bike to the lower 9th ward.

one of the neatest things we did while we were in new orleans was a bike tour through the lower 9th ward in new orleans.  {in case you are going, we chose ninth ward rebirth bike tours, from the original bike tour company in new orleans.  it was fabulous - totally recommend it.}  i would very much like to point out this was not a tour of devastation & despair but a tour of hope & rebuilding.

{our tour guide, derek}

first off, it was quite awesome to ride around in the warm sun on a bicycle.  i hadn't ridden a bicycle in... years.  i felt quite awkward in the beginning, but i now fully understand the saying "it's like riding a bicycle."  you certainly remember how to do so quickly.  & a little athletic activity was quite nice at the end of this culinary tour.

secondly, it was a really neat way to explore a big part of the city that you would likely otherwise not see.  we rode our bikes from frenchmen, where the locals hang out, to the streets outside of the touristy part of the city, where the locals live, down streets full of history from before, during, & after the storm to one of nola's historical cemeteries & then down to the lower ninth ward.  all the while learning & understanding so much more about this vibrant city.

{a previously abandoned warehouse

that the city is turning into a local market}

{the national shrine of saint roch.

patron saint of miraculous cures.}

& lastly, i am so grateful to have learned more about katrina & the people affected & the hope in the city.  we rode from the lesser devastated parts to the more devastated parts.  the french quarter itself is the highest part of the city, so it did not flood like the rest of the city.  as we went out, you could see how more & more water was present.

{the more fortunate part of the 9th ward: 

the water was "only" up to those house numbers next to the front door.}

when katrina came, the city had a mandatory evacuation.  the rescue officials went door to door to make sure everyone had left.  to mark that a house had been checked, a big "X" was spray painted on the house.  the rescue officials' symbol was tagged to say who checked.  then a tag of what action was taken - if they entered & what the found.  the way i understood it was that the officials knocked.  if they didn't hear anything or didn't {warning: graphic} smell anything, they marked a "NE" for "no entry".  if a person or animal was found, that was instead marked.  many many houses still had these Xs on them.  some are still abandoned & some were on brick & hard to erase & some were left for what looked like a reminder.  

{hard to see, but this house's X is behind the posts on the porch}

{the fats domino's house & recording studio 

before katrina in the lower 9th ward}

we stopped at ronald lewis' house of dance & feathers, a little museum honoring his mardi gras & katrina memorabilia.  mr lewis told us about his community & their strong desire to return home & rebuild after the storm.

after the museum, we headed towards the levy that broke.  as we got closer & closer, there were fewer & fewer houses remaining.  partly because abandoned houses had been purchased & torn down.  partly because many of the houses near the levy were actually picked up by the force & moved & destroyed off the property.  it certainly makes you wonder how strong that force was & what it was like.

{a street with almost no buildings remaining,

yet these beautiful oaks still stand tall.}

& we ended our tour of the 9th ward at the new neighborhood of green homes being built by mr brad pitt & friends.  one corner has a garden to walk through, porch remains to sit at, & history of the storm to learn from.  

{a view of the broken levy & the water & the barge that broke the levy}

{the red shows houses that are no longer,

while the black are houses that remain.}

{the new green houses being built.}

a really really neat experience to see & learn & understand more.  it's a wonderful city.

& on the hurricane note, prayers for you all on the east coast! stay safe & take it seriously, even if they haven't ended up serious before please.

love love,

kjp.