Online, visitors speak their mind about N.O.

By Deon Roberts, Online Editor

Before taking vacations, many people consult the Internet, looking for Web sites and blogs that might fill them in on the good, the bad and the ugly about a place.

Travelers to New Orleans have posted online their thoughts about the Crescent City’s comeback from Hurricane Katrina. As is to be expected, many people rave about the city’s food and music.

“The place is as amazing and fun as it is scary and sad. Highlights.. the music.. oh the music. Nowhere else I’ve ever been can you find at least a dozen choices for live music. The culture is alive, though on rocky ground. I saw the most glorious partying and parading side by side with homeless beggars and violent crime. Somehow the band plays on. If you stay long enough you will fall in love and despise it all at once. In the end I found myself whistling Louis Armstrong on a daily basis. The spirit is alive and needs to be appreciated,” gpharvey wrote March 18, 2007, on www.boo.com.

“If you get away from Bourbon Street, you’ll see a beautiful city, meet wonderful people, and eat incredible food,” cbord wrote the same day on the same site.

But visitors complained about transportation in New Orleans. Take these comments from boo.com:

“Public transportation is even more unreliable than before,” cbord wrote.

“The public transportation sucks, doesn’t run very often,” jlmul6901 wrote.

More recent online comments show that people are still unaware that the French Quarter was unscathed in Katrina. For example, here’s what RonniD wrote yesterday on www.tripadvisor.com:

“I loved New Orleans but have not been there since Katrina. It is our 20th anneversary and I’d like to go someplace REALLY nice in the French Quarter. Is that area more or less re-built? Are all the restaurants and clubs up and running?

Its a very special occasion for us- so I want to be sure its the New Orleans I know and love.”

And here’s what Tulanefan wrote back:

“We have been back a dozen times since Katrina. The FQ is as you remember it (if you remember it?). Enjoy!!”•