I’m currently at Z’otz uptown in New Orleans, drinking my daily quota of green tea and blogging, doing some work, sorting and sending email, etc.

To everyone who’s worried that New Orleans is a ghost town, that it won’t recover, that people aren’t coming back, I say don’t worry too much for now.  The place is hopping. It’s far different from the way I last saw it two months ago.

There are people everywhere, and by 11 AM traffic is awful in places, and at least dense in others.  Many traffic lights are still broken uptown, but I’d estimate that an equal number are fine. The city appears to be moving to new traffic lights bolted to metal poles rather than lights on wires.  This will probably be helpful should we encounter another hurricane.

Everywhere stores and restaurants are opening daily. Hours are limited, and the Trolley Stop is still closed, but Lebanon’s is open, so I’m all set.

The city will probably be smaller. There will be less industry. Lakeview is apparently going to be a ghost town for some time. However, don’t worry. The French Quarter is still here. Uptown is still here. The atmosphere is the same if not better (as we’re low on tourists at the moment).

I’m leaving tomorrow to return to St.Louis, but I’m looking forward to coming back at the end of the month, and I hope to see you here.

technorati tags: new orleans, recovery, hurricane katrina, katrina