No doubt that I fell in love with New Orleans way back in the year of 2000 when my lovely YaYa's and I decided to experience Mardi Gras first hand. It wasn't so much the experiences we had at the Festival that drew me to the city, but instead it was the fact that here I was transplanted in a city with a culture and history wholly unlike what I'm used to in the way of being a resident of Virginia. I've been overexposed, perhaps, to all the civil war history that the Valley wears like a badge of honor. Not that I have anything against this particular regions history, mind you. I was just taken aback by the mixture of cultures in New Orleans. From the food, to the architecture, to the people... I enjoyed it all.
There wasn't one thing about that city that I can remember not liking. Oh wait... I didn't like the way my shoes stuck to the streets or sidewalks from various things being "spilled" upon them by a drunken crowd. It was an obscene way to ruin a good pair of shoes. But it was a small price to pay for the experience that was New Orleans. I even loved the smell of the shop owner's hosing down their store fronts with bleach water the mornings after all the night's previous shenanigans had subsided.
I was particularly concerned with the effects that Katrina had on my beloved city. I probably read more on the happenings with N'awlins since Katrina's aftermath than any other particular subject.
I would have loved to been able to afford to take the time off from work to assist in the cleanup process and the rebuilding of the city. However, I'm a working class individual so I think the residents of NO will forgive me. I am fortunate enough, however, to work for a company that sent truckloads of necessary items to the victims. As evil as some may view my employer... really, they aren't all that bad.
Yet another reason why we chose to hold our particular wedding venue in New Orleans. Maybe not so much on Mack's part, but it has been at the back of my mind. Since the hurricane, tourism has dropped off considerably, though it has slowly been making a comeback.
Upon one of my many adventures surfing around on here, I found this particular article:
http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=436439
It is a bit lengthy. I'll forgive ya'll if you don't read it. But it gave me a little bit of hope that New Orleans is not a lost cause and it reaffirmed in my mind that with every purchase we at a local shop during our stay there will be helping the city I so dearly love find a way to survive.
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