That these 80 plus blocks of the French Quarter are constantly changing is the idea is at the heart of this blog really; every 6-8 hours a new group of users are in control of these streets and activity.

Over the last 40 years, I have wandered these blocks in busy times, at slow points, before, during, and after disaster, during the recent and massive “festivalization” that happens more and more on these tiny blocks, and on so many “regular” days.

The “stage” of the actual buildings is the wow factor, but when you see it used and often abused by folks, you start to notice the wear and tear more than the beauty.

Therefore, the opportunity to see it without the people is rare and allows to remind yourself of the beauty and the appropriate scale of it all.