Got off early to head into LA, but the diversion via Hollywood was a bad idea and ended up being really stressful, trying to navigate through crazy traffic. We did get to see the Hollywood sign and the stars though.
Also didn't have time to stop and find the Circle K here, unfortunately...
Dropped the van off, expecting a $300 bill for excess mileage, but also aware that they had written our reading down wrong originally. Turns out their policy means we just don't have to worry about it - result! So said goodbye to our home of the last 18 days and 3,000 miles, sad but content.
Flight to New Orleans was fine, then cab to our AirBNB shotgun in Bywater. Its profile had shown it a block south of St Claude Avenue, which was mentioned in our guidebook as being the 'safe' northern limit, but it's a block north.
Weren't sure at first...looks like a pretty rundown area. The devastated Lower Ninth is just next door, and the cross street is Marais, where Fats Domino lived. On the way in the cab we came right by the Superdome, and I was amazed at the emotion it provoked in me. When Katrina struck, nine years ago, I was news captioning and so was exposed to the full force of the media coverage. I was fascinated to come here, and to be thrust straight into the heart of it was extremely moving.
The house itself is a bit more basic than we might have imagined, but really cute, full of character and absolutely fine.
Our AirBNB host had left detailed info on the area, and it was after dark when we arrived, needing food. Her brother runs a 'kebab shop' nearby in the Marigny, so we decided to walk up there. Wondered if that was a sensible choice when we found the dark streets deserted, even at 8pm on a Saturday, but made the 20-minute walk without incident. The food was outstanding - not like any kebab I've had before - and walking back there were a few more people around. Although it's definitely a 'gritty' area, we didn't feel at all threatened.
Finally got our first showers in nearly a week, and gratefully collapsed into real beds under a real roof.
No comments:
Post a Comment