The+Southern+Coastlands+2015



Although there is amazing food throughout the southern coastlands, none stick out in the mind quite like that of the delicious cuisines of Louisiana. Many have heard of the Creole and Cajun dishes that are created in the Louisiana area. Generally the two types are grouped together yet they have very distinct differences. Creole is a blend of many cultures such as Portuguese, Native American, African and Italians, however the main influences are French and Spanish. On the other hand Cajun flavor came mainly from the French speaking people of Nova Scotia. Creole cuisine is created with finer ingredients than the Cajun style, such as shrimp and oyster. The Cajun style is often described as more "rustic" than its counterpart, consisting of things such as: rabbit, squirrel and alligator. Although these two are quite different in ingredients, they still make the same types of dishes. Two of the main cuisines that Louisiana is known for are its incredible Gumbos--a dark gravy with spices and vegetables-- and amazing Jambalaya--a rice dish with meats and intense spices. Yum!
 * 1. Southern Coastlands Foods**

THE SOUTH MARDI GRAS DAY
 * __ Holiday __**

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras happens once a year, the day before Ash Wednesday. It became a legal Holiday in Louisiana in 1875. This used to be a Christian holiday that originated in ancient Rome. Some traditions are bead throwing, mask wearing and coconut painting. Mardi Gras is French for “ Fat Tuesday”, because it’s the last day to eat richer, fatty food before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. Why do people flash, or women bare their breast at these festivals? The truth is this was never a tradition people take advantage of people that want beads and make them do ridiculous things. In the Bourbon Street area of the French Quarter people do have less clothes during this celebration.

In Georgia they celebrate Swetitskhovloba. On October 14, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates the first Christian Church in Georgia. The name means “Life Giving Pillar”.

Orthodox Christmas Orthodox Christmas is another holiday that Georgians celebrate if they are Orthodox Christian. This day is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This holiday is on January 7th, this religion is an Eastern Europe religion that was brought to Georgia. Not many Georgians celebrate this holiday but there are still a good amount that should be recognized.

__** Beautiful places to visit **__
 * Florida **** ke **** ys **

The Florida Keys are a 120 mile long chain of tropical islands curving around the base of the Florida peninsula, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. The most spectacular bridge, the Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys, has been frequently used as a location for films including True Lies and Fast 2 Furious. US Highway 1, the “Overseas Highway” runs from Key Largo, Isla madora, Marathon, Lower Keys and finally to Key West, the most distant and most famous of the Florida Keys. In addition to the beaches, diving and snorkeling, the Florida Keys offer botanical gardens, a variety of museums, family attractions like the Theater of the Sea, and several outstanding state and national parks where tourists can enjoy a wide variety of outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing. 
 * Miami **

One of the most vibrant cities in the USA, Miami is best known for its Latin culture and sizzling nightlife. Located in southeastern Florida off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Miami is also a major port city managing the world’s largest number of passenger cruise ships. Attracting tourists from all over the planet, Miami is a melting pot of ethnic cultures with a wide array of exciting attractions and activities. One of Miami’s main draws is its sunny beaches that range from family friendly to party scenes. Across the bay from Miami on a barrier island is Miami Beach, known for its Art Deco architecture and glamorous South Beach.


 * Orlando **

Orlando is theme-park city, having more theme parks than any place else in the world. . There’s Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Gator Park, to name a few, all of which bring 51 million visitors a year to this central Florida city of 2 million people. This Sunbelt city doesn’t get hit by hurricanes as much as other parts of the state, which makes it a popular place to visit in Florida. One of American’s most visited cities, Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, which has the second largest college enrollment in the United States.

 One of Florida’s best natural treasures, the Everglades feature a unique combination of ecosystems that include swamps, sub-tropical jungles, saw-grass prairies and the largest mangrove complex in the Western Hemisphere. Much of the Everglades are protected within the Everglades National Park and provide shelter to a wide variety of birds, fish and reptiles, including endangered species like the American crocodile and the Florida panther. From the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, visitors can arrange boat tours to the Ten Thousand Islands, a labyrinth of mangrove islands. Other visitor centers offer ranger-led tours and programs. An air boat tour is one of the most exciting ways to experience the Everglades.
 * The Everglades **

=__**NEWS**__=



=== The morning of August 29, 2005 is a time many will never forget. “Hurricane Katrina came roaring towards the Mississippi Gulf Coast bringing devastating 120 mph winds, a nearly 30-foot storm surge and 55-foot sea waves. The eye of the storm passed over the state's shoreline communities. While the devastation in New Orleans dominated media attention, these smaller communities faced near total destruction.”(cbsnews) ===







What About Us
=== Though relief efforts were slow to come, between those stationed right there in the wake of destruction and several coming from out of state and even out of country, help did arrive strong in the form of our armed forces. ===





=== The illusive X marking painted it’s way through the wake of Katrina.This was a widely used sign to let others know the building had been searched, when it was searched and by whom, any potential hazards, and how many were found alive and dead. ===





It has now been 10 years since Katrina took over the Gulf Coast.Some problems remain, leaving only concrete slabs and empty lots, while other areas purposefully remain unchanged.




Yet the resiliency of the residents of Mississippi, along with the wonderful southern hospitality and community has brought a lot of change and repair.






=**Florida's Population and Immigration**=

===Florida, one of the quickest growing states, is now the third most populated state in the country. They passed New York in the 2014 Census and are now only behind California and Texas. In the 1940’s there were only about 2 million Foridians. By 1990 there were nearly 13 million residents. In 2014 that number reached 19.9 million.===



===There are several contributing factors to this incredible growth in Florida. The two biggest contributors are domestic and international immigration. Domestic immigration is largely due to the fact that more and more baby boomers are reaching retirement age and are choosing a warmer moister climate to live out their days.===



===Much of the vibe of South Florida can be contributed to international immigration. As one might suspect, majority of international immigration in Florida comes from the Caribbean Islands. The largest contributors are Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica.===



===Caribbean immigration picked up significantly around the time that the United States entered World War II in 1941. The primary purpose was to relieve the labor shortage that the US was having. They came as migrant workers and worked the farms. The conditions for many weren’t great so they got out of these contracts when they could, however most still remained in the US but changed their status to immigrant.===



Immigration from the Caribbean Islands continues today.




With immigration comes culture and the islanders have definitely made an impact on the culture in Florida.
CUBA:

SOUTH BEACH, FLA:

KEY WEST, FLA:







=__**Tid Bits of History**__= The very first Daytona 500 race was in 1959. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap, 500 mile race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race is a restrictor plate race, meaning that a device is installed in the intake of the automobile's engine, restricting top performance to ensure fair competition and safety. Many regard the Daytona 500 as the most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar, as it carries the largest purse. Championship points, however, are awarded equal to that of any other Sprint Cup Race. The race is known as the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing" and the "Great American Race." The first winner of the 1959 race was Lee Petty, racing patriarch and legend.