New Orleans 5 Years After Katrina

In my last blog, I made reference to the 5th Anniversary of Katrina in New Orleans.  And as I was finishing it off, I realized that the topic deserved far more attention.

So, 5 years later.  The topic has been getting a lot of attention on TV this week, and I am sure will continue through the weekend and next short while.  I just hope and pray that it continues to get attention in the way that will energize people and politicians to get this city restored. 

Since Katrina, there is a new President and a new Mayor for the City of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu.  From what I have read about him, he seems to be a no-nonsense, get things done kind of Mayor.  Let's hope that he doesn't get the inflated sense of celebrity that Ray Nagin seemed to embrace during and after Katrina, and in my eyes, at the expense of getting things done for the people of New Orleans.

And as I make the term "celebrity" sound like a bad thing in my sentence above, it is in fact celebrities that have had such positive influence and personal involvement in the rebuilding of this city.  As mentioned in my last post, the Make It Right Nola Foundation for the rebuilding of the Lower 9th Ward was the brainchild of Brad Pitt. 

The first four pictures below are pictures that I took in the Lower 9th Ward in April of 2007.  This was after much of the rubble had been cleared away. You can see the destruction to the houses that managed to remain standing.  The drooping ceiling fan is an indication of just how high the water reached and that it must have maintained that level for quite some time.  You can see the concrete slab in one picture where a house used to be, and the fields you see used to be filled with homes as close together as those shown below. 

The picture below is some of the Lower 9th ward in July of 2009.  There are still many empty lots, but you can see the activity of Make It Right Houses being constructed. 

And the building of Musician's village was co founded by Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis.  Below is a picture of Musician's village I took in February of 2008.  This was also in the 9th Ward. 

And Harry Connick Jr. has been instrumental in the building of a new educational and community building, the Ellis Marsalis Centre for Music which was announced yesterday should be ready for next year.  Below is a picture from the New Orleans Times Picayune of Harry at the announcement ceremony yesterday.

Sandra Bullock has made very substantial personal donations to the rebuilding of the Warren Easton Charter School in New Orleans to include an on site health clinic.

Louisiana State Senator Ed Murray presents newly inducted Hall of Fame member Sandra Bullock with a proclamation thanking her for her support of Warren Easton Charter High School, the state’s oldest public high school. (Photo by Stanwycks Photography)

I was lucky enough to have visited New Orleans for the first time in December of 2004 and developed an instant love affair with the city. Little did I know that less than 12 months later Katrina would arrive and cause so much devastation. I remember being glued to the TV as Katrina approached New Orleans and breathing huge sighs of relief to see that it did not initially cause so much damage.

And then there was the disbelief and horror as I watched what happened when the levees broke. We had been at the Superdome to watch a Bowl game in 2004 and it was incredible to see the damage to the roof that Katrina caused, and so difficult to image those thousands upon thousands of people taking refuge there. It was surreal to see the flooding on Canal Street where we had shopped less than 12 months earlier.

The first image below was actually taken in 2008 and is a good depiction of what Canal Street looked like when I first saw it in 2004, although I did not take any pictures of it that visit.

The next picture is taken from the news pages looking in the same direction down Canal Street. 

And the Convention Centre - I cannot describe just what a large facility this is. When you drive along Convention Centre Drive, the complex seems to just go on and on and on. I tried measuring it on a map, and I believe that is is close to being 3/4 of a mile long - just one huge building, but yet so inadequately prepared for the number of people that took refuge there from the flooding.  I felt so helpless watching on TV and I couldn't drag myself away from the coverage. 

I didn't return to New Orleans until April of 2007, over a full year after Katrina, and it was so disheartening to see how little had been done. You can see for yourself in the pictures earlier in this post. I absolutely cannot imagine how the residents of the city must have felt, and in many cases, still feel.

Although it is hard to believe that fully 80% of the City was flooded, but if you visit there, it is easier to comprehend the extent of the devastation.   As recently as November 2009 when I was last there, there were so many areas of the city other than the Lower 9th where the effects of the flooding were so readily visible - boarded up stores and entire plazas, houses with the blue tarps on the roof, homes without tarps that look as if they can't decide whether to keep standing or just collapse, water level marks on the outside of others along with the Katrina "X"s, many white FEMA trailers and vacant lots overgrown with vegetation and perhaps a few boards or concrete blocks still visible enough to remind you that someones house was once there. 

 

On the first picture below, taken in July of 2009 in the Lakeview area, you can see the green Katrina "X" painted on the house at the top right of the door frame.  This X would have been painted by people sitting in a boat. 

On this house, also in the Lakeview area, which is raised a couple of feet above ground, you can still clearly see the water line 2/3 of the way up the door and the damage to the brickwork still there in 2009.

