We are staying in the French Quarter. In between meeting we walk around this old city turned tourist trap, the hotels, eating establishments, local groceries, bars, strip joints, jazz bars are all up and running.
Stopped and talked to a tea shirt vendor, he said that folks got to come to New Orleans. His rent for the tiny, stall like store front is $12000 a month. Without more tourists he won't sell enough t-shirts and won't be able to pay his rent. Not the place to rent a storefront for a new start ministry.
Outside of the French Quarter there are many blue tarp roofs, and demolished blocks where houses used to stand. FEMA temporary housing is very visible. Maybe Thursday I will be able to get on a trolley and see some of the residential areas. We are meeing with the local congregational leaders, but being in meetings means we stay in the French Quarter.
I have been here before, but having just come from San Diego, I was struck by how old this city looks. Old and congested and dirty is what I thought. And then I remembered New York, Boston and Montreal. Not older, or more congested or dirtier than them, it just that I have been in new cities, with sprawl and managed zoning and tough cops that arrest litters.
The jazz festival is Friday, and I will be back in San Diego as Marjorie completes her candidating week.
