A Tribute To New Orleans

The Paris of the Americas, America’s International City, The Gateway to the Americas, The City that Care Forgot, The Crescent City and The Big Easy are all nicknames for New Orleans.

Some of us have family or friends in this city full of history and culture. Many of us have visited the historical area on vacation to experience the colorful sights.

But after this week’s tragic visit from hurricane Katrina, the deep-rooted enchanting sounds of jazz and blues won’t be heard on Decatur or Bourbon streets in the French Quarter for some time.

The exotic smells of Cajun, Creole and Caribbean foods won’t be filling the streets.
Poor boy sandwiches won’t be made with fried oysters.

Tourists won’t be wondering the streets with a drink in hand and a bag of trinkets.

Locals, like this man pictured above, won’t be dressed in costume to panhandle money.

Instead, this romantic city and the surrounding metropolitan area now lie under the flood waters of Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico.

But this city and its famous French Quarter are no strangers to strife. Inhabitants have resurrected their city after fires and have adjusted to different rulers throughout its existence. The hurricane is only another hardship to overcome.

After the healing of losing loved ones, the reconstruction of roads and rebuilding of homes, New Orleans will bounce back with its original character of blending the old with the new.