There were six or more mule-drawn carriages operating on Decatur Street, the southeast boundary of Jackson Square.  Mules and drivers were lined up, along with artists displaying their wares on the wrought iron fence around the square.  Marilyn and I decided to take a carriage ride with a delightful young woman named Diane Hintz.  Diane told us she had lived in New Orleans for five years, but knew as much about the venerable old city as anyone I know.  Throughout the carriage ride, she kept our interest with interesting history and vignettes of practically every building and square we passed.

After the carriage ride, Diane gave us carrots to feed to Dolly the mule, whose personality and disposition was just as delightful as Diane's.  I took a picture of Dolly taking a carrot from Diane's mouth.  I'll put it up on the site as soon as I have the roll of film developed.

Diane was less than complimentary to FEMA and other agencies supposedly assisting the City and State in recovery.  The Quarter was obviously up and running, but who was driving the recovery, and was the rest of the City, and Louisiana, also recovering?  We stopped for a beer at the Crescent City Brewery, determined to find out.

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