Tell me a story. I don't feel funny.

Chalmette (top) and Algiers (bottom) with ferry line marked

It's easy to see how living on the banks of the Mississippi would inspire wanderlust.  Everyone going somewhere, and you're the only one staying where you are.

Erratum:  We didn't stay overnight at the eastern Mississippi Welcome Center Friday night.  They don't have any official overnight parking (but, I wouldn't discount it entirely unless I talked to security, which is on-duty 24 hours).  I've heard that real people working at rest stops are much more sensible about sleepy driving than those grumpy "NO OVERNIGHT PARKING" signs are.  The welcome center does have free RV dumping on the way out.

We stayed in the parking lot of the Island View Casino ("more winners, more often") in Gulfport, MS.  There were several other RVs parked in the lot already, and as we pulled in, security pointed toward where we should park.   It put us a quick walk from the sand beach, but it wasn't a quiet boondocking location - lots and lots of trains.  But, it felt safe and we slept well.  The only walkable restaurant food was the casino buffet, but at $22 per person we didn't feel hungry enough to indulge.  

Here in Chalmette, we're back at the Walmart.  It's not my idea of long-term parking fun, but it's perfect for an overnighter, and man! is this spot level.  It's propane refrigerator heaven. I waited in line at Customer Service to ask permission, and the girl just said "no."  I kept looking at her for a couple of beats, and the older woman at the next station told her "You have to ask a manager."  Which she did, and I did, and he was friendly and accommodating.  Thanks, Shawn!  I'll totally recommend your perimeter lot out past the Lawn and Garden Center to friends!

Elaine, Annie's cousin, works for a construction company.  She told us that apartment buildings here dig 70 feet to pour footers.  Digging, you can begin to hit water at one foot.  There's a Lowe's just down the street that has gone out of business because locals developed a strong loyalty to any business that survived Katrina and first opened for business afterward.  That's why people in Chalmette shop at Home Depot and eat at Burger King.   

The Army CoE blew up the levee here in 1927 to save greater New Orleans.  Post-flood racial attacks triggered a massive migration of African-Americans to northern cities.  Hurricane Betsy flooded the adjacent Lower Ninth Ward when a levee broke in 1965.  And, you know what Katrina did there in 2005.

[a few hours later]  We left the city by way of the Lower Ninth Ward, on Claiborne.  Lots of houses still wear their "X."  Chalmette neighborhoods are clean and tidy, even though the vacant lots tell a story.  In the Lower Ninth, there's no need to read between the lines.

I'm obsessed with New Orleans, especially what happens here when the levees break.  If you have a story, I hope you'll tell me.

A local wrote me:  New Orleans is cold now, but by this coming weekend, she should be warm and showing off like the old whore she is.   I'm sorry I'm going to miss that.