N'awlins on Day 3

Like I said, we decided to shoot over to N.O. because Andy is leaving early on Friday. What we saw was incredible.

As we came in on I-10, the devastation is still visible. It's nothing like they show on TV - 1 house in 10 is livable. Most of the taller hotel, apartment, and condo buildings are still gutted. I would guess maybe 3 in 10 businesses in some areas are even open or would even be operational. Most of the downtown areas are still intact, with exception to the taller buildings, but most look in sever disrepair and I had to wonder if they would ever be used again.

We drove over to the 9th Ward to see the new levees and just to see what it looks like now. We've all seen the pictures of when Katrina hit, but very few pictures are shown of what it looks like now. Imagine "Planet of the Apes" with more grass. 2 years later and few houses stand at all in the 9th Ward. It was very nearly completely and totally wiped out. It was post-apocalyptic. It was horrible, terrifying, and utterly awe-inspiring. I saw one sign painted by a local, "Shame on you tourist, for driving through here to see our pain and suffering. Over 1600 dead, all houses gone. Donate something to keep us alive." Need I say more? Clearly the job isn't done, and many locals say it isn't being done either.

After leaving the 9th Ward, we decided to get some dinner. We drove back over to Bourbon Street and walked. It wasn't nearly as wide as I expected, almost an alleyway with sin at every doorstep. I would guess the width at no wider than Shippen St. in Lancaster which makes me wonder how they get all those people there during Mardi Gras. There were many strip clubs, bars, gift shops, etc... Some of the girls were a little surprised at how blatant it is.

We went to a little, multi-floor restaurant called "Oceana". The food was INCREDIBLE. Or waiter was hilarious. Someone would say, "What's 'etoufee', and is it good?" He'd answer, "It's kind of like brown gravy over rice, but you don't want that - it's not really all that good." His theory was along the lines of why eat something that sits in a steamline all day when you could have the cooks do up something fresh? Some got steak, some got ribs, Jade and I got this creole fettuccine alfredo with crawish tails, shrimp, and lump crab meat. All I can say is wow - you'll never see this much seafood in one plate back home - there must have been 20+ good sized shrimp in both of our meals.

The drive back on US90 was quiet. Not only were people tired, but I think we were all still thinking about what we saw there. God knows I was.

Love y'all! We'll see you in a few days.