New Orleans - Days 30-33

Wow - well, I think I am over my infatuation with New Orleans!  This is the 4th time we've been here.  The first was 4 months before Hurricane Katrina hit.. and it was a week after Mardi Gras.  The place was crazy, booming with businesses, beads left over from Mardi Gras hanging from every tree, sign post and light post.  It was just the coolest place.

The second time we came was in 2008.  The damage from Katrina was still very visible, but the recovery was in process.  The people had such a great spirit about them.  On Bourbon street, probably half of the shops were still closed, but those that were open, and the restaurants and bars - many seemed to be run by people that had come to help rebuild.  Everyone was so friendly. Totally loved it still.

This time, well, I don't really know what was different.  Bourbon street was "back in Business", but it just wasn't the same.  It was dirty and smelly.  Lots of kids 'tap dancing' trying to get money.

We stayed at Pontchartrain Landing RV Park.  I would definitely stay there again if I were to go back to New Orleans.  That park was nice and clean.  Getting to it was an interesting experience - the road leading into it was enough to shake your teeth out, but the park itself was very nice.  It even had a resturant/bar there.  There was a pool, decent showers and laundry facilities.  They also did shuttle runs 3 times a day to Bourbon street.  It cost $6 per person per day for the shuttle.  You could catch it going into town at 10:30, 3:45 and I think 7:45, and you could come back at 4 or 8.  If you took the last shuttle at 7:45, you were on your own to get back.  The rate to stay there was less than half of what it would have been if I had stayed at that park that was closed to the French Quarter

I barely even took any pictures. 

View in front of the cathedral

Young Entertainers

Inside Cathedral of St. Louis

We had lunch at the Gumbo Shop.  The food and drinks were very good.

Where we had dinner

Inside the Gumbo Shop

And this is why I would NEVER drive my car into the French Quarter!

Crowded street

We did get Beignets at Cafe Du Monde (doesn't everyone that comes to New Orleans?) and we walked around the French Market.  But mostly, we just relaxed at the RV park.  I didn't even take may pictures there, even though it was a very nice park, right on the lake. 

And about that -  the RV park is build right on the lake between the lake and the levees.  I thought that kind of strange, and asked the shuttle driver.  He said that the park was planned prior to Hurricane Katrina, but wasn't actually built until after.  He also said that the entire area of the park had been under water during Katrina.  I asked why they built it anyway, and he said "I guess that is what insurance if for.".  Ok, then.  Well, it was a pretty nice park (too bad I didn't take pictures) and I'd stay there again, just probably not if I was there during hurricane season.