In Louisiana, if someone wants to know how you're doing, he might inquire, "Where Y'at?" After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, media coverage of looting on Canal Street, and video images of a flooded Ninth Ward, much of the country wondered where New Orleans "was at". For me, I planned almost a year ahead to vacation there, find out for myself, and answer the question, "Where Y'at, New Orleans?"

When I put my mind to something, it takes a bit more that a couple of itsy, bitsy hurricanes, a little "high water", and an unruly crowd to dissuade me. I was ready to face the worst. Actually, though, the reality was far less shocking than the scenes planted in our imaginations by the media. Prepared to find Third World type devastation, I found instead a thriving, vibrant metropolis.

Don't get me wrong. It's not difficult to see the signature of devastation, but you have to look harder than you might think. Of course, the roof of the Superdome, (where the Broncos played their first Super Bowl back in January of 1978), is an obvious example due to its notoriety and size, and there are still abandoned cars, boarded windows, boats out of water, bent over trees, and bent poles. Yet, these things are more and more just quickly fading memories than they are evidence of catastrophe. The city is busy working hard to repair itself, and trying to get people to come back. What New Orleans needs most now is for people to come back, see that the city is far from dead, and realize that its heart still beats strongly.

I have to tell you this city won me over. I love that New Orleans moves 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A person can find almost anything he needs or wants anytime of the day or night. This city has history, architecture, shopping, steamboats, dining, proximity to the Bayous, Bourbon Street, all varieties of music, and, most of all, charm. Even in its post-hurricane condition, a person cannot visit New Orleans for any period of time and not feel its soul. For that reason, I know I cannot do the city justice in just one article. Therefore, this will be the first in a series of articles all about the life, the city and its attraction. I will continue until I run out of material.

Make no mistake about it. My intent is to sing the praises of this great city and convince all of you to take a visit. I want you to go there, support my new friends, and come back as enriched as I am. You will get so much more than you pay for. I captured 448 images with my camera while I was there, and I will select the best for posting with the coming articles. You don't have to wait to see the pictures, though. I have posted selections to the internet and you can access them at www.webshots.com, and do a photo search for "New Orleans". From time to time, I will post different selections. When I'm finished, I hope you'll be craving beignets at Cafe du Monde, a "Hurricane" at Pat O'brien's, and be ready to answer when someone asks "Where Y'at?"