps bring to life the stories even more.
Mmmm, I can almost smell the air, feel the moss in my hands, and taste the gumbo. My father worked for United Gas Pipe Line, New Orleans Division, and travelled to New Iberia, Houma, Morgan City and others many, many times during the years we lived in Metairie. I went with him on a trip, but it's been a long time and I need to go back.
You should come back and see us! The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival will be happening in the Historic District this year and there will be a free Robicheaux/Burke walking tour. Hope you can visit us soon!
Merci pour le voyage.
Pas de quoi!
Long before I stumbled on JLB, I met a couple of good ole boys from New Iberia in Vietnam. These boys put McIlhehhy Tabasco on everything they ate, starting with eggs in the morning. Later in life, I kept telling my wife this story and said we had to go and visit; so we started in Lafayette and worked our way to NOLA, and everything is between. Then I found JLB, and I could relate to all his story lines; a wonderful story teller, but hold the ham and onion sandwich’s…
Glad you find your way to Iberia Parish, Frank! Did you get to visit the Tabasco Factory and the James Lee Burke's Iberia tour?
@@IberiaTravel Got to the Tabasco Tour ( in fact , just took off my souvenir apron ;) didn’t know about the JLB tour, something for next visit…
It does look different than I imagined from reading Burke's books, mais ya chere.
How different?
And I am not even sure now that I was so much influenced by Burke's books as I was by a trip down rt. 9 from Lafayette to New Orleans 50 years ago. I stayed in New Orleans for 15 years about 5 of those year driving from NO to Grand Isle weekly to work in the offshore oil patch. Raceland, Larose, Galiano etc. formed more of a lasting memory than did my one passage through Iberia Parish. In seeing your website ten months ago I realized how pretty New Iberia is and I thought I really missed something, while living in Louisiana, by not visiting the town for a time. However I am 76 years old now and seriously doubt that I will ever visit Louisiana again. Our sensitivities and appreciations change as we age. Interesting thing, though, about Burke's writings is his additional focus on Montana, especially the Missoula area. I lived in that area several years in the early 2000s so Burke seems to me to have kindred spirit with me.
@@lonniestarr1892 The incredible thing about Burke's writing is the way he can make us envision the worlds of his characters so vividly it's like we are actually there, so in a way, your love for his books means you've visited our area many times with our favorite guide, Dave Robicheaux. We hope that one day you may find your way back to our town to visit, because you're never too old to go on another adventure.
@@IberiaTravel or for another bowl of seafood gumbo, or crayfish etouffe, or a fried oyster po-boy...yep, lots of good reasons to visit south Louisiana again.
@@lonniestarr1892 oui, definitely! We are so grateful for our delicious food!
I first red the random Prisoners of Heaven and the decent film. I thought oh boy I found a great pile of Robicheaux novels. After reading Glass Rainbow and Cadillac I found the great Liberal Mind and White Man's Burden...I was so disappointed in all that woke extra garbage that he dropped fast on my list as a writer. He's either a sell-out or simply a pretender. What a waste of good writer.