Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

I was in New Orleans for a conference and that day my friends and I were trying to quickly grab lunch. One of my friends at the table had lived there, before Hurricane Katrina. She was at that moment discussing how sad the city seemed. I was sitting facing the park and at that moment entirely tuned out the conversation and looked past her to the street. I saw something different. A man reading his paper, maybe as he always did, a lady laughing at someone across the street, and a street artist taking a break. There was also a breeze and music playing in the air. I realized a sad thing happened to the people of NOLA (what locals call New Orleans LouisianA), but the people are like her; strong, resilient, full of magic, music, and soul. Suddenly, the beautiful French architecture and ambiance of Jackson Square came alive.