thoughts on New Orleans

Some general impressions of New Orleans:

• Groceries are considerably more expensive than in Baton Rouge, and supermarkets are of lower quality. The produce I sampled at several grocery stores was pricey and not particularly fresh (though not Whole Foods, where the produce is outstanding and expensive). Seafood sections are also pathetic. Some of this, I think, can be attributed to the worker shortage. Everything is just a little less clean and pleasant here.
  
  
• Though the city was jumping on Friday and Saturday night, because of the French Quarter Festival and the mayoral election, on weeknights, the emptiness of the city sets in. With the city's population still not half of what it was before the storm, the streets are quiet and lonely. There are few panhandlers and homeless, almost no foot traffic, and few cars.
  
  
• Bourbon Street, even on a normal weekend, is just as insipid as it appears on television. Beads rain down from drunken revelers on balconies, groups of college boys stand around trying to coerce breasts out of hiding, and the stench of booze and dirty water hangs in stale air.
  
  

I've made some friends with New Orleanians who stayed through the storm. Their stories are incredible, and in the coming days and weeks I'll begin sharing some with y'all.