For as long as I can remember, I wanted to visit New Orleans. I was intrigued by the city's colorful history, and I saw it as training ground for my dream vacation of going to Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina came along and laid waste to the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.
There was much debate about whether or not the Crescent City should celebrate Mardi Gras less than six months after the catastrophe occurred. But once it was decided that the show would go on, I made it my business to travel to the Big Easy and be a part of something special.
