New Orleans is still in a devastated state post hurricane Katrina. So Much so that resident levels are still hovering around 10% of what they were throughout the inner city and downtown areas. If you move away from the tourist dominated areas of Bourbon street ( thats the closest thing to kings cross ive seen in my life, packed full of tourists, trash bars, strip clubs and crazy local people that literally pumps all day every day) and the iconic french quarter, youll see urban decay and desolate areas. The ninth ward is arguably the worst affected area and even after six years the damage is still openly visible and spine tingling. The area was ravished with 12 feet of water from the Mississippi
and gale force winds during the peak of Katrina that caused unfathomable destruction. I saw an Imax doco called hurricane bayou that outlined the hurricanes intensity and the damage caused, a rattling experience showing just how scary and destructive the disaster was, with the whole city being literally flooded with 6 feet of water leading to no services or communication for weeks on end.
The bar scene here in this city is definitely something worth a mention too and is known as a huge driver for tourism money into the area simply due to how ridiculously unique it is. Crazy jazz and funk gigs in shack style venues on Frenchmen street, animals roaming through bars, stupidly cheap potent cocktails along bourbon street and hands down the friendliest local people ive ever met out at night embracing the New Orleans culture that is hard liquor, jazz and funk festivities, voodoo superstitions and positive vibes.
During my 10 day stay in the area i visited the new orleans museum of art that housed some inspirational B+W photographs of the city and surrounding Louisiana landscapes. Did a Ghost tour, that although being extremely novelty was interesting as the city and its rich history makes it recognised as one of the most haunted cities in america. Drunk Hurricane's and hand grenade cocktails down bourbon street, ate world class seafood and french delicacies, visited memorial museums and explored the trendy boutiques and cafe scene of magazine street, Jackson square and the french quarter.
