New Orleans is a city of sights, sounds, and smells. As I prepare this blog entry, a band is practicing nearby for one of the many upcoming parades. Mardi Gras runs for about three weeks with parties, balls, parades and endless drinking and eating! John and I have been in the French Quarter for just two days and we are already exhausted! I have added photos of just a few of the many sights of the French Quarter. The sounds of New Orleans range from the ships and barges on the Mississippi River to the constant clinking of ice in glasses to the bands on every street corner. Street musicians are as numerous in New Orleans as Starbucks are in Seattle. Aroma of the French Quarter is heavy on the puckey from the mule drawn carriages, with scents of cigar smoke and spilled beer.We toured the areas of the city most heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Turns out that the city of New Orleans is in a basin (below sea level) between the mighty Mississippi River and very big Lake Pontchatrain. So when it rains here, the rain water has to be pumped UP and out of the city to the lake. After Hurricane Katrina, there was 13 feet of standing water in New Orleans that was not totally pumped out for 2 months. Downtown New Orleans was closed for a year. Imagine that!!
Hey Sara and John! No, I cannot imagine 13 feet of water covering any city but I did hear at the time of Katrina about the city being below sea level. So it sounds like it's been cleaned up and your pics show it looking good! I've never been but I've heard it's a PARTY city especially at Mardi Gras and I know about those blasted beads getting thrown at ya! My friend who went to Mardi Gras brought me back a bunch. Now, if they were real pearls or gems or something, now that would make it worth it!!!
ReplyDeleteLove you guys! xoxoxo Booga