Back from New Orleans, a day after one of the most sobering and unbelievable experiences I have ever witnessed. Yesterday my friend Dollar Bill‘s cousin Rock gave me a tour of some of the devastation that still remains nearly 9 months after Hurricane Katrina and the post-Katrina levee breaches. I’ll have more to say about this tomorrow when hopefully I’ll have a number of photos to link to, but suffice to say, the extent of the damage around the Lakeview area and the obliteration (no other word seems to fit) of the 9th Ward were almost impossible to comprehend.

My reason for going to New Orleans was to take up $’s call for people to go to New Orleans and show the people there our support the best way most people know how – by vacationing.

I enthusiastically echo his call.

I’m so glad I went, not only to frequent familiar places (not the least being my River!), but to also talk to people and get a sense of their hopes and frustrations so I could better understand the story behind the story. I found all of that, and then some, as you’ll hopefully see tomorrow. Outside the French Quarter, things are a long way from “normal” and there are a lot of people hurting – there’s no way to sugar-coat that. But if you’re looking for the greatest food on this planet, some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, and a unique culture that makes all others in this country pale in comparison, all I can say is it’s still there. A little weary and beaten on for sure, but it’s there in the color, the music, the food, the architecture, and the culture, so I encourage one and all to plan a few days to kick back and relax in the city I still consider my favorite above all – New Orleans.