Where Dat?

Swamp Land

 N’awlins and I have started off to a complicated relationship. I am drawn to the stories that these streets have to share, and yet am repulsed at what a lot of them have to say. I love the swampy strange environment and yet I am surrounded by broken down homes, bad roads, and trash everywhere. I can’t seem to find a connection most of the time, but then I am constantly finding more things I want to do and experience that I am not quite ready to leave.

Oak Alley Plantation

Katrina Leftover

The city greeted Chris and I the way that Santa Cruz said goodbye, with a lot of rain. Downpours that were hard to drive through and then an address that put us on the South side of France St and not the North left us hoping that our campground would offer refunds as we didn’t feel comfortable where we were. We got our directions straightened out and we actually really enjoy our campsite on the water. Days later we figured out that where we had initially ended up was one of the worst effected areas of Katrina. One that still sports ambulances washed into buildings, broken windows and glass and graffiti everywhere. It is a sinister sight if you think it’s just another block, but completely interesting to slow down and observe once you find out the history of the area.

Beignet's On Bourbon St.

Oak Alley

Oliver danced down the city

My mom the wonder-nana flew our boys down to us on Monday and stayed for a couple of days as she’s never been good ol’ Louisiana either. We toured a couple of plantations out on the Mississippi, an old mansion in the city, ate some gumbo and beignets, visited the Louisiana History Museum as well as the Katrina and Mardi Gras Museum and enjoyed a couple of the great art galleries along Royal St. As someone who considers myself to have traveled quite a bit, the history of the South is nothing I’ve ever really learned. I didn’t really know the differences between Creole and Cajun. I had no idea that Native Americans had such an influence down here. I know OF slavery, but I did now know the actual laws surrounding it. I had never stood in a slave house and learn that they were lived in until 1977. I had never read a plantation’s slave docket. Now I have. There are surface level conversations that can be had regarding what the plantations looked like. The architecture, the land, what was harvested. There are so many feelings that are hard to describe or even voice without sounding like most naïve person because it all boils down to the simple inhumaneness of it all. Once the conversation has boiled down, it can be brought right back up in talking about how far or not our country has come, especially when you are then touring the Katrina museum and you realize just who was getting out during the storm and who wasn’t. Go from the Katrina museum to the Mardi Gras museum and learn about the pride that people have for their New Orleans and you feel yourself get swept up in the grandness of traditions. At the end of the day, your head has spun in many different directions and you still don’t have a clear grasp on this land of the South.

Laura Plntation

Oak Alley

 I’ve traveled in the West and the East. I’ve gone to many vacation type places and stayed in plenty of cities, however those stays have typically been at a friend’s house or in a nice hotel. It is a new feeling to travel and be in the midst of it all. Our park is on the outskirts of town (from what I’ve gathered), but my new past time in the evening is to pull up my CrimeMapping App and see what has gone on for the day. There have been 6 homicides since we’ve arrived 6 days ago. 74 assaults, 95 thefts, 8 sex crimes, and 10 weapon crimes. In a population of less than 400,000 the crime rate is pretty high. Last night as we went to bed we fell asleep just after what was either one round of fireworks or gunfire. To say the least, this is different from where I’ve spent the past 26 years of my life.

This weekend brought sunshine and a desire to be outside. We walked around the city. We went to see Marvel Live! (thanks mom and dad!), and we went to Mardi Gras World where we got to see the actual production of the new props and floats that will be used this Mardi Gras season. Tomorrow a day in City Park awaits. We’ll bring our bikes, explore some playgrounds, and continue to get to know this confusing city. 

Map of crime since we have arrived