Mobile, Alabama

We were told that it would be azalea time here and certainly everything is well ahead of the DC area - many trees are in leaf and the colours are very vibrant.  Some of the older, traditional Southern style houses have neatly trimmed azalea hedges around their front gardens, full of blooms.

The final stage of our journey here was completed easily this morning and we were pleased to find our case waiting for us at Mobile airport.  David was therefore able to change before heading to his first meeting at the University of South Alabama.

During quite a long taxi ride into the city we learned a little about the area from our very friendly driver and also how to pronounce its name (Mobile as in 'eel' not 'ill' and with the emphasis on the second syllable).  I think that this probably comes from the fact that the city, like New Orleans along the coast was originally colonised by the French - and later fought over by the French and Spanish.

Our hotel is the Battle House, an old building with modern additions, within the historical district of the city.

Mobile is a city of many faces, mid way between New Orleans and the Gulf Coast beaches.  It is a large and thriving sea water port, military and civil ships are still being built here and cruise ships visit.  There is also a fishing fleet and boats bringing in crab and oysters for which the area is famous.  The old air base here will next year become the site of the new assembly line for Airbus Americas and people here are very proud of that.

In addition to being an industrial city, there are a number of historical buildings here although sadly many are standing in isolation surrounded by parking lots or generally looking a little run down.

There is great contrast between the older buildings and newer additions to the city.

To add to the eclectic mix of architecture in the city there is an 'Egyptian revival' building of 1922, originally built as a meeting place for Freemasons.

It is now a little run down and is in use as a banqueting hall.  It was difficult to photograph today with the sun streaming down and so I found a better picture than mine on the web..

It is a massive building in contrast to its surroundings.

Mobile is famous for being the originator of the Mardi Gras carnival tradition and in many of the trees, celebratory beads and decorations from the carnival a few weeks ago are still in evidence, as well as the extraordinary ferns that grow on the shady side of the trunks of the huge, gnarled oak trees.

I had hoped to take a boat trip today to see Mobile from the water and to see some of the birds and animals in the Mobile-Tensaw delta but unfortunately we arrived too late and there isn't another before we leave, as luck would have it.  I have therefore had to resort to photographing a postcard of a view of the city from the water..

Tomorrow, weather permitting (it has been beautiful today) I am hoping to visit some gardens outside the city.