Louisiana and the South

As we traveled through California and the South, I couldn't’t help but notice towns with names in Spanish, and how comical some of them sounded when translated. There were towns called Manteca (butter) and Bandera (flag), which, of course, sound nice in Spanish, but can you imagine living in a town called Butter?
Now that we have reached Louisiana, I am amazed at how far we have driven these past few days. From Tuesday morning until this Thursday evening we have gone from south central California to Louisiana, going almost clear across three other states in the process. This hit me as we re-crossed the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, after crossing it the first time in Minnesota. I think the distance it is more of a reality now because we stopped more often before on our way West.
On our way from Austin, we hit what seemed like a monsoon and I feared that it would follow us all the way to N.O., but fortunately it didn’t. I can’t imagine being in the middle of a hurricane here, since I can see how easily the surrounding landscape could get flooded (and that is without the problems of human-built “protections”). I also cannot imagine what it was like to attempt to leave here before or during Katrina since every way in or out of the city is over a body of water.
The effects of Katrina are still evident here, from the boarded-up and empty buildings to the pictures of the flooded hostel we are staying in. I can't imagine what it was like two years ago, and wish I could remember N.O. when I was here before Katrina. However, it seems to be bouncing back fine, and people even joke about it (we saw t-shirts with slogans like "Make Levees Not War"). Bourbon St. is lively (we personally "investigated" by taking part in the revelry - next time I will go to the bars where the locals go). We also went to a local restaurant and had authentic seafood gumbo that was some of the best I have ever had (for anyone coming here, the place is called Coops on 1109 Decatur St.), complete with an Abita Purple Haze (the local brew). I am hoping to get my muffaleta and chicory coffee with a beignet before I leave.
I have posted a couple more pictures, since I finally have a strong enough internet connection at the hostel in new Orleans.