New Orleans takes another hurricane pounding

I visited New Orleans last July for the very first time, and loved every minute of it. The characters, the music, the history, the food, all combine to provide a very unique experience. There is still a lot of recovery work outside of The French Quarter that is being undertaken from the devastation of Katrina, so I was deeply saddened to hear of the city getting hit once again,  7 years on to the day.
Fortunately this time around the new defences stood firm although once again, thos people in outlying districts face more harships and repairs.

There is an amazing spirit and resolve in New Orleans and it is heartening to see Hollywood stars who hail from the area  putting a lot of finance and time into helping it recover. Too all my new friends over there, let's hope this latest set back doesn't make too much of a dent in the recovery process.

I left my heart in Sedona

I was in Sedona, Arizona last week and although it may well be overdeveloped and perhaps a little too touristy for my liking, it is without doubt a beautiful part of the world. The iron infused mountains are simply stunning and I was fortunate to see them close up from a helicopter. Not any old chopper, I might add, but one with no door panels - just me and fresh air on both sides! it was quite simply one of the most breathtaking things I have experienced and should be a must do on anyone's checklist for a trip to Sedona.
There is still a new age hippie thing going on there in spite of its wealthy residents, and I have to admit, there is something very spiritual about those glorious red rocks. May the vortex be with you.