Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana

On the morning of August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, Louisiana.   More than 4,000 homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward were destroyed by Katrina.  Two years later, when actor Brad Pitt toured the city, the neighborhood was still deserted and devastated.  Mr. Pitt promised the families he met there, that he would help make it right. He founded Make It Right to build 150 affordable, green, storm-resistant homes for families living in the Lower 9th Ward when the storm hit.  These are photos of the Lower 9th Ward today, and the new homes built by Make it Right.  They are really beautiful, unusual-looking homes.


Brad Pitt helped the humans, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary helped the animals:
http://blogs.bestfriends.org/index.php/2011/05/11/animals-in-disasters-how-katrina-changed-their-world/

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

  

I loved the funky style of the homes!

This is the main street in the Lower 9th Ward; these are the

older buildings that were still left standing after Katrina

These are some of the houses that were destroyed by the storm;

nobody lives in them now. 

New Orleans

Since the big End of the World / Rapture thing was a major bust, I decided to go to New Orleans!!  You'd never know the end of the world was near with all the people having a good time on Bourbon Street (including me)!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

First, of course, I started off with a big vat of Beignets at Cafe Du Monte!

Then I hit the street-partying on Bourbon Street

Horrible, horrible cruelty to animals!!

This is a disgusting tradition that should be stopped!

 

This is the Old Absinthe Bar

Absinthe being lit on fire

STREET PERFORMERS

There are so many street performers.   I usually take their
photo from the side or behind so I don't have to pay them!

This guy was BY FAR the best!  I broke down and put
some money in his baby shoe!   Very creative!

I guess in honor of the Rapture, the Devil was there!

This guy had enough money ~~ he didn't need more from me!

Some cool jazz musicians 

Click the play button to play video

Some ladies enjoying the Riverfront!

Vicksburg, Mississippi, Flooding

This is the bridge crossing from Louisiana into Missippi today.  There has been a massive amount of flooding here, as can be seen by how high the river is (it is nearly up to the roadway).  And, that little house isn't supposed to be under water!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)