Back from Biloxi

Thought you would enjoy these pictures. They were taken from the same spot, just from two different directions.
The one on the left is of the Paradise Island Casino, which was destroyed by Katrina and since rebuilt. The top one is of a house, directly across the street from the Casino, which has yet to be repaired.
There are hundreds of these in Biloxi. Some are living in FEMA trailers; others we saw are in tents. Interesting priorities, gotta get the casino up and running, the heck with the people.

We enjoyed our day trip to Biloxi. The bus fare was $15 and we got $15 credit at the casino. Judy's $15 lasted from noon until 3:30. Lloyds lasted until 12:15. Guess we know who the gambler is. The bus was filled with seniors, and the large majority were women. While they all went to gamble (very serious about it), we went for the trip and to see Biloxi.

Our bus driver spent 46 days in New Orleans evacuating people. He slept on a cot in the back of the bus. He provided us with many interesting facts about the hurricane and its after effects. The water rose 24 feet from the high water mark in Biloxi. The land there is very low, basically at sea level, and flat, so the water flooded many many miles of land. Casinos in Mississippi could not be built on land, a by law, so they were built on floating barges, connected to hotels. This law has since been changed and casions are being rebuilt on land. Three were completely destroyed. One went to sea, another was washed/floated across a highway and is still there in ruins. Houses were completely submurged. The big concern now is fear of fires as trees and dead brush has never been cleared out and is everywhere. If fires got started they will be impossible to put out.

On Friday we just chilled out; walked on the beach and relaxed. In the afternoon we went for a drive and Judy found great buys on baby clothes. She purchased a bunch for Mia and the Griffin twins. Weather continues to be in the high 70's and we have worn shorts everyday since we arrived.
Heading out to the Red Lobster Restaurant for a lunch/dinner this (Saturday) afternoon. If we go before 4:00pm we get lunch prices. Gotta do that if you want to be a snowbird.