New Orleans - A City of Contrasts

I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrasts of New Orleans. There’s the obvious difference between the grand mansions of the Garden District and the devastating poverty of the 9^th ward.  Beyond that, here’s what I observed.

You can wait for a trolley with the devil…

and just a block away, see the breathtaking shadow of Christ…

All the debauchery on Bourbon Street…

is undercut by the innocence of dreamers…

The crowds go wild over having beads thrown to them….

And they’re quickly forgotten about the next day.

Gravesites that are crumbling and seemingly neglected ...

are lovingly graced with flowers, beads, and sweet sentiments.

Senior citizens and toddlers walk side by side with scantily clad women and punk rockers. The crowd is a flavorful Gumbo of college spring-breakers, Mid-western tourists, old jazz musicians, yuppies, and church ladies. It’s a city that defiantly refuses to define itself as one thing. Maybe that’s why I love it.

You Put the "play" in Display

I love it when I see a display that is all about the play. If you’re going to be attention –seeking, you might as well make people smile. 

I was driving the back ways to the shore, when I came across this amazing cement mixer that was spilling out a stream of flowers (in February, no less). I made my husband do a u-turn just to capture this show-off.  It was like it was sharing a private joke, whose punch line was pansies instead of pavement.

If one single piece of straw can break a camel’s back, then I guess thousands of plastic straws can garner looks of awe.  This store in Philly exhibited them in such a way that the light came through and made an astonishing display. Who thought of this!?

 Most people aren’t crazy about public displays of affection, but I wish I could have been there when Jennifer saw this brick for the first time. I hope she said yes.