The last morning of my trip to New Orleans, I sat in the lobby of the Hotel Provincial in the French Quarter and I heard Margie mark in his life since our last conversation’ Is that earlier in the conversation, in October 2006, and recognizing the importance of visitors to New Orleans, which had triggered the decision not to cancel my plans for 2006′
Margie is the sales manager of the Hotel Provincial’ He married in New Orleans until 48 hours before hurricane Katrina struck’ Margie returned to New Orleans, three weeks later to find her home flooded, unopened wedding presents floating around his mother and l? House in another part of the city completely destroyed’
Six months later, Margie is doing well, but when we talk about personal losses, looks much better outside of the times and memories intact’ This is one of? Opportunity? some with a married man who is handy with a hammer’ Since the hurricane, has put her husband on 16 hours a day working at home and the homes of friends’ Nothing is finished, but most of the major repair work began’
Margie? S childhood home, where his mother had lived for over 50 years, however, is beyond saving’ Water shoot home from the foundation and contents have rotted in place’ Margie? Mother, who suffered a stroke before the hurricane, was not returned home, but at her request in the home’
? I have not had the heart to tell the truth? Margie said’ I think that would really kill her to know that everything I had, all your photos, all gone’ His health prevented him from returning to their home, and honestly, I feel like a blessing in disguise’
I saw with my own eyes the devastation Margie describes as a young man who had Katrina Tour’ This tour is operated locally concentrated in the areas of New Orleans was devastated by the hurricane and is the subject of controversy since it began operating in December 2005′ Some believe that it is not in the city? Interest to highlight the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, while others believe that the visit is a necessary reminder of the recovery progress in New Orleans are still struggling with’
To be honest, what I saw reminded me of a war zone’ While the large piles of rubble were cleared more often shattered boats remained close to the many abandoned houses and streets within the property, are rotting on their foundations’ Of course, these areas were five miles from downtown and French Quarter’
In the area of the French Quarter and the nearby convention center, there is little evidence that anything that is abnormal for the first time travelers to New Orleans? The four women who were with me have been’ For my part, I could see subtle changes, in my view, both good and bad for the city’
As the French area depends largely on tourists, some companies have gone bankrupt since Katrina, while other sites (like the Café du Mound) consolidated three sites into one’ But new life has begun to fill the void now’ New companies have stepped in stores evacuated the place and the new restaurants have emerged’ What will happen to the French Quarter will be a kind of metamorphosis, where the old and tired of being revived, “At a cost’ Eating less is more’ Empty stores are ripe for some of the canals of New Orleans because of the loss of some of its unique character’
I kept these thoughts to me as I have proved adventurous four women in a city that I have come to love its unique atmosphere of fun and good food’ Although not everything was run on pre-Katrina times, we were still able to enjoy the journey promised Monday’ Two of the highlights of a trip in the passage through the French Quarter and a trip across the Mississippi River to Mardi Gras World’ We had dinner at some of my favorite restaurants? Restaurants that have been difficult to obtain pre-Katrina’
Will I be back in New Orleans in the future? Absolutely’ Despite the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, with its long history, ethics, multiculturalism, music and food is separated from New Orleans at the height of its bill as one of? America? S The most interesting cities’
Tags: African Poverty, End Poverty, Third World Hunger, Wealth and Poverty, World Poverty