After a late start, we decided to drive round the Garden District just to see some of the lovely houses there. Fortunately, this area wasn't too affected by Katrina structurally but the effects can be seen in the number of homes now up for sale, including La Belle Reve, the B&B we stayed in during our earlier visit to the city. Such a shame. We had lunch in the Babylon Cafe - Gordon had taken a fancy for iced tea, sweetened a la Southern States, but his sugar levels have been great while we've been away and he's looking and feeling well.
Then John, Gordon & I took the Katrina Tour which lasted three and a half hours (poor Debs did the laundry). At first I was impressed at how much had been done to restore the city to its former glory but this turned out to be only in the middle-class, more affluent areas. When we got to St Bernard Parish and the 9th Ward, where the poorer people used to live, it was almost untouched. Many of the houses were just wrecks and still showed the signs painted on the doors by the rescuers during the search for survivors. It was a disgrace! The guide said that part of the reason why many of the houses are untouched is because the inhabitants were unable to prove ownership, the houses having been passed down through generations. Government grants only provide a percentage of the cost of renovations and take months to come through and the poor folks haven't the funds needed to make up the shortfall.
There are rows and rows of empty slums with wood still lying around and the place looking like a bomb site. We were gob-smacked - America should hang its head in shame. There were some good people though - Walmart were straight out after the disaster struck with ice, blankets and provisions and they are generally held in high regard now. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, who have a house in New Orleans, are building a whole street in one of the worst hit areas. The Cajuns brought out their little boats and rescued people from rooftops and the first soldiers on the scene were the Canadian Mounties!
What makes things worse is that NOBODY was held responsible for the breeching of the levees despite the fact that the foundations were only laid to 17' and not the recommended 25'. If the regulations had been followed, 1800 people may not have lost their lives. Our guide also reminded us that all the stuff in the museums had also been under water and much had been lost as well as some of the wildlife. As he was telling us about the rare birds, one of the bus passengers asked what had happened to them during Katrina..... he replied, quite straightfaced, that they had flown away!!
Then John, Gordon & I took the Katrina Tour which lasted three and a half hours (poor Debs did the laundry). At first I was impressed at how much had been done to restore the city to its former glory but this turned out to be only in the middle-class, more affluent areas. When we got to St Bernard Parish and the 9th Ward, where the poorer people used to live, it was almost untouched. Many of the houses were just wrecks and still showed the signs painted on the doors by the rescuers during the search for survivors. It was a disgrace! The guide said that part of the reason why many of the houses are untouched is because the inhabitants were unable to prove ownership, the houses having been passed down through generations. Government grants only provide a percentage of the cost of renovations and take months to come through and the poor folks haven't the funds needed to make up the shortfall.
There are rows and rows of empty slums with wood still lying around and the place looking like a bomb site. We were gob-smacked - America should hang its head in shame. There were some good people though - Walmart were straight out after the disaster struck with ice, blankets and provisions and they are generally held in high regard now. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, who have a house in New Orleans, are building a whole street in one of the worst hit areas. The Cajuns brought out their little boats and rescued people from rooftops and the first soldiers on the scene were the Canadian Mounties!
What makes things worse is that NOBODY was held responsible for the breeching of the levees despite the fact that the foundations were only laid to 17' and not the recommended 25'. If the regulations had been followed, 1800 people may not have lost their lives. Our guide also reminded us that all the stuff in the museums had also been under water and much had been lost as well as some of the wildlife. As he was telling us about the rare birds, one of the bus passengers asked what had happened to them during Katrina..... he replied, quite straightfaced, that they had flown away!!
Gordon and I stayed in the city after the trip while John went back to meet up with Debs. We did a bit of shopping and then met up with them at Tujaques for a drink and some food. The evening rounded off in our private gazebo - and more wine.
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