Nawlins 2
Trip Start
May 07, 2004
1
61
64
Trip End
Jun 27, 2006
Nawlins,
Louisiana,
United States
Saturday, May 27, 2006
"New Orleans"
"Let's go tomorrow!"
I don't remember this part of the conversation, and so I didn't know that this was why we ended up in New Orleans until after we got there, five weeks later.
We were drunk enough to look into leaving the next day, this I do remember. The nagging in the back of my head that a) I was supposed to do _something_ at work the next day (like film a girl from Brasil who was only in Canada until the following day), and b) host a boy from NY whose apartment I was meant to stay at the following weekend made me think if flights are too expensive, maybe we shouldn't leave tomorrow
nine months later
. I do remember this thought process... just not so much _why_ New Orleans... Prices weren't completely absurd, but we booked flights for 5 weeks (ish) from that moment anyway. Which was the right decision. A. shitload. of. fun. was had.
New Orleans is a big party.
That city was insane. As I stared down Bourbon Street as girls threw chains of beads off balconies, all I could think about was the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and how insane it must've been prior to Katrina, particularly at Mardi Gras.
We had an absolute blast on Bourbon Street, but one was certainly left aware that the city is still rebuilding, even in the French Quarter, which wasn't physically damaged. One can overhear conversations between people who have only just returned, nine months later. They're glad to be back. But some are angry, and rightfully, it seems.
We did see random jazz players jamming on the street here and there
Water level on house in New Orleans
. But we also felt some little neighborhoods were much quieter than we'd been lead to believe. Granted, we didn't venture away from the guts of the French Quarter, really, until Sunday night; but something tells me a Sunday night prior to August 29, 2005 would have been infused with a smidge more life. Ward Nine
It was also eye-opening to visit Ward 9. The devastation really seems endless. And again, this is nine months later. There are still boats over-turned. Entire houses on top of other houses. Homes completely missing.
The houses with trailers in front are the people who have returned to try to rebuild their lives. Way fewer than half had trailers. Many people haven't been back at all, our cab driver informed. And some may never come back.
General thoughts on my state of mind...
Prior to going I knew I was going to miss a stagette (And I thought, while I was there, that really we should have brought the stagette to New Orleans). I also felt like, if I'm spending money on flights and such - shouldn't I be going to Boston or Calgary or somewhere that my really good friends live, instead of away with someone I hadn't seen in seven years to a random place?
Definitely not. I was super excited to be there (good thing, since I had apparently cited really wanting to go to), but more than that, it's helped me remember that travelling and doing new things is as important to me as the comfort and love of the constants in my life. And the constants will be there forever.
I'd been feeling a little bit sad about leaving, to be sure. And wondering a little if I were crazy... (Most of) my friends in and around Toronto would never just up and leave the country. Not to mention that I really am loving life in this city. And feeling like I had only just finally felt like I had a life here, only to leave again.
But one must follow their hopes and dreams and goals and aspirations, in my opinion. I may be spontaneous, but I'm also quite driven.
"Follow your bliss" was advice (in a card, I think) I once received. While I don't know what .ch has in store for me, the next chapter of my life could very well turn out to be me doing exactly that. And why not?
