Recovery?

There was some time to kill while waiting on friends before heading off for a drive around the streets and neighbourhoods of New Orleans. Their hotel was the small boutique type, a huge old house with an interesting entrance hall and reception area to explore. Amongst all the architecture, so out of place anywhere else, was a painting which expressed the mood of the old French Quarter: colourful and eclectic.

Our drive took us to the less colourful Lower Ninth Ward - a neighbourhood hit hard after the levee breaks during hurricane Katrina. 
Five years on, there are many streets and houses still abandoned,  driving past block after block....flat concrete slabs where homes once stood.

Then ahead you see a pocket of colour. Odd little houses, all on pilings.This little group is part of the re-build project initiated by Brad Pit.

Leaving the Lower Ninth Ward and approaching a bridge which crosses a wide canal, you can see one of the new tall concrete  levees (that's a group of people next to it).

Looking back you can see the recovery.
Years from now will it be another lively, colourful, and eclectic neighbourhood just like those streets in the French District? 

Back over the canal and you are soon back in those streets featured in the painting.

Fleur-de-lis

While out and about recently in New Orleans, I snapped a few photos of the official State symbol.

 That very French Fleur-de-lis was found in a lot of the obvious places, and in places not so expected.

Who Dat!

"Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?"

a great event for people watching....

check out the fan in the white robe.

Off the subject, but interesting, you can still see a little Hurricane Katrina damage.

a nice cold refreshment

oh and a snack - one of those "only in America moments" Jambalaya anyone?  (I think that's what it is)

another cold refreshment - same one, it's just the packaging that has changed.

 and more people watching - "Who dat" is also used in describing a Saints fan.

The most fascinating fan we saw was Mother Mary - she prayed with her rosary beads and stirred the s... with her wooden spoons.

Some New Orleans Goodness

It was Dec 31st and we were in New Orleans.....

 I had to stop and see the Macaron Man.

 and make a selection

 to go with my creamy hot chocolate...

 the double chocolate raspberry mousecake was the winner

it was divine!

and back home early in 2011, sipping more hot chocolate to go with the goodies I hand carried in that cute little box.

A New Year Tradition

Here in the South USA the food of choice on January 1st is the black eyed pea.

 soak overnight

chop some onion

add a big ham bone.

extra ham, the smokey kind is best,

simmer for an hour or two.

Serve with more onion - diced, ketchup, and a splash of hot sauce.

Eat and be lucky!

What special foods do you eat for New Year luck?

The Year of the....Eiffel Tower

All year long I was being stalked.....by something tall, dark and beautiful.....everywhere I went I saw it...

It sent me Christmas greetings,

 on the very day it was snowing in Paris, I saw it again.

It even inspired me to make cookies!

it was dressed in glitter as a Christmas gift

and then added to my key chain - no chance that I will forget.

On a little thank you gift, it sits on a little book, which is actually a little box

it likes to hang out on dinnerware

and in shop windows

You will find it in the drink and food aisles too.

It mostly comes in metal

or in the odd advert.

It likes to dress in pink

it comes framed and unframed

and sometimes it uses way too many accessories!

standing alone or surrounded by the city

small is good too.

it likes to show up in my inbox in the form of attachments

this attachment was taken and sent by my friend Leslie...she saw it in person this year!

 

This lovely tower followed me to New Zealand this year too...

it even stayed in my bedroom at my sister's house,

in the shops,

 and on clothing.

 Down in New Zealand there was a very French touch....an added bow!

 It was in the Auckland airport, for my farewell.

I was reminded of Paris

 come in the Spring!

 Choose your dates

and see it at night.

Would have been pretty but I only saw these lights in the day - oops that F!!

and finally to end the year of the Eiffel Tower a bit of the real tower (the old original tower restaurant roof...why??? I don't know)  seen in New Orleans on Dec 31st.