My opinion of New Orleans is a little different. I used to enjoy going down there while in college, and Bourbon Street was an eye opening place. It was the first place that so many drug addicts were seen in the open.
The hurricane that hit New Orleans 10 years ago brought out the worst in the city. So many people refused to leave because they would be losing their source of drugs. When they did lesve, they essentially exported a level of lawlessness to places like Houston, Memphis, Birmingham and even Atlanta. Many people didn't return to LA and have been part of the criminal problem in their new city.
A large group of college student missionaries went into New Orleans last Summer. They were very surprised to find the place so dark in religion. Certain parts of the city destroyed 10 years ago are not rebuilt at all. But what was so frightening was a lack of churches in the city. They had no idea they'd run into voodoo as a religion. The city remains a deep hole in the soul and not a good place to retire.
