NOLA... my heart

Six years ago, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, devastating thousands.  After that day, my heart was forever sealed in the city of New Orleans.  I took multiple mission trips there to do Disaster Relief, and spent a summer with Kelly in Westwego (15 minutes outside New Orleans).  There are so many reasons I love this city.  Namely, the people, but that's for another blog post.  Today I wanted to remember the little things that make New Orleans special, so that one day Gianna can look back and know why her mom and dad talk about it all the time.

Have you ever had a Po Boy?  They're awesome... particularly in NOLA because the fish are so fresh.

These railroad cars give so much character to the French Quarter.  We've had fun riding them, but also been faced with bad-mouthing drunks sitting in front of us.  You take the good with the bad.  Fun times.

Everywhere you go, people have town-spirit, especially when you talk about the Saints.  I saw so many "who-dat" signs... they made me smile everytime.  I love how people in this city are connected by a love for the same football team.  They take pride in the Saints and root together for them to win.  My pictures aren't great, but I did the best I could while in the car.

The bridges.  Kelly and I love the bridges.  They are so beautiful, and you can see the whole city everytime you get on the highway.  I've never experienced any highway system like the one in NOLA.  

Fleur De Lis.  Everywhere you look, there is a fleur de lis.  Even on the trash cans!  Everytime I see one now, my heart gets happy and I am tempted to buy whatever it is that has the symbol on it.

Red Beans and Rice, the most delicious meal you've ever tasted.  I know, if you've never had it before, it sounds really strange and not at all what you'd want for dinner.  I remember eating it at a meeting when I was a NAMB missionary there, and I thought, "this is what they're giving us for lunch?"  But one bite later (and especially after eating Sena's red beans), I was hooked.  I'm working on perfecting my recipe.

And the sky.  I don't know if it's because NOLA is below sea level, or because I just love the city so much, but there is no sky more beautiful than here.  The clouds often look so low you could touch them, and sometimes in the morning the sky turns a rich purple-red.  I could ride over those bridges looking at the New Orleans sky for hours.

And, in case you were wondering, yes we did name our dog after the city.  Nola = NOLA (New Orleans LouisianA)