And again, from NYE 2007 – I don’t think any more people could have fit in the French Quarter:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola_nye_2007/p1.htm
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola_nye_2007/p2.htm

Something associated with New Orleans that we all know and love – FOOD!
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/food/food.htm

Think I need to schedule another trip soon so I can get my fix!

Thanks yall!

P.S. Wasn’t sure where to put this, but Carnival helped with some temporary shelter for the first responders. Two Carnival ships in New Orleans just look so natural!
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_carn/kat_carn.htm

I couldn’t help but notice that Beacon of Hope was founded by a couple of residents of an area called Lakewood South.

Lakewood South is where my Mother lived at the time the levees broke. My sister’s house was in Lakeview, an area not that far away. As soon as we were allowed, we, including sister and nieces went in to salvage what we could from the houses.

We sold what was left of Mom’s house to some nice people who spent a lot of money rebuilding it better than ever and are now living there – not like those who bought on speculation.

The only thing that would help my sister’s house was a bulldozer which was eventually called in after salvaging.

For those wondering, all of the New Orleans tourist areas and convention areas are fine and have been for some time. You can visit New Orleans, have a great time, and never see any of the devastation that still remains. There is still plenty to see and do and more restaurants are open now than before Katrina!

There is still years of work left to do. But it is getting done. Slowly, but surely. Many thanks to the number of volunteers who still continue to help.

I have no idea how many bloggers will volunteer or what task they will end up with, but every bit helps and brings the city a little closer to complete recovery.

For any who are interested, here are some pictures of my Mom’s house before Katrina:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_pre_mom.htm

When we were first allowed back in:
Mom’s house
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_mom.htm

Sister’s house
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_sis.htm

I decided I wanted to get a closer look at what tried to kill my city. Where the levee broke on the 17th Street Canal:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/nola_gnd_zero.htm

After we had recovered what we could think of and called the strippers in:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/katrina/kat_fine_mom.htm