quote:

Originally posted by V960

I’ve been there a number of times since the disaster and may I recommend a Glock? The place is a God awful mess and many not so nice folks are wandering about. Do what you want but it is still a dangerous place.

I was there just this week and couldn’t agree with you more. I stayed at the Sheraton New Orleans, which is just outside the French Quarter on Canal Street. Inside my hotel, things were fine, but outside, I did not feel safe — and I don’t spook easily.

I arrived around 9:30 pm from the airport. I was a little hungry and asked what might be open within walking distance at this late hour. The hotel folks told me that I would only find bar food — or hit the room service menu. Hmmm….not a good sign. I got up to my room (a lovely suite on the 21st floor — a nice surprise!) and looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows to a view of the city. I realized that the Harrah’s casino was well within walking distance, so i figured that sometimes casinos have food being served until all hours — I might do OK??? Walked outside, turned about one block north and just had this overwhelmingly eerie feeling. The streets were all but empty — and the few people who were out sure didn’t look like the friendly, Chamber of Commerce folks. One of the things that makes cities like NYC safe is that some of the safety just comes from numbers. If there are a lot of people around, you are a lot less likely to get hassled. With relatively few people around — and the fact that the hotel personnel didn’t ever suggest walking down to the casino, made me a little nervous.

I turned back — slept a good sleep in the hotel and was on my way in the morning. My situation was somewhat unique. I was there on business — and tried to add a little fun or a good meal. I wasn’t there long, but it was long enough to think I don’t need to head back there any time soon.