TxTravelPro,

Your friend probably had different expectations than what New Orleans is and that's why he/she was disappointed.

The facts are that the French Quarter is cleaner than it's ever been. SDT goes throughout the French Quarter every morning and sprays highly pressurized boiling chlorinated water throughout the streets of New Orleans. This tends to get rid of any stains and keeps thing fresh smelling. It's really quite a feat to watch them in progress and a tourist attraction in and of itself.

There are parts of town that are still recovering, but houses are being renovated all the time.

The 9th Ward is still in shambles, but progress is being made. The Katrina bus tour will give you a good view of the devastation and also of the rebuilding.

Brad Pitt and his "Make it Right" foundation are building some wonderful houses in the lower 9th Ward. These houses are elevated and feature unique architectural forms. They are a tourist attraction in and of themselves. There is a home that is finished that is the visitor's center for the area. I envision this to be a key tourist attraction in years to come, as this is the future of housing along the Gulf Coast.

There is an energy and sense of rebirth going on in New Orleans that is unmatched anywhere else. People are moving there just to be part of something that has never been done before.

Please go to New Orleans because it is what it has always been, a historical place with great restaurants and attractions, but also because of what it is evolving into, a unique experiment in green living and facing the elements in a modern era.

It is truly a fascinating place, more so than it has ever been.

bk - I agree wholeheartedly.

I am here now (in a great Internet cafe on Toulouse), and its my fourth visit. Its a great city (had lunch today at Antoine's and it looks great -- still my favorite spot in NO), and has made remarkable progress since October 2005. I did visit the Ninth Ward on Saturday, and that part of the city remains shocking -- there were some signs of progress, but I can't see it returning to its former self in the foreseeable future. Still, I think every visitor should explore that part of the city (I went on a group tour -- there are many).

I've been to Acme once this trip, and will stop by again tonight for another dozen or two.

Ah Michael....from Azerbaijan to New Orleans!!! What an interesting contrast!

ttt for MBM

TXTravelPro, my parents said the same thing after our first trip there- in 1994.

I think that some people just don't 'get' New Orleans. I'm guessing those same folks probably haven't traveled much either, & have certainly not been out of the country or their 'comfort zone'.

I agree SAnParis2!

NO is a great city - but it's not to everyone's tastes.

ttt for cancan

ttt for my neighbor from CLT

Thanks!

Anytime...

ttt 4 msc

topping for clara, the more recent report is easier to find & you'll notice some changes just in that short period of time (less than a year).