I took the picture below in an area of New Orleans called Bywater.  Although it is difficult to tell, the black is actually sculpted iron that replicates the original Katrina X that was painted on the wall of this shotgun house.  It is attached in a manner that makes it stand out from the wall an inch or two making it a permanent reminder of Katrina. 

So as this 5th Anniversary approaches, I will continue to hope and pray for continued recovery from Katrina and the oil spill for the people of the City of New Orleans.  And, I will personally continue to support their tourism industry by visiting whenever possible! 

New Orleans Homes

As I pack to move, along with wondering why I need so much stuff, my mind has also been very much thinking about organizing.  Thank goodness we are moving to a larger house!   But as I say that, I do have to admit that I do like small places - the type that are referred to as "cozy" in the Real Estate listings.  And I think that is one of the reasons that I find the architecture in New Orleans so charming.  Of course, I am not talking about the mansions of the Garden District which are absolutely stunning, but those beautiful Shotgun houses and Creole Cottages that you find scattered throughout the city, including the French Quarter.

We stayed in a condo in the French Quarter in 2008.  It was located on North Bourbon Street, in behind a double shotgun house.  It was a converted slaves quarters and it was absolutely delightful!  It was small, but so well thought out organizationally, and beautifully decorated and restored.   I enjoyed the feeling of actually living in the Quarter rather than just being a visitor.  It was removed from the busiest part of Bourbon street and surprisingly quiet. 

This is the living area. The French doors on the left lead to the swimming pool and you can see part of the dining set at the left.

This is the kitchen and dining area. I loved the beamed ceiling and the original brick walls. The floors were slate.

This is the back of the Condo.  The doors in the picture are those shown in the living area picture.  The brickwork around the pool was beautiful and the tiles were also a lovely effect.  The gate on the left leads to the front courtyard and then past the shotgun house that fronts onto Bourbon Street.

I was so amused by this arrangement for the washer and dryer.  This is in the courtyard between the shotgun house and the condo. 

Our stay there prompted me to spend  many an hour thinking about getting settled in a home in New Orleans. I thought about all the places where I would need to build shelves to hold all of my yarn and books, and how to set up a compact little office area, and.that I would still need to have a courtyard so I could continue to do some gardening.....well, you get the idea!  

Along with watching the ships on the Mississippi, one of my favorite pasttimes in New Orleans is just walking around looking at the architecture - the different styles and colours, the ironwork, the lovely courtyards and gates. 

This single shotgun house is on Esplanade.  Long and narrow...and cute.  But I imagine, it would be challenging for furniture arranging!

This is a double Creole Cottage - similar to what we call semi-detached.  And isn't the purple of the townhome next to it beautiful?

Here is a Double Barrel Shotgun House - again - like our Semi-detached.

I have been told that they are called shotgun houses because you could open up the front door and shoot a gun and the bullet would go straight through to the back door without hitting anything.  And, the reason for the long and narrow design is that taxes used to be charged by the frontage you had.  Typically you will also find these homes without closets because you were also taxed on the number of rooms, and a closet with a door was considered a room by the tax collectors.

Here are three different styles side by side.

This creole cottage looks like it needs some serious work.  But if you look closely, you will see new lights at the eves, and there is new intercom with camera at the gate.  Can you say "Shabby Chic"? I would love to see behind those shutters!  I suspect the interior is spectacular!

This is an alleyway between two buildings leading to a courtyard. 

This entrance captured by attention with its white columns and grey ironwork gate and matching shutters.

The iron supports for the galleries were what caught my eye here.

I liked the colours and the gingerbread style supports on this home.

This was a view from our balcony one year.  Wouldn't it be lovely to have a gallery adorned with hanging plants and flower boxes like those in this picture?  A gallery is like a balcony, but supported from below. 

Here is just one example of a Garden District home.  I am usually on the Streetcar when I am taking pictures of these homes, so although there are many homes far more beautiful than this one, many of my pictures are blurry!

This is a home that fronts onto Audubon Park.  Some of the most beautiful homes in New Orleans are in this area.

And last but far from least, is a pictue of some of the Make It Right Nola homes that are being built in the Lower 9th Ward. 

 The Make It Right campaign is spearheaded by Brad Pitt and is still accepting donations.  Can you believe that the 5th Anniversary of Katrina is this coming weekend and there are still people who have not been able to return to their homes?

http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

If you can, take the time to look at the Make It Right Nola site - link above.  I am sure you will find it interesting.

Although I dread packing, I shall not complain because I am thinking of those people who were displaced almost 5 years ago and be thankful that I still have belongings to pack and a roof over my head.

