Some pics and some thoughts

Gulf Wars, while not a rousing success, was not too bad. I am sure next year it will be back to its old self and sales will return to normal. The site of the event is pretty cool. They not only allow SCAdians to build stuff, they encourage it. Here is the Green Dragon Inn, it is a permanant structure and it's gorgeous. The inside has granite floors and a minstrels gallery. Food and ale is served. I must have one of these for myself...



After the event we hit New Orleans to get a break. Below is your standard artsy type shot I took at Cemetary No 1 in the French Quarter.



The inventors of the Hurricane, Bill O'Malleys features a water fountain in their courtyard that shoots fire. Are we getting any ideas yet?



On the day we left we thought it was important to stop back in the Ninth Ward to see what, if anything was happening there since we left back in November. At first I was not encouraged. The street lights still aren't working and there is still a lot of damage, but then we saw businesses opening up. We found the community center and the whole area was bustling with activity. Debris was being removed from the streets, roofs and houses were being repaired.




This was to have been a community center by now, but just after we left the roof at the warehouse where the volunteers were staying began to leak badly and had to be abandoned. They moved over to the community center and that is their new base of operations. The place has become a beehive of activity. Lots of College students came down for spring break to help out. So many that they were short of team leaders to help coordinate people. The church next door is also part of the Common Ground Collective, as well as the corner across the street. There is event a Clinic and free legal advice in a home nearby. I had my doubts that we would see anyone back in that part of the Ninth. But it's happening. There are several more FEMA trailers and signs that people are not going to let the area die. A short way off in the lower ninth there is still a lot of damage, and few signs of recovery. This area was hit worst by the flooding. I'd not sure it will come back.

We will be back in New Orleans in about a months for a Goth Convention call Convergence 12. We won;t have much time for sight seeing then, all business. So I'm glad we did in now.