I just uploaded 88 photos from a trip my brother, his fiance and I took to New Orleans back in February of this year. Our first day there Dad (who lives just north of Lake Pontchartrain), took us on a tour of the parts of the city which were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Or damaged by the hurricane and destroyed by the incompetence of elected officials all the way up and down the chain of command. I guess how you look at it depends on how forgiving you are feeling at any given moment.
Note that these photos were taken eighteen months after the hurricane hit. For those of my readers who are familiar with Grand Rapids, Michigan, imagine Kentwood with an eight foot high-water mark on every house.
Mardi Gras itself was beautiful, and fun, and something I recommend everyone experience at least once in their lifetime.
Click on the photo to see the rest of the set.