Happy Birthday Louis!

It's Satchmo's Birthday today!  Happy Birthday Louis - wish you were still with us!

As the song goes, "I know what it means to miss New Orleans".  But, I am happy to report that I will be visiting my favorite city again at the end of October.  And, for those of you who don't know - when you fly into New Orleans, you land at Louis Armstrong International Airport.  You can almost feel the welcome of his smiling face and outstretched arms.  Whoever gave his name to the airport got it right!

So, I'm planning my trip (I can barely wait!) and one of the most difficult parts of the trip is trying to fit in all those places you want to go, and also to have time for one of my favorite pastimes while there; sitting by the Mississippi just watching the ships go by. 

I grew up not far from the Welland Canal, so ships have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  I have never been on a big ship, but my Dad used to take my brother and I down to the canal on summer Sunday mornings to watch a ship go through the one of the locks.  If you have never seen that, it is really quite interesting. 

The bridge up at Lock 1.

Sometimes my Mom used to come too but I think a lot of the times just the three of us went so that she could have a (well deserved) break from us! 

At Lock 1 of the Canal there used to be large piles of sand - probably 40 feet or more high - that was destined for the Foundry at General Motors which was further along the canal.  But in the meantime, they provided lots of fun for local families with small children.  We used to tear up those piles and then slide down over and over again, and then try to shake the sand off before getting into Dad's car.

 

Sometimes after the canal we would go downtown to Diana Sweets to share a milkshake.  I do miss that place.  It was an old style restaurant with a lunch counter where we would sit and they would make a milkshake in one of those old green milkshake machines that are now again available, but called "retro".  I know you can picture the ones I mean.  At the back of the building, past the saloon style doors, were the wooden booths with thousands of names and initials carved in them.  The floors were the black and white small tiles, and there was stained glass, and all the waitresses wore blue uniform dresses with white trim.  When I worked downtown as an adult I used to go there quite often for lunch.  The food was good old home style cooking and they had the best gravy ever!   It has been gone for quite a few years since it has closed, but I will never forget it.

The front of the shop, with homemade chocolates and the counter where we had milkshakes (just out of the picture)

The wooden booths!

But how on earth did I get from boats on the Mississippi to milkshakes at Diana Sweets?  As the saying on my Priscilla Mae tote says "My mind not only wanders - sometimes it leaves completely!"  I love that!

So, back to ships.

Many of the ships that travel the Mississippi are much larger than those that will fit into the locks of the Welland Canal.  I am in absolute awe of the size of some of them, especially the Oil tankers. 

 Back in December of 1996, a freighter coming down the Mississippi lost power to it's steering and the powerful current took the ship right into the pilings of the Riverwalk - a large Shopping, hotel and condominium development on the shore of the River. 

From WikiPedia: "On the afternoon of Saturday, December 14, 1996, the M/V Bright Field freightliner/bulk cargo vessel slammed into the Riverwalk. No one was killed in the accident, although approximately 66 were injured. Fifteen shops and 456 hotel rooms were demolished. Physical damage to the Bright Field was calculated at $1,857,952 (US). Damage to the Riverwalk, including the pier, condominium properties, shops, and hotel totaled an estimated $15 million (US). The freightliner was unable to be removed from the crash site until January 6, 1997, by which time the site had become something of a "must-see" tourist attraction.  The spot where the Bright Field collided with the Riverwalk is marked on site with a plaque."

The current of the river at this point is so strong, that ships are pushed far to the left before they can turn the "corner" to continue downstream.  This is right at a bend in the river that gave New Orleans the nickname of "Crescent City".   I am fascinated by the tugboats navigating the barges through this spot. 

Tug and Barge.

Right beside Riverwalk is the Ferry that takes pedestrians and vehicles across the river to Algiers, part of New Orleans.  The ferry is free for everyone and runs across about every 15 minutes.  I like to take the Ferry back and forth just to get a view of the city from the River and to enjoy the feeling of actually being on the Mighty Mississippi.  In Algiers there is Mardi Gras World, which is where many of the Mardi Gras floats are made and stored - but that's a story for a post on another day!

Looking at the French Quarter from the Ferry.

And then there is the Steamboat Natchez.  It is one of only two true steam powered sternwheelers plying the Mississippi today. Her 32 note steam calliope was custom crafted and modeled after the music makers of the Gilded Age.  A "calliopist"? plays a few tunes before each departure and the trilling notes can be heard throughout the French Quarter.  The cruise is a truly wonderful experience and I will save the details of this for yet another post on another day!

And, I will leave you with a link to one of Louis' best... and how right he is - "What a Wonderful World".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xotoDy5806Y