New Orleans - Between Rhythm and Ruin (37/59)

New Orleans - Between Rhythm and Ruin (37/59)

Hardly any other American big city was battered during the past years like New Orleans when hurricane Katrina and the subsequent floods floated entire quarters in 2005. Due to its irrepressible will to live, New Orleans came through the crisis.  A good example for this will to live is Mardi Gras, the carnival, which is being celebrated at least as abundantly as it used to be. The "Mardi Gras Indians", African-American citizens used to skirt the carnival ban in the earlier days, are oftentimes wearing the most beautiful costumes. With Ina Fandrich, the African-American Museum's curator who is of German origin, we get to know the Tremé, one of the oldest African-American city district in the U.S.A. Here Jazz was born and until today, dim bars continue this tradition. Religion is, just as the music, a basic element of this city. Charismatic clerics like Father Tony hold together their congregation. The cemetery of his parish, the St. Roch Cemetary, additionally keeps the relics of the old German parish of New Orleans. As the city is located below sea level, the late citizens had to be buried in table tombs. This resulted in downright necropolises with lavishly decorated mausolea which served as film sets for movies from Easy Rider to numerous vampire dramas.

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