New Orleans by Bike

I am downstairs in the lobby of this very happening hotel on a Saturday night, blogging while others are milling about in and out of the loungey bar and grill, playing right now is “The Seed” by ROOTS, so I’m feeling very at home (love that Philly band).

We were goofing around before we got into the rental car to explore, as yo can see in the above picture, but soon decided– the way to see New Orleans was to be immersed in it, so we ditched four wheels for two.   

It has been a real adventure so far and I feel like I have gotten to know the French Quarter pretty well.  Today however, we took it outside that district and headed on our bikes to the 9th Ward, the area completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and touched on by Gustav recently.  We spent a lot of time talking to people last night before we ventured in, and were constantly warned, “Do not go after dark, and keep your wits about you anytime you are there.”  We didn’t want to disrespect any of the people living there just trying to get their lives back together, by taking pictures like tourists, so we just took pictures in areas still abandoned.  Those were gripping enough.

Note the spray painted details– this house was condemned, but they marked that there were two dogs that went along with it, and that they were taken to the SPCA.  Hard to believe, this is 3 years later, isn’t it?

But there are also signs of hope, thanks in part, to Brad Pitt’s foundation.  We found several “Make it Right” homes popping up only yards from the levee that burst and flooded the homes that once stood all around the district.  Now, fields, weeds, debris and dirt is all that is left around these state of the art, new, green homes.  But sometimes a sign of progress is all that is needed to offer hope, and this is an area that desperately needs to catch a break and get some help. 

 So tonight– we are going out for a late dinner and then taking in some jazz, something we have done a lot of since arriving here.  There have been some really fun bands to watch and we have even seen some celebrity sightings– James Gandolfini of Soprano’s fame was at “The Apple Barrel” and when he left tipped the tip jar pretty heftily.  We think we also saw Mario Van Peebles at “Bubba Gump Shrimp” when we were having lunch.  I’m not much for souvenirs, but I admit I did buy Van a t-shirt from that oh-so-famous Forrest Gump 

Time to get off the computer, New Orleans rocks, love it….. come visit, say hi, and let me know what you are up to this weekend!  (I miss Philly, seriously)

Ciao for now,KL