Riding on the City of New Orleans

So, last month's trip to New Orleans. Had been a couple of times in prior times; wanted to see the city after Katrina and reassure myself that it still had it's vibe...and it does. The Quarter looks to be almost completely repaired at this point - but it didn't take the heaviest amount of damage. The Wards and other parts of the city (yes, the poor parts) clearly took a hit. You can see entire sections of town that were decimated (if you want a picture of what the "poor" section used to be like, rent "The Big Easy". It shows you what NO was like in the eighties and nineties).

Le H'otel. Top balcony was our room!

What? Hark, what yon cathedral could that be? Do you know how hard it is to get ANY picture, even this shitty one, without disgusting people in it?

Obviously, getting a bit of a band aid here, but easily my favorite part of the city. The junk market!

I sat at this fountain for a while, until Mr. Manners indulged my request to take pictures of the pretty rings and stars. Yes, I did have CoCo Puffs for breakfast.

I can't think of anything that says it more...well, maybe another shot or two.

Pardon me, but has anyone seem my cocktank? Right! To the left, you say? Cheerio!

Drunken revelry! With Flash!

Still drunken revelry, no flash. Methinks there was some boob flashing going on to the right, judging by the turning o the heads.

More crowd scenes. I love the look of things at night, but maybe one day when I get a better camera I can have better pictures.

Just some random building.

Dat dere rivah shore is big! On the banks of the levee. The message of many a t shirt "I drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was GONE" or "FEMA Evacuation Plan: Run Mutherfucker Run!".

Our courtyard view. Note the lack of rain. This indicates this photo was taken on a Sunday, as it rained all freaking fucking day on Saturday. Even the ducks were wearing golashes.


A little nacht musik allowed me to relax and focus on my love of all traditional jazz.

I'm sure there are much better pictures of the fountain at Pat O'Brien's at night. However, I couldn't take one. The thing that was the most annoying - you'd be clearly snapping pictures and these wankers would walk RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU and ignore your presence. Doubly irritating in that there was ANOTHER PATH to TAKE.

We really did have a great time, and I think the city has recovered nicely.

The worst: as you are leaving the city and driving "up" Canal to get back to the highway, you turn right at this overpass to access the highway. Underneath, there were a few hundred tents, and cook fires, and people. Masses and masses of people living in tents under the highway.

You don' t think that kind of poverty as really existing here. It's terrible to see. Worse still it's like our charitable inclination we had to help those people when the disaster first occurred has been replaced by irritation, by a sense that those people should be taking care of things themselves rather than waiting for someone to help them. You know, I wonder how many of these people truly can't take care of themselves in a manner we deem normal? How many could truly meld into our society, learn a job, and some skills, and make a living? I'm guessing not that many, to be honest.

Well, that's a post for another day.