On the morning of our last full day in N.O. the whole group went out on a swamp tour. Though I really wanted to go, it was the only slot of time Kiss had that he could spend walking with me to where the folks living in tents were living, which I talked about in a previous blog. On our walk I talked about Kiss pointing out how the city had changed and how it had effected him. One of the things he was pointing out were the buildings all along Canal that were abandoned, and what businesses had been in them before the storm. It was really surreal to see all these huge structures, hollow and deserted, towering right next to lively, open, and functioning hotels and restaurants. Not to mention this is the heart of the city. This is Canal Street in historic downtown New Orleans. Have I mentioned that Katrina happened at the end of August 2005? The day Kiss and I walked together was the end of March 2008. These buildings aren't tucked away a block or two off the strip. These structures aren't something you have to seek out to see. These forgotten pieces of classic Louisiana architecture are facing Canal, in plain site, and impossible to ignore. Any creature perusing down Canal, be it tourist or native, can not pretend this isn't here.
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