My wife and I managed to get into this thing in early 2006. The casino was either still closed or barely open. It was surreal. It seemed like we had to go MILES to get out even though it was just a couple of overlong blocks.
Early 2006 would have been while New Orleans was trying to put herself back together, after Katrina.
Yep! Like I said Harrahs was barely reopened if at all. Staying in a hotel was worse than during the current Covid crisis. We were in the parking garage and they routed us a different way due to a cherry picker doing maintenance we missed a turn and saw a sign that said valets only but we could not back up and.....
New Orleans was a mess. There were still boats sitting in US-90. There was at least a single lane open all the way to the Chef Mentuer bridge which was still closed (or open if you will.)
Houses still sat in the middle of 4-lane streets. Admittedly, it was years before all the houses got cleared out of some of the streets, but it was too early. I am not sure if we even got as far as a job offer. I knew BEFORE I did the interview that it was not going to happen.