Sobek Pundit posts some pictures of New Orleans from better days. It’s a tribute to a city he loves—one he lived in up until 3 months ago—and offers a bit of a counter-balance to all the destruction we’re seeing now.
I never made it to New Orleans myself, though I always meant to (and almost did once, for a flag football tournament while in college; but I opted out, deciding to spend the money I’d raised for the trip on a some weed and a Nintendo game system). When the city’s rebuilt, though, I’ll make it a point to get there.
Meantime, I guess I’ll watch Angel Heart and the Mardi Gras scene from Easy Rider again as a sort of tribute, and as a reminder of what, in my mind, New Orleans was like before the rains came.
I was in N’Awlins for New Year’s 2003. I don’t remember much of it but I have the pictures to prove it.
I think one of the best ways for people to help will be by going back to the Big Easy as soon as possible. Drink hurricanes at Patty O’Brien’s, get lap dances at any of the many places along Bourbon Street (although you should definitely be sure the of the sex of your stripper before paying unless you like surprises), drink coffee and eat beignets at Cafe du Monde.
Tourism (and the resultant commerce) will have the city back on its feet in no time.
I lived in the French Quarter for about a year. It was a mixture of the charming and the bizarre – standing in the Square watching the river roll past, only to run into a Death Parade on the walk home.
I think they will rebuild, but it’ll be years before it’s back to what passes for normal.
Drumwaster,
What a perfect description of New Orleans….a mixture of the charming and the bizarre.
I went to Ole Miss and visited New Orleans many times, even at Mardi Gras. I’ve been a few times in recent years. Standing on a balcony overlooking the French Quarter I told my husband that if New Orleans could fix up a bit and do something about the homeless problem (cuz it was big) it could easily be the Paris of the United States. It was that beautiful.
But along with the charm is that bizarre you spoke of. It had gotten to the point of downright creepy and scary.
When the tragedy of this has died down a bit, I will tell the funniest story of when my husband tackled me at Pat O’ Briens in front of all his co-workers. (you will have to wait to hear why)
Meantime, I guess I’ll watch Angel Heart and the Mardi Gras scene from Easy Rider again as a sort of tribute, and as a reminder of what, in my mind, New Orleans was like before the rains came.
YOU MEAN BEFORE CHIMPY MCHITLERBURTON CAUSED HURRICANE KATRINA WITH HIS LACK OF ATTENTION TO THE DANGERS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND HIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AFTERMATH DUE TO HIS DEEP CUTS IN PREPAREDNESS FUNDING AND HIS IMMORAL OIL GRUBBING WAR IN IRAQ!!!
I went to Ole Miss too, and also made the trip to New Orleans once or twice. I’m told I had a good time.
My fraternity big brother lives in Metairie. Hope he’s doing okay. I guess I wouldn’t even know how to begin to get in touch with him at this point.
There’s also a Dennis Quaid movie called “The Big Easy”, Roger Moore in “Live and Let Die”, Susan Sarandon in “Pretty Baby”, and Paul Newman in “Blaze” to get glimpses of New Orleans in the movies. Oh, and Oliver Stone’s “JFK”, of course.
Sadly, it is going to take quite some time before New Orleans can handle the tourist load it will need to pull itself up by its bootstraps once again.