Globe (Delta) Trekker

Last week my wife and I decided to take a day trip. We were throwing around ideas and finally decided upon Vicksburg. A place we both have driven through on I20 but never actually visited. Our day started at Connie’s Kitchen in Leland for a Cinnamon pecan roll, a Raspberry cream cheese roll and coffee. Breakfast was great, as it always is from Connie's. We made it to Vicksburg in an hour and half traveling down highway 61. We took old 61 into Vicksburg instead of I20 and it led us directly into downtown. It was great; it looked just like parts of downtown Memphis that have been revitalized. We walked around for a while in awe of the historic buildings and the cleanliness of the streets. We took a tour of the old courthouse and it was terrific, it is a self guided tour filled with the history of Vicksburg but mainly the civil war. The old judge’s chamber is dedicated to "President" Jefferson Davis. The courtroom is on the second floor and the windows overlook an amazing view of the Mississippi River. I can imagine the judge day dreaming while gazing out the window at the Mississippi River during some long winded court proceedings. After that we went two or three blocks to Walnut Hills restaurant. It was recommended to us by some friends, it was fabulous. We had the meat and three with dessert. Our total bill including tip was $20. The best part of the meal was not eating in a house that is over one hundred years old, nor was it the amazing service, or the one of a kind charm found in the atmosphere, no, it was the bourbon chocolate pudding. Yes that is correct, bourbon chocolate pudding. Next we traveled to the National Military Park. I did not know much about the park but I heard it was worth seeing because of all of the civil war stuff. The park is run by the national parks service and it is $8 per car to get in. The park has a small museum at the entrance with a theater that shows a short movie on the Battle of Vicksburg during the civil war. The park is shaped like an L covering sixteen miles. You drive following the battle lines of the Yankees and the Rebels. I am not a huge civil war buff but as a history teacher this put the idea of war into a fresh new reality. You were able to see the actual trenches and battle lines. In most cases they were as close as 15 yards. It was a terrific park. Plenty of places to get out of the car and walk around and get a real sense of how the war was fought. We spent almost four hours at the park. Before leaving Vicksburg we went back downtown to the Highway 61 coffee shop for an ice cold coffee concoction. Unknowingly the coffee shop had an art gallery on its 2nd and 3rd floors. It was such a nice treat. If I had some money to spend it would be all gone after stopping in there. They had some great Delta folk art paintings and scenes from farms and swamps. We then came home, rented a movie and ordered a buffalo chicken pizza from the gas station. What a wonderful day for $70.