New Orleans Tour

The conference didn't start until lunch time today so this morning we took a tour a New Orleans. Our guide was very personable as well as knowledgeable and I learned many new things.

The tour included a stop at a cemetery to learn about burial practices in New Orleans. I knew that they had to bury the bodies above ground, but that was just the beginning of what we learned about this topic.

We also drove through the lower 9th ward. It is one thing to see the devastation on the news and another to see it in person. I have vivid memories of our flooding in Holland, so minor in comparison to this. I kept thinking about how these people must have felt - the ones that made it out alive. There were so many that didn't.

We went from the devastation of the 9th ward to the mansions of the garden district. New Orleans is a city of contrasts. Our hotel is centrally located. We can walk to the French Quarter, but we can also see the tall buildings of the city.

We are enjoying getting to know just a little bit about this city. Incidentally, the conference this afternoon was also very worthwhile and I am looking forward to day 2 tomorrow.