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.
Agreed Chris! Love New Orleans! I was there a couple of times pre-Katrina, but my thoughts were the same as yours. I also had intense feelings of spirituality while there (which might be my mind taking on the "voodoo" label or the strong Christian belief system), but there is something magical and intriguing about the place and the blend of cultures. And let's not even talk about the beignets at Café du Monde! :-)
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